Traditional Swedish Christmas Decorations in Victoria's Cosy Home

 There are just eight days left until Christmas—are you ready (if you celebrate)? I have to admit, things are feeling a little chaotic here. I’m way behind, but hey, at least the tree is up and twinkling away! That counts as a solid start, right? I’m holding out hope that in the coming week, a little Christmas magic will swoop in and get everything sorted.

In the meantime, I’m taking a deep breath—and a good dose of yuletide calm—from the beautiful Swedish kitchen and dining space of Victoria Oderland in Åsa, a small coastal village in the countryside near Gothenburg. 

This cosy living area is brimming with all the charm of a traditional Swedish Christmas: an adventsljusstake glowing softly in the window, candle wreaths suspended overhead, and a warm glow from plenty of candlelight. But there’s one decoration in particular that really stands out—something quintessentially Scandinavian: the Julbock (Christmas goat!). Stay tuned for more on this festive icon!

Have you seen one of these guys before? The Julbock (yule goat) is a Scandinavian Christmas tradition with roots in Norse mythology and pagan harvest rituals. Initially linked to Thor’s goats and fertility symbols, it later became part of Christian Christmas celebrations. Traditionally made from straw and tied with red ribbons, the Julbock symbolized good fortune and holiday spirit. Today, it is a cherished holiday decoration,  and can be seen on tables, windowsills and doorsteps. Do you have something like this in your country? 

So pretty! I love the atmosphere, I so hope my house can feel like this by the end of the week. 

Oh, and did you spot the guy on the kick sled? This form of transport is particularly popular in the countryside further North where they get plenty of snow, it's a great way to get around!

Is there anything from Victoria's home that you loved in particular? If you'd like to see more, head over to her inspiring instagram feed @simple.slow.living. 

Would you like to see a few more homes with a festive touch today? Check out the Christmas archive. 

Have a happy start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @simple.slow.living, shared with kind permission. 

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DIY Touches In A Danish Maker's Home at Christmas

Today, I’m transporting you to the charming thatched cottage of artist and designer Ane Kirstine Bilde to see what she’s up to this time of year. As you can imagine, her home is a hive of creative activity, with Ane at her desk crafting everything from paper snowflakes and sweet-filled cones to hang on the tree, to angel garlands, paper bell gift tags, and embroidered Christmas tree ornaments.

It’s truly inspiring for anyone looking to add their own pretty festive touches to brighten up the home this season! Let’s dive in:

So many pretty ideas, Ane is just so talented. 

I love the cones for sweets and the little gift tags - lovely! Will you make any decorations this holiday? Are there any of Ane's creations that stand out to you in particular? 

You can see a complete tour of Ane's thatched cottage here - and see more daily inspiration over at @anekirstine.bilde. 

Would you like to see a few more danish cottages today? If so, pour a cuppa and take a peek inside these beauties: 

Before and after: a century old danish cottage is given a make-over

A dated Danish home gets a make-over

Henriette's and Tommy's charming danish oasis

Have a happy Wednesday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of@anekirstine.bilde, shared with kind permission

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Maria's Swedish Country Home with Rustic, Handmade Decorations

Hello there! Thank you so much for all your lovely birthday messages on Friday! With that little celebration behind me, I’m all set to dive into the festive season! For those of you who’ve been following My Scandinavian Home for a while, you’ll know this is my absolute favourite time of year—not only because the Christmassy touches bring a much-needed sense of warmth and coziness to our homes during the cold weather (brrrrrr), but also because I love seeing the many unique ways people choose to celebrate. Whether it’s embracing ‘Jul’ or simply enjoying the beauty of the winter season, there’s so much inspiration to be found.

You might recognise the Swedish country home of Maria Narvefors from a previous before and after tour. Maria lives with her family in a 19th-century country house just outside Karlskrona. A lover of flea markets and all things handmade, Maria truly comes into her own during the Christmas season, crafting her own decorations with a simple, rustic flair. Think elegant wreaths, garlands made from dried oranges, foil ornaments, and even a handmade star lantern for the window. Let’s take a tour and see how Maria’s lovely home is transformed for the holidays!

Maria made this lovely star lantern by hand - and has shared the step by step instructions on her instagram.

I love wall hung candles - they are beautiful all year round, but easy to jazz up with a bow at this time of the year.

Check out Maria's DIY foil wreath instructions (in Swedish but easy to solve with a little help from Google translate!). 

There's something magical about a mini Christmas tree in the children's bedroom, plus they can decorate it however they like too! 

I couldn't resist including the last image from the children's bedroom as it's hands down the pretties play kitchen I've seen - the sink unit was handmade by Maria (of course!). Isn't it lovely?

I hope you felt inspired by the decorations in Maria's home. I love how they are mainly made from natural materials and so simple, yet pretty! Is there anything that stood out to you in particular? 

You can see more lovely inspiration from Maria's home over at @marianarvefors. 

Would you like to see some more Christmas / winter decorating ideas today? Take a peek at: 

21 beautiful Christmas tree ideas from traditional to all out crazy (and cat friendly!)

10 Scandinavian decoration ideas from Mari's home

6 subtle decorating ideas from Sandra's swedish home

Happy Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @marianarvefors, shared with kind permission. 

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Jennifer's Elegant Home Sparkles with Christmas Touches and Easy Ideas to Steal

 Hej! Happy December friends—one of my favourite times of the year!

Today, we’re off to a delightful destination I stumbled upon last night: the white clapboard house of Jennifer Zimmerman in Bavaria, Germany. With its charming wreath and fir trees adorning the entrance, her home makes a welcoming first impression. Step inside, and you’ll find spacious, light-filled rooms exuding elegance with just the right touch of festive charm.

Imagine STOFF nagel candle holders with delicate tapered candles, soft velvet bows adorning pendant lamps, and inspiring Advent displays—so many ideas to borrow! Beyond its holiday magic, this house is a year-round sanctuary and combines some of my favourite designer pieces (love the Gubi Pacha armchair) with antique and vintage finds, creating a tranquil yet character-filled space.

Most importantly, it’s a relaxed, lived-in home, featuring a harmonious blend of furniture styles and eras, thoughtfully curated bedrooms and bathrooms, and an inviting atmosphere which is perfect for a little calm, no matter the season.

Welcome to Jennifer's world!

So beautiful! This is just a small selection from the gazillion inspiring pictures of Jennifer's home on her Instagram, @home_of_blossom. If you love what you see here and crave more, be sure to follow along for even more inspiration!

I couldn’t resist ending with a picture of her adorable doggy—how sweet is that?

I hope Jennifer’s home has filled you with ideas and creativity. We all live in homes of different shapes and sizes, but there’s always something to take away from each and every space. From Jennifer’s home, I’m inspired to pick up some velvet ribbon to dot my house with bows this Christmas. I especially love the idea of tying them around the base of candlestick holders (though I’ll make sure to do so safely—no fire hazards!).

What about you? Did anything from Jennifer’s beautiful home catch your eye or spark a creative idea?

For more international home inspiration today, take a stroll through this archive. And if you're feeling festive, check out the magical Christmas archive (just skip over this home if it pops up first–but I wouldn't blame you for taking one more look through the pictures!).

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @home_of_blossom, shared with kind permission. 

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