6 beautifully simple Scandinavian DIY Christmas decorations

It seems every house I visit is a hive of Christmas DIY activity right now. Kitchen tables have been transformed into makeshift workstations and laden with glue, wire, scissors and various other tools. Branches of foliage, acorn cups and cinnamon sticks lie in various states of transformation, with wonderful creations rising from the creative debris. This is why it's my favourite time of the year. Everyone gets creative! In case you're in need to a little inspiration to get you started, I've rounded up 6 of my favourite beautifully simple DIY Scandinavian- style Christmas decorations doing the rounds this year.

Ooooooooh so lovely, don't you think?

Here's how:
1.  Marij Hessel talks us through fab DIY baubles.
2.  Norwegian blogger Nina Holst's pretty mini wreath place setting (no instructions, but I am guessing twisting into a circle and wiring together?).
3. See the DIY instructions for A Merry Thought's wonderful minimal half wreath.
4. Light up your wreath like Francois et Moi's DIY candle wreath.
5. Or go traditional like Babes in Boyland's rosemary wreath (step by step guide here).
6. And finally, who said putting up lights isn't creative?! How about shunning the usual Christmas ones for simple string bulb lighting like at Zeta's Julmarknad and arrange your way?!

After a few more ideas? You might also like to check out 3 beautifully simple DIY Christmas decorations. And my Christmas archive (scroll past the first post if it's this one) - full of Scandinavian homes in the festive spirit (including my own!).

What will you be making this Christmas?

Have a wonderfully creative weekend!

PS This post is a result of a special request from my sister - good luck with your wreath tomorrow Cas!

PPS Don't forget to enter the give-away to win an Abbott & Mosley watch! It only takes a minute!

READ MORE...

3

15 Small Festive Touches To Cosy Up Your Home, Swedish Style

This weekend we had our first flurry of snow, and it's brightened up our world! Even so, the chill has meant we've really had to baton down the hatches and ramp up the hygge in our homes! And with the First Sunday of Advent just around the corner (traditionally the day Scandinavians start to decorate their homes for Christmas), I've been busy finding pretty yuletide inspiration. It's too early for a tree, at least in my mind, but there's no harm in starting to think about adding small cosy touches, right? Here are a few simple ideas I love from Sweden: 

1. Overhead wreath: don't reserve wreaths just for the door, string them up over the table for a pretty display. Add battery run fairy lights or candles to bring a warm glow to mealtimes. 

2. Oil lamps: brighten up your home and enjoy evenings under the soft glow of an oil lamp - they can burn for ours at a time! 

3. Swap your usual pendant light for a star! Swedes go to great lengths to transform their homes each season. I love this star lamp from Watt & Weke, it adds a lovely festive touch to the room at Christmas!

4. Lay foraged branches on the table: Find whatever you can in your garden, the nearby park or woods and lay it along the centre of your dining table for a pretty yet simple in-season touch. 

5. Mini, undecorated trees: I know I said this wouldn't include Christmas trees, but who can resist a mini tree in a vase? Left undecorated, it doesn't become overly festive which means you can get away with it as early as you like. It's a great way to bring nature indoors. 

6. Ramp up the candleholders: Group together candleholders in all shapes and sizes to bring light and warmth to the table. 

7. Light up your windows: This Sunday, every window in Sweden will be lit by an adventsljusstaker (advent candle - this one is called Tilpi and available here*) like the one seen above or a star lantern. It really helps to brighten ups the darkness, and feels so welcoming to arrive home to! 

8. Bouquets of Christmas flowers: In-season blooms are a great way to add a touch of colour. Swedes love amaryllis and hyacinths in particular! 

9. Garlands of dried oranges: Dry orange slices and thread them into a garland to make a pretty display in the window. 

10. Window wreath: wreaths don't need to be ostentatious affairs, especially early on in the festive period. A dainty green wreath adds a cosy touch to a window.

11. Gingersnap garland: Thread together pepparkaka for a garland that's good enough to eat! It will fill your home with the sweet smell of cinnamon too! 

12. Paper stars and snowflowers: Swedes love to hang paper stars in the windows, cabinet doors or just about anywhere else in their homes. Add light so they glow up at night!  

13. Wall or window hung candles*: So much prettier than a sconce - a wall hung candle will brighten up the darkest corner of your home. 

14. Don't forget the bathroom: Swedes love to place candles* just about anywhere in the home - including the bathroom! And when it's cold outside, a candlelit bath or shower does wonders for the soul! 

15. Add subtle touches to your entranceway or deck: put a smile on others faces - and your own when you arrive home by placing simple festive touches outside your door. It's amazing what a simple lantern, wreath or bare tree can do to brighten up cold winters days! 

I hope this has put you in the mood for adding a few, subtle yet cosy winter touches to your home! 

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, when do you usually start decorating? And when does your tree go up? 

Would you like to see some more Christmas decorating ideas? Here are a few posts I hope you'll find inspiring: 

Beautiful Danish Christmas decorations in Helen's Swedish cottage

10 Scandinavian Christmas crafting ideas

Inspiring Christmas touches in a beautiful Swedish home

Have a great start to the week friends, stay warm! 

Niki

Photography credits: 1. Lise Stang-Jacobsen 2. Frida Lundgren 3. Emelie Sundberg 4. Anna Truelsen 5. Emelie Sundberg 6. @mariasinredning 7. @mariasinredning 8. Västergården 9. Linda Haglund 10. Johanna Flyckt Gashi 11. Anna Truelsen

*Exercise extreme caution when using candles - always keep them away from flammable items, never leave naked flames unattended and enquire a fire extinguisher is nearby. 

READ MORE...

14

Dreaming of a white Christmas in a Swedish home

With 1st advent this Sunday I felt it called for some beautiful Scandinavian Christmas inspiration, what do you reckon?! If like me you like to keep things simple, you'll love the details in this lovely home here in Skåne, Southern Sweden.  Think paper star lanterns, sprays of pine, a simple foliage wreath and an abundance of super cosy fluffy sheepskins and chunky knit throws against a completely white backdrop. No surprise the owner, Malin runs the most beautiful Instagram feed called Vittvittvitt (any guesses what this means?!), which features daily snapshots of her beautiful home. Here's a sneak peek....

Photos: Malin N / Vittvittvitt shared with kind permission

....soooo dreamy. I love the subtle decorations - warm and festive and yet still very natural and calm.

How about you?

Get the look: sitting room - sheepskin throw, cream blanket (this super-size white chunky knit is absolutely beautiful!) knitted cushion, white paper star lanterns in black and white, Bertoia diamond chair,

Other lovely Scandinavian-style Christmas inspiration links I love:

A beautiful wreath (with DIY tutorial to match) and a pine and cyprus wreath. Or just this.

Christmas eve in a Norwegian home.

A simple Christmas tree display.

A new England tree farm (chopping down your own tree is a tradition in our family and I got so excited when I saw this farm - beautiful! Do definitely check if you've got a tree farm near you, it's so much fun!)

And last but by absolutely no means least the ultimate Christmas ice breaker....cranberry-orange margaritas...

....actually, who needs to wait for Christmas? It's the weekend! Skål!

Have a wonderful couple of days!

PS Don't forget to use your 10% discount at Type Hype - with code MSH10 valid until 1st December! 

PPS I'll be popping in on Sunday with a great gift idea for young and old who love to travel....

READ MORE...

3

Beautiful, simple Danish Christmas DIY inspiration

It's Friday (woohoo!) and a big day in our household as we'll be heading off shortly to watch my youngest daughter in her 'Luciatåg' (St Lucy day or 'festival of light' celebrations) at nursery - so lovely! After the singing we're all treated to pepperkaka, saffron buns and a steaming mug of glögg! Now that's the way to start the weekend (make mine a strong one!). Today's Christmas inspiration comes courtesy of Bjørn Johan Stenersen who blogs wonderful images, DIY inspiration and recipes over at 2 at home (part of Danish magazine Bo Bedre). I love the simplicity of these decorations, perfect inspiration for the weekend!

Bjørn Johan Stenersen -  2 at Home - Bo bedre shared with kind permission.

I love the 'back to nature / less is more' approach (you may have noticed from my Christmas archive!), many of these items are homemade - if you feel like getting craft this weekend check out the tutorials here  and here (in Danish but Google translate comes in handy!).

More links I love this weekend:

Don't miss this Danish home belonging to Anne Langhoj, beautifully captured by one of my favourite photographers Tia Borgsmidt (see more homes captured by Tia here, here and here).

Simple yet stunning Christmas ideas you can make at home this weekend:

A pretty wreath and candle display
A foraged Christmas triangle wreath
Circular wreath with white candle

And finally - could you imagine spending the weekend at this cabin by the sea on Vega island in Norway?

I'll be back tomorrow with an exciting Christmas gift reader offer for you - so make sure you stop by!

Have a great Friday!

PS I loved hearing your thoughts on the 'dark' home trend in the comment section of yesterday's post! 

READ MORE...

6

A Swedish Country Home That's Charming Inside and Out!

Let's go on a trip to Borås, West Sweden today and stop by at the fairy-tale home of  Evelina Lovisa Lind, her husband, two boys and cutest pups Tage and Tore. A photographer, Lovisa takes daily snaps of their home and life in Västra Götaland County while she studies gardening. The family home is a wonderful blend of antique and vintage finds set against a 'moody' backdrop of greys combined with accent walls adorned in William Morris. Evelina has drawn the surrounding landscape indoors using botanical prints, nature inspired wallpaper, climbing plants and fresh flowers from the garden. Keep a special lookout for the beautiful pendant light (I'd love one for my own home!) and the whimsical DIY idea! 

Intercepting the tour to point out the beautiful recycled Tropez pendant lamp - made from paper mâché and inspired by a floppy sunhat! The botanical prints are by Swedish artist Jonna Fransson. 

So beautiful - indoors and out!

Greenhouses are having a real moment in Sweden - popping up left, right and centre and used for everything from traditional gardening to a garden room. Are they popular where you are too? 

And now for the simple, yet pretty DIY idea: a candle wreath wrapped in dried Pearly Everlasting flowers. It's a perfect way to prolong the summer, and it'll stay in place for years!  Here's how: 

1. Pearly Everlasting is known for its excellent dried flowers. To dry them out, cut the stems before the blossoms are fully open and then hang them upside down in a dark place.  

2. Weave the dried flowers around the candle wreath as you would when making any other wreath and keep them in place with a thin wire (see this tutorial for more guidance). make sure you give the candles plenty of space to avoid a fire risk (never leave naked flames unattended). 

Lovely idea!

Is there anything that stood out to you about Evelina's house and garden?

If you'd like to see more snapshots, hop on over to her instagram @lovisalind. 

Ha en bra dag! 

Niki

Photography: Evelina Lovisa Lind shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

3

Cosy winter solstice / Christmas inspiration

Today is one of my favourite days of the year - the winter solstice. Not only do I love the short days, in the warm glow candle light, it also means that from now on everyday will gets a teeny bit lighter! And Christmas is only a few days away. This year we're celebrating 'Jul' - at my parents-in-law on 23rd (usually it's celebrated on Christmas eve). It's always such a lovely day with a 'julbord', schnapps, singing and then a knock at the door from 'tomten' (father christmas) with lantern in hand and a sack over his shoulder with presents for all the children (cue lots of excitement!).  Afterwards we're heading to London to celebrate a traditional English Christmas with my parents. So exciting! What are your plans? How do you celebrate Christmas in your home (if you do)? Just in case you're after a few last minute decorating ideas, I've compiled a little inspiration - think cakes decorated with pine, blue candles, foraged wreaths an oh so cosy bedroom and of course, a snowy log cabin. Enjoy!

1. Son de flor 2. Photos : Jeroen van der Spek, Styling Cleo Scheulderman for VT Wonen. 3. Foraged wreath photographed by Sian Richards styling Sarah Nixon.  4. Hanna's Änglar 5. Malin Persson
6. This lovely cabin has been separated from the photographer, can anyone help?

Aaaaaaa, I really do love this time of year, how about you?

If you'd like to discover some of the DIY tutorials / stories behind these images it's well worth checking out the 'Christmas in Blues' feature in VT Wonen - seen here (who would have thought blue could be such a beautiful Christmas colour?) and as always Malin Persson has worked her Christmas magic with a wonderful candle wreath. So inspiring!

And finally, a question for you. Inspired by this snowy cabin, my family and I are looking for a little cottage or cabin to rent in Southern Sweden, Denmark or around Oslo in the first week of January - something cosy, with board games and a log fire. If you have any tips we'd be such happy campers!

Have a lovely day!

READ MORE...

1