A Cosy Norwegian Home at Christmastime

This is the time of year when I always start to panic — is Christmas really only 14 days away? I have so much to do… how about you? Even so, let’s pause for a moment and enjoy some festive calm inside the charming home of interior designer Guro Jovall, just south of Oslo, Norway. Guro lives with her son, dog and boyfriend in a beautiful house built in 1838 — and at Christmas it becomes truly magical.

Guro’s style blends Scandinavian simplicity with warm, historic character. The tones throughout her home are soft and natural — creamy whites, warm woods and gentle greys — creating a calm backdrop for Christmas greenery and candlelight. I love how the textures do so much of the talking here: the rough, hand-brushed brick by the fireplace, the smooth painted floors, the cosy sheepskins and woollen throws, and the layers of linen on the table. It all feels so inviting.

Look closely at the dining table, and you'll see it's been set with understated linens, sparkling glassware and blue-and-white plates (so pretty!) — a perfect mix of pattern and calm neutrals. It’s the kind of space where I can imagine gathering with friends and family, lingering as the light fades with a roaring fire in the background. Simple wreaths, pine cones and fresh greenery add just enough festive detail, and the soft glow of candles brings everything to life. 

I love how Guro's home is the perfect reminder that Christmas decorating can be both subtle and incredibly cosy!

 Isn't Guro's home truly magical? Is there anything that stood out to you? 

You can see more inspiration and find out more about Guro's interior design services over at @designguro.

If you haven't already explored the Christmas archives, please do pour yourself a coffee, grab a blanket and have a scroll - there are so many beautiful Scandinavian homes and decorations to discover!

I'm heading off to Copenhagen shortly for a 'Julefrukost' (Danish Christmas lunch) with the team at Skandinavisk (don't forget the exlusive 20% off with code 'jul20', it's a perfect place to pick up a wonderful-smelling gift!). See more from my home here. 

Wishing you all a relaxing mid-week!

Niki

Photography by @designguro, shared with kind permission.

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A Warm Swedish Christmas: Inside Sanna’s Country Home

Hej there! How are you holding up? It's a busy time of year! 

On Friday I shared a few snapshots from my own home this Christmas (along with a little gift!), and today we're spreading our wings a little further afield – to Sanna's beautiful Swedish country home in snowy Dalarna.

Sanna lives here with her husband and two children, and to give you a full tour I went back through her Instagram (with kind permission, of course) so I could gather snapshots from each room – which is why some feel more Christmassy than others. Either way, there's plenty of inspiration to be gleaned!

Built in the early 1900s, Sanna and her husband have been carefully restoring the house with great respect for its original charm. They place a strong focus on re-use and on giving old objects a new life. The home is filled with the kind of quiet, soulful details that make Scandinavian country interiors so inviting. Painted wood panelling in dusty blues and greys gives the kitchen a soft, heritage feel, while worn timber floors and simple rustic stools add a grounded warmth. Natural textures—ceramics, linen curtains, wooden cabinets—soften each room, and fresh flowers appear everywhere, bringing life to the winter light.

In the living areas, I especially love the paper lanterns and pleated lamps, which cast a gentle glow over vintage furniture, creating a layered look that feels both relaxed and personal. Just the house I'd like to come home to, whatever the season. Enjoy the tour! 

So beautiful! 

I actually love that there are pictures from each season here, as it gives you an idea of how it looks and feels over the year. Do you agree? 

It really is such a pretty home, and the views over the fields are magical. 

One thing that stood out to me was the upholstery on the armchairs. I tried (and failed) to find a source. Does anyone know where the fabric comes from? I'll also check with Sanna and update the post once I know. 

Did anything stand out to you in particular?

Just in case you'd like to see a little more Christmas inspiration today, here are a few beautiful home tours and edits I've shared in the past: 

11 festive ideas from Mari's lovely Christmassy home

Scandinavian Christmas crafting ideas (many of which are edible!)

Inspiration from a beautiful Swedish home at Christmas

Har det så fint! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @sannaprepuk, shared with kind permission. 

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A Christmas Glimpse Inside Our Home (and a Little Gift for You)

Sponsored by Skandinavisk (all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too). 

It’s the darkest time of the year, and even the daylight has a certain rawness to it. I think that’s one of the reasons I love Christmas so much—it gives the perfect excuse to create a truly cosy home filled with greenery from the season and all the wonderful scents of Christmas. As promised, here are a few pictures from our main living ready for 'Jul'. 

This little corner is everyone’s favourite spot. It’s where I drink my morning coffee while catching the sunrise, Per plays the guitar, and the girls relax (no doubt 'snapping' a friend or two). It’s a cosy nook where you can be in the same room as everyone else yet still feel tucked away. I have a never ending rotation of candles here and right now, it's STUGA (with the cosy scent of a secluded Scandinavian cabin!). This nook comes into it's own at Christmas when the house is a hive of activity untangling lights, finalising wreaths and the continuous search for a pair of scissors! Are we the only ones? 

Swedes are masters at adapting their home for the season.  In winter, it's all about the cosy blankets, sheepskins and bringing plenty of greenery indoors - and I'm here for it! This corner is where we all snuggle up trying to find something we ALL want to watch (no easy feat!). In case you're wondering, our TV is hidden behind the curtain!

Our tree is full of different decorations amassed over the years. Last year I acquired this cute little champagne bottle, which has become a new favourite. If only it was real (and a little bigger!)! 

This year, we’ll be at Per’s parents’ for our Swedish Christmas. Swedish tradition has it that Tomten (Father Christmas) brings all the presents in a sack over his shoulder during the afternoon (unfortunately, one family member always seems to miss him—usually when they’ve popped out to buy a newspaper at the most inconvenient moment!). In the meantime, a few presents are already wrapped and waiting for Tomten to collect.

If you’re stuck for ideas, this Yuletide gift set makes a wonderful present for anyone who would love to bring the scent of a Scandinavian Christmas into their home (discount code below!). 

This trusty bench has been our coffee table for years. I love changing up what’s on it from month to month; right now it holds some in-season flowers and foliage, a bowl of pine cones, sculptures by our neighbour Simon Vendin, a few vintage decorations, and the gentle smell of the Scandinavian boreal forest thanks to the special edition SKOG candle and scent diffuser. It’s Per’s all-time favourite scent, and it really comes into its own at Christmas (especially if you have a non-smelling tree). 

Amaryllis are a Christmas favourite, and this year I went for a burgundy-red variety—simple yet so pretty with a few sprigs of pine. Beside it is a book by my friend Malin Persson, and a JUL candle that fills our upstairs landing with the scent of baked gingerbread, winter cloves, spiced oranges, and mulled wine. Delicious! 

I hope you enjoyed these little snapshots of our home at Christmas. If there’s anything you’re curious about that I haven’t mentioned, just let me know below and I'll share the source. 

If you’re thinking of treating yourself or a friend to one of the wonderful home fragrances from Skandinavisk ( a B Corp), there’s a 20% code (jul20) available until 20th December 2025. 

Wishing you a warm and cosy festive weekend, and thank you for being here. I hope you liked this glimpse inside our home at Christmas. The light already starts to fade at 2pm and it's pitch dark by 3.30pm so it's the perfect place to thaw out from the bike ride home and cosy up for the evening. 

Niki

Credits: I took these photographs together with Helen Sturesson. 

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A Bright & Beautiful Christmas in Natalie's Malmö Apartment

It’s starting to look a lot like jul here in Malmö, and just across town, in the French-Swedish home of interior designer Natalie Coquand the decorations are up in all kinds of pretty, festive ways. 

Think boxwood wreaths tied with red ribbon and the tinklng of bells, advent candles nestled in moss, vibrant amaryllis, pine-cone garlands, and a fabulous Christmas tree adorned with lights and ornaments. 'Tis the season to feel jolly (and warm and cosy!) and her home has all the vibes I love. Plus, I am sure it smells divine too! Welcome to Christmas chez Natalie! 

So festive! All the candlelight and greenery really help to brighten up the darkness and the monochrome of the bare branches outside. Our house is brimming with it too (I’m looking forward to sharing more on Friday).

Does any of Natalie’s holiday décor stand out to you? If you decorate for Christmas, how far along are you?

Usually, I like to put up our tree after my birthday (which is the 6th of December), since that’s the way we’ve always done it in my family. But this year we’ve been a little overzealous, and the tree is already up and glowing—and I have to say, I really love it! I remember once asking here on the blog what the latest anyone has ever left their tree up was, and someone confessed they left it up all year until the next Christmas. It did make me laugh!

If you'd like to see more photos of Natalie’s home, take a look at the full (non-Christmassy) tour here. She also shares beautiful inspiration on her Instagram.

Wishing you a happy mid-week!

Niki

Photography by Johanna Flyckt Gashi, styling by Natalie Coquand, shared with kind permission.

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A Little Cosy Scandinavian Christmas Inspiration

Tjena! I hope you had a cosy weekend and a happy first Sunday of Advent. In Scandinavia, that’s officially when the home gets its first layer of Christmas decorations – stars and adventsljusstake (candelabras) appear in the windows, lighting up the dark streets and bathing them in a welcoming glow. It’s a magical time of year to be here.

Today I wanted to share a little of the Scandinavian festive spirit with you through some beautiful, cosy, Christmas-ready images I’ve been squirrelling away on Instagram. This year I’ve noticed red creeping back in, alongside plenty of nostalgia — think vintage finds and ornaments collected over time or passed down through generations. I hope you enjoy the inspiration and the journey to Scandinavia in wintertime.

I love how the tree is bursting with an array of ornaments, flags, garlands — anything goes! It reminds me of the tree we had growing up in my parents’ house. My sisters and I were always in charge of the decorations; boxes and boxes of ornaments would be brought down from the loft and, just as we thought we’d finished (after a good few hours!), the weight of the reindeer, chocolates, drums and tiny children sledging would be weighing down the branches, with not a space left for one more. And my mother would come in and say, “That’s not finished — there’s hardly anything on it!”

I felt all the other images also perfectly capture this time of year. I love the Norwegian sauna in the fjords at the end. On the 23rd of December, a sauna is booked for the entire extended family so we can dust off the cobwebs, shake off work, and prepare for the holidays feeling relaxed, revived and rosey cheeked (and that's before the 'glögg'! 

Did any of the images catch your eye?

And if you have a tree, how do you like to decorate it?

For a couple of Christmassy home tours today, take a peek inside: 

Anna Truelsen's festive Swedish home
DIY touches in a Swedish maker's home at Christmas
Maria's rustic Christmas home with rustic DIY touches

Happy 1st December!

Niki

PS did you spot the little kitty? 

Photography credits: 1. Cato Ravatsbakk 2. @vartlillagrona 3. @myhappydays 3. @elinmeadowss 4. @hjarterumdeisgnointerior 5. @hannesmauritzson 6. @fjordfiskerenhjem 7. @vartlillagrona 8. @breakfastlondon. 

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