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. 

READ MORE...

10

A Carpenter's Swedish Country Home in The Snow

In my last post I mentioned that I was going to start sharing a few Christmas posts this week – but bear with me, because first I have the charming home of a carpenter (or at least, studying to be a carpenter) in north-west Skåne to show you – no doubt not far from our own summer cottage!

This traditional red-and-white Swedish country home belongs to Henrik and his family, who have been renovating it over time, transforming it into a lovely space where home-grown onions and garlic hang in the kitchen, a fire crackles in the living room and cats roam freely. Keep an eye out for classic Swedish colours – green, blue, ochre and burgundy – as well as the pretty wallpaper that adorns the bedroom walls.

Välkommen in (as they say in Swedish).

So cosy! I love the wood cladding – it adds so much character. I’m also a fan of how the window frames and skirting boards have been painted in different colours (or darker shades) – it’s something we’re seeing a lot of at the moment, and it works particularly well in older homes.

Did you spot anything that caught your eye? If so, please do share below. And if you’d like to follow the carpenter’s work, and see their latest home updates, head on over to @bokbacken5.

For more inspiration today, head over to the country home archive – or, if you’re keen to get decorating for Christmas (it is the first sunday of advent coming up after all), you might like to start scrolling through the Christmas archive. It's my favourite - there is so much to see!

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @bokbacken5, shared with kind permission.

READ MORE...

20

Anita's Cosy Little Cottage in the Cotswolds (before and after)

I hope you can humour me by visiting the Cotswolds one more time (after the house in Friday’s post) — after all, it’s such a beautiful part of England! This time, I’m taking you on a tour of Anita Russell’s very cosy little cottage. Anita has been busy renovating the house one room at a time, transforming it into a charming place to snuggle up in during autumn and winter — surrounded by beautiful warm tones, vintage furniture, country accessories, pretty wallpaper, and a roaring fire.

I couldn’t resist sharing some before pictures so you can see the incredible work that has gone into turning this house into a cosy family home - which is as snug as can be in Autumn time. 

So, get ready to wrap up, pour yourself a warm drink, and get in the mood for a cosy English cottage!

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

Dining area before

Dining area after

Sitting room before

Sitting room after

Master bedroom before

Master bedroom after

Children's room before

Children's room after

Cosy bathroom

I absolutely love what Anita has created. How about you? Much of the magic comes down to her use of paint, veering away from bright white to create a calmer, cosier feel. The textiles add layers of warmth, and the abundance of wood brings a touch of the countryside indoors, adding both texture and character. By incorporating one-off vintage finds, each with its own story, she’s given the space plenty of soul, while the wainscoting and window dressings soften the lines and add a beautifully traditional touch. Just my two pennies' worth! 

Is there anything you spotted that I missed? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

See more pictures (and find out about the details) over at Anita's lovely instagram @by_anitarussell.

Shall we take a look at a few more cosy cottages this grey autumn day? How about:

A charming little Swedish cottage in the heart of Stockholm
A cosy Swedish cottage with stunning sea views
Helen's cosy Swedish cottage kitchen

Have a cosy start to the week!

Niki

Credits: @by_anitarussell, shared with kind permission.

READ MORE...

23