10 Scandi Christmas Decoration Ideas from Mari's Home

Hello friends, how are you on this winter day? Now that my birthday is over (thank you for all your kind messages on Wednesday!), Christmas decorating has reached fever pitch in our household, and I've been scouring the web for ideas! One of my go-to people is Mari Magnusson who always adds the most magical festive touches to her country home. 

As always, I love to keep things simple, and many of Mari's ideas feature touches from nature, candlelight, white stars and wreaths. Here are 10 beautiful decorations to feel inspired by: 

1. Foraged branches bring in the season and look so pretty with paper decorations

2. Simple paper baubles hung from cabinet door knobs add a festive touch

3. Paper star lanterns in the window brighten up the darkness and create a warm and welcoming glow. 

4. An imperfect rustic tree tucked in a corner adds charm and a relaxed feel. Add a few small festive touches to give the look a lift. 

5. Candles in a row on a side table or in front of a little used cabinet add a touch of warmth and magic after dark. 

6. Candle wreaths strung from the ceiling make a great replacement for overhead lights at Christmas time. 

7. Fairy lights can brighten up any cabinet or shelving at this time of year. 

8. If you have a relatively large living space, it's nice to have more than one tree! A mini one can brighten up the kitchen, a hallway or a landing! 

9. make your own candleholder with a dough bowl, some moss and a clutch of slim candles! 

10. And of course, the big tree itself! Go all out or keep it simple like Mari - the only rule is to make it uniquely yours! 

I hope you enjoyed these ideas! 

You can see more from Mari's beautiful home over at @anangelinmyhome. 

Check out the Christmas archive for more Scandinavian decorating inspiration this weekend.

Have a cosy weekend!

Niki

Photography by Mari Magnusson courtesy of @anangelinmyhome, shared with kind permission. 

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Cosying up my Bedroom with a Danish Cabinet and Chair

This post is kindly sponsored by Skovby, thank you for supporting the brands that help make My Scandinavian Home possible.

Scandinavia is often synonymous with light wood, but lately I've noticed a growing trend - dark wood is making a steady comeback. In these darker days of December, while the snow falling silently outside, I think there is something incredibly cosy about the darker grain. Here's a fine example of how two beautiful 100% Danish crafted items from Skovby have transformed my bedroom. 

My little bedside stool has been swapped out for the harmonious #402 sideboard in walnut - meaning I suddenly have storage for all kinds of things, as well as a lovely display surface to wake up to each day! 

The beauty of Skovby items is that they are crafted in Denmark and you can often personalise them so they perfectly match your space. With the #402 sideboard, you can mix and match the top which is available in a variety of wood and laminate surfaces. For this shoot, I went for walnut throughout. 

You can also choose between a selection of legs or a plinth depending on what works best with the style of your home. 

Inside, the cabinet has a long drawer and two shelves. You could place the cabinet anywhere in your home, but there's something about being able to reach books, my diary etc without having to leave my bed. Bliss!

How beautiful is this embroidered cushion? It's a vintage Swedish cover which my friend, interior designer Helen Sturesson brought with her for the shoot! I'm going to keep an eye out for something similar on my antique rounds!

Do you have any vintage or antique bedding in your home? 

And now for the other item! 

You may recognise the #827 dining chair as I have the oak white oil version in my cabin! But I'm also absolutely in love with this oak mocca edition seen above in my bedroom - there's something beautiful about the combination of dark wood with the woven seat, don't you think? The rounded back makes it really comfortable too - little wonder it's won countless awards. 

And now, it's just to curl up with a book until nightfall - heaven! 

I have featured so many handcrafted items from Skovby in my home from the past. In case you're curious to discover more, take a peek at: 

Coffee tables and festive touches in our cabin

A glögg bar courtesy of Skovby! 

The skovby glass cabinet in our dining room

You can find your nearest store here. 

In other news, today is my birthday! I was born on St Nicholas day, hence why I am called Nicola (Niki) - yes, my parents named me after 'Santa Claus'!! I am hoping this really does give me licence to curl up with a book this afternoon!

Have a cosy day friends, 

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark

Styling: Helen Sturesson

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Sandra's Cosy Swedish House at Christmas

Hej hej! I hope you had a cosy weekend! Per and I have just returned from the Danish island of Bornholm where we drove through the snowy landscape and visited lots of Christmas markets. It was really magical! I've shared the stories in my highlights on instagram, but tempted to share the trip here, would that be of interest? 

Speaking of Christmas - I hunted high and low to find a cosy festive home this morning, and came across Swedish photographer Sandra Nilsson's house in a village in South Sweden. It's full of 'mysig' (cosy) touches including advent candles, wreaths, hyacinths and of course a tree! Not only that, but the interior is a dream for anyone who loves vintage and antique items - which can be seen everywhere from the kitchen to the dining room and bathroom, all of which bear the wonderful markings of a life well lived! 

Välkommen in! 

Beautiful! I can just imagine coming in from the cold and settling down with a book and a glögg (spiced mulled wine), how about you? 

Is there anything that stands out to you in particular? I am really inspired by Sandra's winter tablescape! 

For more snapshots of this home, head over to Sandra's instagram @vintagehouse. 

Would you like to start your week with more Scandinavian Christmas inspiration? Take a look at: 

A mysig swedish family home at Christmas

Simple Christmas touches in a Norwegian cabin by a fjord

Subtle Christmas touches in a Swedish country home

Have a cosy start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Sandra Nilsson

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6 Subtle Festive Ideas to Steal from Alexandra's Swedish Home

Why, hello there! The big chill in Sweden continues and the Christmas lights look so pretty against the snow - even if it does make for treacherous cycling conditions (yes, Swedes cycle in the snow - with varying results I might add!).  

The minus temperatures also mean we only really go out if we have to - and homes are being transformed into cosy sanctuaries. This also means Christmas decorations come out a little earlier than they might do in other countries. However, I'm not talking the full monty - instead, I've noticed Swedes start out with subtle festive touches with a natural wintery theme and then continue to layer their homes throughout December (something I touch on in my new book Njuta*!). 

In Alexandra Löfgren's family home in Mölndal, south of Gothenburg is full of lovely, subtle touches and nice ideas. I especially love her son Matteo's room with it's brown, rust and blue colour scheme and a mini Christmas tree all of his own! So magical! Here's a glimpse of the rooms and six ideas to steal. 

1. combine amaryllis with other foliage from the garden such as branches with berries and eucalptus for a beautiful bouquet. 

2. A simple touch of pine in a vase draws the winter season inside without going all out 'Christmas'. 

3. Swap out your usual pendant light for a star pendant such as this one. It can easily be stored the rest of the year!

4. A mini undecorated tree in a pot can be decorated as time goes on - and kept until the following year! 

5. Add a mini Christmas tree in unexpected places - such as in the hallway or in a children's bedroom to sprinkle a little magic all over the home! 

6. Wreaths can be placed anywhere in the home, but I especially love seeing them over the bed, as seen here! 

I hope Alexandra's home has given you some cosy ideas! 

If you're looking for more Christmas decorating inspiration this weekend check out these home tours:

15 small festive touches to steal from a Swedish country home

A Copenhagen home full of festive cheer

A colourful vintage-inspired Christmas themed home in Denmark

Inspiring Christmas touches in a Swedish family home

11 Christmas decorating ideas in Mari's lovely Swedish home

And also, scour the Christmas decoration archive - for a ton of beautiful Scandi ideas to be found! 

If you'd like a virtual tour this weekend, Per and I will be heading to a Christmas market on the island of Bornholm, which has a focus on quality goods and creating a magical atmosphere - and I'll be covering it in my instagram stories! 

Have a cosy weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Alexandra Löfgren, shared with kind permission.

*promotion of my own work. 

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Beautifully Simple Ways to add a Scandi Glow to Your Home This Advent!

It's been snowing all night here in Malmö and our world has transformed into a winter wonderland. 

In Scandinavia, Christmas (or 'winter') decorations are taken very seriously not least because candles and fairy lights help to brighten up the darkness and touches from nature draw the cosiness of the season indoors. 

Our Nordic friends tend to start decorating on the First Sunday of Advent - starting in a simple way with star lanterns, candles and maybe a wreath for the door. The star of the day of course, is the advent candle. These come in many shapes and forms including a numbered candle, four candles in a wreath, a simple candleholder in the window or even a crown hung from the ceiling. You may choose to forgo the tradition entirely and just enjoy the warm glow of candlelight in the evening. 

Here is some inspiration for those of you who love candles as much as I do! 

There are just so many different ways to do candles - from ore fanciful to incredibly simple. All beautiful in their own way. Do you have a favourite? 

Would you like to see a few other ideas? Take a look at: 

5 pretty candle displays you can make in an instant

Christmas DIY advent candle ideas

12 budget friendly ways to turn your living room into a winter haven

Perhaps you have your own First Sunday of Advent / winter decorating traditions / ideas you'd like to share? If so, please do tells us all about it in the comments below! 

Have a cosy day friends, stay warm! 

Niki

PS Please always exercise caution with candles in your home. Keep naked flames away from anything flammable and never leave a lit candle unattended. It's also a good idea to only use candles in a well ventilated space. 

Credits: 1. Northern Sisters Collective, 2 Maja Olausson, 3. Tina Sosna, 4. Magnus Lundgren, 5. What decorates my day 6,7,8 Unknown - found on Pinterest (can you help?) . 

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