Second-hand Ikea Hacks and Clever Upcycling in a Christmassy Swedish Home

Today I'm taking you on a journey to Vendelsö in the suburbs of Stockholm - and the lovely, warm home of interior stylist and set designer Elin Wallin. Long-time readers might recognise glimpses of this living space from a post I shared back in 2018. Since then, Elin, her 'sambo' (meaning live-in partner), and daughters Indra (13) and Edda (9) have continued to make this lovely, light and airy open-plan living space their home. 

Think warm brown tones, beautiful dark wood and pretty Christmas decorations as well as some clever room makeovers, vintage up cycling and amazing IKEA hacks - all of which have helped to transform the house into a home. 

The cabinet is a clever IKEA Hack. Elin picked up the Pax cupboard on Facebook marketplace and added the wood corner pieces before painting all the wood in the same tone. A simple twist which makes all the difference! Plus, it was no doubt a bargain to buy! 

I love the pink paper Christmas flower too! 

There's nothing like a roaring fire in wintertime, right?

Beside the fire is yet another IKEA second hand bargain - which Elin bought two for the price of one. They were already 'hacked' when she bought them (someone has stuck vertical strips of wood to the front and then painted the entire unit) for a designer look! Clever. 

Recently Elin replaced the coffee table for a marble one that she picked up second hand. But not without a DIY makeover of course! 

Before

After

It's quite incredible what you can do with someone else's cast offs,  a little vision and some great craftsmanship, don't you think? 

Walk-in-wardrobe before 

I recognise this scene from my own home not long ago (feel so much better now that I have a proper grown-up wardrobe!). Elin took matters into her own hands in her house too - and scoured online second hand sites for Nordli storage from IKEA - before piecing together the different units, lightly sanding them down and painting the same colour (Strand by Alcro). 

The result:

Is it even the same room? What a transformation - and all bought for a song too! 

In the master bedroom, Elin has placed a Fan Shaped rattan headboard against wallpaper from Sandberg and a pretty Table Tropez light. 

Simply lovely - and so inspiring too. Is anyone else dying to get their hands on a second hand IKEA piece now? I might just go on marketplace and see what I can find! 

See more of Elin's home and follow her instagram for all her latest projects. 

Would you like to see a few other ikea hacks today? 

5 Clever IKEA hacks to steal from a Danish home

A Swedish home with a clever ikea hack and small pink bedroom!

Our little cabin kitchen with an ikea hack

Come here for some Scandi Christmas inspiration? There are lots of lovely ideas in the Christmas archive (if this post pops up first just scroll past!). 

Wishing you all a great day! I'll be back on Friday with aa glimpse into the kitchen and dining area of our cabin with 'Jul' touches, hopefully see you then!

Niki

Photography: Elin Wallin, shared with kind permission

READ MORE...

0

Eleni's Cosy Swedish Apartment with Subtle Christmas Touches

With the First Sunday of Advent yesterday, Christmas in Sweden is in full swing and it's not even December yet! I love it, as the pretty lights and candles really help to brighten up the darkness. Here in the south, the sunset is at 3.45pm today (not that I'm watching it like a hawk!) but further North, in the city of Sundsvall, which is where Eleni Apostolakis and her family live - the sun will go down at 2.30pm! 

Little wonder Eleni has dotted her apartment with candles and adorned walls with cosy festive touches. Think stars, wreaths and angel carousels against an earthy backdrop and layers of textiles - all helping to add warmth and a hygglig touch during these cold winter days! 

At this time of year, comfort food is a necessity! The girls and I made pepperkaka last night. Maybe a cake like this one should be next on the menu, what do you think?

I love how the children have already hung their stockings beneath a pretty orange garland too. 

Why just hang one paper star, when you can have a galaxy! 

A single pretty wreath adds a cosy touch to the sitting room. 

I'm such a big fan of angel carousels, they are so pretty, don't you think? 

Plant pots with moss make a great impromptu candleholder at Christmas time. 

It's so cosy to have Christmas touches in the bedroom! A simple wreath and candles look so pretty after dark. 

Very cosy! 

It makes me realise I have lots of decorating to do at home in the coming weeks. Small, simple touches that add a festive touch and make everything feel cosy. 

See more of Eleni's home here. 

I've just arrived up at our little cabin for a photoshoot. I had to get up at the crack of dawn, but now that I'm here sipping coffee and listening to the church bells outside, I'm so happy to be here. Let's hope I can actually get some work done too (it's so relaxing!). 

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Eleni Apostolakis - shared with kind permission

READ MORE...

1

Coffee Tables and Festive Touches in Our Little Cabin!

Paid partnership with Skovby, all words and pictures are my own

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.... at least indoors! In preparation for the First Sunday of Advent this weekend, I've added a few festive touches to the cabin (so much fun, it'll be our first holiday season here!). Not only that, but thanks to Skovby, we also have somewhere to place our coffee and glögg (spiced mulled wine) and other Jul (yuletide) treats!

As with all small spaces (our cabin is only 30 m2 / 322 f2 in total) we are constantly looking for furniture which is compact and can easily be moved around. And these two Danish coffee tables fit the bill! 

They are part of a mix and match coffee table series, which allows you to choose between wood or steel legs and a variety of surfaces. I was keen to test out Coffee table #241 in solid oak white oil and square Coffee table #240 in oak white oil with white HPL laminate. 

Not only are they different heights, so one can tuck under the other to give a larger surface area, but they can also be separated and used as side tables. So handy in a small space. The round shape also means they save-space and you won't hurt yourself if you knock into them (you know the feeling!) - another plus!

This little stool in the corner is made from leftover wood in the Skovby workshop in Jutland (I use it for everything - side table, extra seating, footstool....). 

I love how the grain of the wood can be seen through the white oil, adding a cosy, warm feel - especially in winter. 

Now all that's left to do, is swap the coffee for some glögg and kick back and relax. And maybe get a tree, but there's plenty of time for that later. 

Skål! 

I think these tables are keeper, do you? If you're also on the lookout for a coffee table, find out more about the Skovby mix and match series here (they have stockists pretty much worldwide). 

And please do ask away in the comment section if you have questions about anything else in our little sitting room! 

You can see more beautiful pieces from Skovby in my home here, here and here. 

Looking for a little more Christmas inspiration this weekend? Check out: 

15 small festive touches to cosy up your home, Swedish style

Lena's serene Swedish home at Christmas

Simple Christmas touches in a Norwegian home by a fjord

A pretty festive tablescape from Scandinavia

Inspiring Christmas touches in a charming Swedish home

Have a cosy weekend friends, see you Monday! 

Niki

READ MORE...

9

Pretty DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas In A Swedish Country Home

The chilly weather continues across Scandinavia today, and our world its blanketed in snow. It's put us all in the mood for decorating our homes in a cosy way for Christmas! In the far North, Ida Dahlgren has been busy decorating her charming country home, which she shares with her partner, their three children Vilhelm, Nils and Lovisa as well as hens, ducks, cats and passing wildlife! It's full of lovely, simple, DIY ideas, all of which add a cosy, festive vibe. Ready to feel inspired? 

Home is where the heart is - or in this case, hearts plural. A pretty pepparkaka (ginger biscuit) garland hangs in the window, filling the kitchen with the scent of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. 

Look closely and in the corner you can catch a glimpse of an old wooden dough bowl* which has been filled with moss and four candles - for a makeshift advent candle display. 

A pretty adventsljusstake (advent candelabra) lights up the window. Source a similar one here. 

A simple pine garland hangs under a shelf in the kitchen. 

In Sweden some parents love to put a smile on their children's faces pretending that 'nisse' (an elf) has moved in via an elf door. At the start of December a little elf arrives through a door, and throughout December he leaves small traces of his presence including mischievous happenings around the house (such as a loo seat wrapped in Christmas paper). In ida's home, the elf has made a wonderful cake! I hope an elf like this will move into our house come December! 

Do you have a similar tradition in your country?

There's nothing like the scent of hyacinths at Christmas. Swedes love to wrap the bulb in moss and place them in glasses around the house. 

I love this take on the classic gingerbread house: gingerbread candle holders. 

Ida has decorated her tiled masonry oven with a wreath and garlands. A chest is used for logs. 

The  family's four legged friend looks decidedly cosy beside the tree! 

Spare surfaces are used to bring a little festive cheer all around the house. Here a vase with a mini Christmas tree and a candle brighten up the landing. 

Oh, how I'd love a roaring fire in the bedroom - how about you? A pretty 'snöblomma' hangs in the window (paper stars* are also popular).

Extra blankets add a really cosy touch to the bedroom in winter time. 

When I was little, my sister and I loved to hang paper chains in our bedroom. We never thought of adding a mini tree like this one though. Lovely idea! 

A garland of pine has been draped over the entrance and two mini wreaths hang on the door. A snow covered tree grows beside the porch. 

Ida loves to make islykta (ice lanterns) from balloons. See a tutorial here! 

Painting your window is a great way to add a Christmassy touch - and children love it! This pretty design in Ida's window mirrors the surrounding forest. 

So beautiful and full of great ideas which are simple to replicate! 

Is there anything in particular that stood out to you? 

See more of Ida's home and get plenty of DIY and up cycling ideas over at @sodra.byvag.

How wonderful is the herd of reindeer? I saw reindeer in the wild while I was skiing in Åre last January. I've since written a guide about my experience in the Winter issue of Simply Scandi magazine. 

Would you like to see more cosy festive homes today? 

A beautiful Copenhagen home full of festive cheer

11 Christmas decorative essentials from Mari's swedish home

How to make Swedish Christmas angels from paper

See the entire Scandinavian Christmas and Christmas decorating archives for more inspiration. 

Kram! 

Niki

Photography: Ida Dahlgren, shared with kind permission

READ MORE...

6