7 Christmas Gift-Wrapping Ideas Using Cloth (Furoshiki)

Back in October I thought to myself "this year, I'm going to be super organised people and buy / make / bake all my Christmas presents well in time". Fast forward two months and I'm in the same position as I am every year - a few things left to buy, none wrapped. But this weekend, things are about to change. Once I've ticked everything off my list, I'm going to attempt a new gift-wrapping method: Furoshiki. 

For those of you not familiar with it, Furoshiki is a Japanese square-shaped cloth traditionally used to wrap and transport goods, with a focus on aesthetics (I like the sound of this already)! Although less formal than 'fukusa' which is used to present more formal gifts, Furoshiki is becoming increasingly popular in the design world. And the good news? You can wrap your presents in just about any fabric you have at home: silk, cotton, linen, nylon. As long as you can fold it, you can use it! Feel inspired? Here are 7 examples of beautifully cloth-wrapped presents to get you started! 

1. Top picture: Beth Kirby has used linen and silk to wrap her Christmas gifts.

2. Forever the romantic Swede, Anna Kubel has added a pretty flower, to her wrapping although any Christmas bloom will do!

3. More of a simple fold held together with safety pins, this delightful wrapping would look equally pretty with a sprig of eucalyptus, boxwood or holly as it does dried flowers.

4. Pretty berries add a touch of colour to this linen wrapping. 

5. Dried oranges, spruce and cinnamon add a divine smelling, decorative touch to wrapping. 

6. Dried wild flowers make a pretty touch - anytime of the year! 

8. Or for something completely different, why not wrap your presents in knit - they'll be as snug as a bug in a rug - and look pretty too! 

So pretty, and this is all very well, but I noticed that there are no awkward shaped items here like a football or a bottle of wine! No fear though, as there are many different Furoshiki techniques you can use - find out more here. 

What do you think, could you imagine using the art of Furoshiki this Christmas? 

More gift wrapping inspiration: 

5 gift wrapping ideas with a natural touch

8 beautiful rustic gift wrapping ideas

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Happy wrapping! 

Niki

Credits in order: Anna Kubel, Beth Kirby, no credits found,  Majamas Earth, Shyntatamya, Découvrir Design, Adventures in Cooking - shared with thanks. 

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Lena's Serene Swedish Home At Christmas

When it comes to decorating Lena Lidman has one of those natural gifts - the ability to pick up unique vintage pieces and place them seamlessly into the home. The result is a beautifully balanced look - neutral and serene yet warm and inviting. At Christmas, she adds subtle touches: a star here, a garland of angels there. Keep a look out for the spruce and pine in vases. And for those of you who don't celebrate 'Jul' there's plenty to feel inspired by all the same. So pull up a chair, we're off to Umeå, in the North of Sweden for the full tour! 

I love a window seat - after all, everyone needs a little 'me time', especially at this time of the year, and it's a perfect spot from which to sit and watch the world go by. 

The cabinet was a vintage find, and Lena has given it a lick of paint to match the kitchen cabinets. 

Paper star lanterns* and pendants* look equally pretty at night as they do in the day. 

The painting and sculpture were picked up at Stockholm second hand shop Bergenström Rekvisita. Note how the shelf itself is made up of a simple plank of wood balanced on magazines. 

Lena has painted the wooden bookshelves to match the wall so they blend seamlessly into the room - I have a feeling these ones are from IKEA. 

Such a beautiful home. I love the vintage touches - and all the pretty decorations. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Ready to deck the halls with boughs of.... eucalyptus, boxwood and spruce? See more Scandi christmas inspiration here: 

Candles and stars in a cosy Swedish home

A Mysig Swedish family home at Christmas

5 jolly holly Danish Christmas homes

I'm off to the summer cottage today to see how our tiny cabin build is going. I hear the internal wood panelling is being fitted - so exciting!! I can't wait to see everything and share an update here soon. In the meantime, keep an eye on my instagram stories if you're feeling curious! 

Niki

Photography: Lena Lidman, shared with kind permission 

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A Vintage Christmas Table Setting in a Swedish Greenhouse

In a time when socialising outdoors in winter has become a thing - there's one particular piece of garden equipment that has exploded in Scandinavia: the greenhouse! Not only are they great for plants (I could really use one for my lemon tree, it's taking over our bedroom like something out of Little Shop of Horrors!), they've become a perfect hybrid setting for indoor / outdoor gatherings! And in wintertime they really come into their own! Just look at this wonderful vintage Christmas setting in Marlene Agemo's garden in Märsta - on a farm just outside Stockholm. The greenhouse is festooned with Christmas cheer with pretty paper flowers (DIY instructions here) hung from string lights, vibrant red touches and an au natural tree. Layers of textiles, candles, and a heater help to keep everyone snug and full of festive cheer while the chickens roam free outside. 

What a beautiful setting! 

I love all the vintage linens (I was excited to find a load of vintage Swedish Christmas linens* and also rolls of farmers linen by the metre* - I love this roll of French sacking* too!) and crockery. 

Could you imagine enjoying a Swedish Christmas fika here? 

You might like to check out Marlene's shop Fru Vintage for ceramics, textiles, clothes and coffee (in Swedish). 

If you have elderly relatives (or others who simply feel more relaxed socialising outside) visiting over the holidays here are a few other ideas: 

A pretty outdoor table setting

7 winter warmer essentials for an outdoor gathering

Inspiration: Turn your outdoor space into a cosy haven this winter

I'm actually off to the woods in a minute to go and find a few pretty bits on the forest floor for our home this Christmas (trust me, I'm way behind!). The sun's shining and my thermos is full! 

Wishing you all a lovely day!

Niki

Photography:  Marlene Agemo / Fru Vintage, shared with kind permission 

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Simple Christmas Touches in A Norwegian Home By a Snow-Covered Fjord

High up on a hill overlooking the magnificent snow covered Stranda fjord, in Norway, Eldrid, Martin and their children Aron and Naomi's home is all ready for Christmas. Forget ostentatious displays, the family have taken a subtle approach, allowing the magnificent, ever-changing snowy scenery to take centre-stage. And I couldn't imagine it any other way! 

"When it comes to decorating, I like to keep it simple and organic, yet festive. I often use a combination of spruce, pine, and eucalyptus as well as brass ornaments and a hint of burgundy" - Eldrid. 

When you live in Norway, there's never a shortage in Christmas trees to choose from!! And this fine one is a perfect size for the room. I love how it's been simply decorated with a few baubles and decorative pieces. 

Glass decorations (such as this pendant tea light holder*) add a festive touch and yet allow the view to shine through. I can imagine it looks so pretty after sunset too!    

"In wintertime, you mostly find me on my skis on top of a mountain. We moved here because of the good powder skiing and the nature because we love to be active outdoors. I love ski touring and also spend a lot of time at Strandafjellet ski resort with my family" - Eldrid. 

A simple window seat (the Hadley daybed is similar) makes a perfect spot from which to watch the natural world go by (while keeping warm!). 

"I love to see how the snow covers the mountains, and how the fog casts a magical spell over the fjord in winter" - Eldrid

A dish made by local sculptur Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng sits beside Norwegian interior magazine Nytt Rom on a set of mid-century nest tables (try an auction site like Lauritz for similar). 

I'm such a big fan of eucalyptus at Christmas time. Did you know that you can also hang a bouquet from your shower head? It smells wonderful when the hot water runs over it. 

What a beautiful place to spend winter! It makes me want to strap some cross-country skis to my feet and head off across the snowy peaks! 

Could you imagine spending the winter holidays here?

See more of Eldrid's beautiful home over at @housebythefjord.

Other Norwegian homes to love in wintertime: 

A simple, yet cosy cabin by a fjord

A Norwegian home on Christmas Eve

A lovely Norwegian home decorated for Christmas

Meanwhile in Sweden today, its St Lucia day - one of the biggest events in the Christmas calendar. A 400 year-old custom, choirs (and children) across the country will be taking part in a pagan Lucia procession. The central character is 'Lucia' who dresses in white with a big red sash and wears a crown of candles in her hair, but children might also to choose to dress as a gingerbread man, Father Christmas as well as other characters. It's a lovely celebration (even if most are taking place over Zoom this year!). 

Wishing you all a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of House by The Fjord with thanks.

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A Pretty Scandinavian Christmas Table Scape

Entertaining this December? I discovered this beautiful Scandinavian Christmas table setting earlier and had to share it with you in case you're looking for inspiration! Created by Emelie Sundberg and Emma Johansson for LINUM, it features everything I love: layers of textiles, delicate cocktail glasses, pretty festive touches and of course, plenty of candlelight. 

I love the slim candles (buy in bulk here*!), they look so pretty against the dark, earthy wall. 

Edit: A note on the overhead candles: they've been installed using special candle holder clips which will keep them firmly in place and each candle has been placed firmly away from any branches or anything else flammable. Of course, to do something like this you'd need a really high ceiling and also exercise caution. Never leave candles unattended and always extinguish before leaving the room. But to avoid any doubt, these battery-powered candles would be a better option! 

The use of ribbons add a soft, romantic touch to the setting. If I tied the plates up like this at home I can  just see Per looking at it completely baffled!! But I for one, would appreciate it, and I think my girls would too! I also love how the berries add a delicate touch of colour. 

So pretty!

I hope it has given you a few ideas for your table this December. 

See more beautiful Christmas inspiration here:

Simple, yet pretty Christmas / party table ideas

5 mini Christmas tree ideas for small spaces

A Swedish country home at Christmas 

Have a cosy evening! 

Niki

Photography and styling: Emelie Sundberg & Emma Johansson

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Inspiring Christmas Touches in a Beautiful Swedish Home

I think it's time for some more Christmas inspiration, do you? And what better than to return to the beautiful Swedish home of photographer and stylist Emelie Sundberg? You might recall the tour back in February - which was understandably hugely popular, and it comes as no surprise that Emelie's home is equally beautiful and cosy at Christmas time. Think pretty snow flowers and star lanterns, homemade wreaths, amaryllis, hyacinths, a wonderful Christmas tree and of course, lots of candlelight. There's inspiration to be found every corner! 

I love the simple idea of storing white candles in a glass vessel. Also note the hyacinths in small* and large glass vases* - this is common a common sight at Christmas in Sweden and makes for a beautiful display that fills the home with a fresh scent! Note also the subtle boxwood wreaths. 

Top picture - Eldig Christmas star*

I've always loved this type of wine glass storage, it's perfect for entertaining too! 

I love pretty amaryllis at Christmas time - and this salmon pink version adds a pop of colour! 

A pretty Sputnik star lantern* hangs over a traditional 'adventsljustake' (advent candleholder) in the window. 

The fireplace has been decorated with a simple straw wreath and candle display. 

Emelie's daughter plays with pretty 'St Lucia tåg' choir figurines on the windowsill. 

A bouquet of amaryllis brightens up the desk in Emelie's study. It's also lovely to have a candle lit while you're working - it's not something I would have thought of living in England, but these days I often light a candle on my desk to help brighten up the winter darkness and create a calm feel (needed at this time of year, right?). 

How beautiful!

I hope you feel as inspired by Emelie's home as I do. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? Also, I'm really curious - do you have the same type of Christmas flowers in your country? 

Follow Emelie's beautiful instagram feed for more inspiration this Christmas.

Other festive homes you might enjoy today: 

11 Christmas decorating essentials from Mari's home

Understated, yet super pretty festive touches in a Swedish family home

A cosy Swedish family home at Christmas

I loved reading your comments about my three new lights yesterday. I was curious to read that in order for a room to feel complete and practical, you should have at least four sources of light. I feel I'm finally getting there now - do you have enough lighting in your home? 

Ha det så bra! 

Niki

Photography: Emelie Sundberg shared with kind permission

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