Sponsored by Skandinavisk (all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too).
It’s the darkest time of the year, and even the daylight has a certain rawness to it. I think that’s one of the reasons I love Christmas so much—it gives the perfect excuse to create a truly cosy home filled with greenery from the season and all the wonderful scents of Christmas. As promised, here are a few pictures from our main living ready for 'Jul'.
This little corner is everyone’s favourite spot. It’s where I drink my morning coffee while catching the sunrise, Per plays the guitar, and the girls relax (no doubt 'snapping' a friend or two). It’s a cosy nook where you can be in the same room as everyone else yet still feel tucked away. I have a never ending rotation of candles here and right now, it's STUGA (with the cosy scent of a secluded Scandinavian cabin!). This nook comes into it's own at Christmas when the house is a hive of activity untangling lights, finalising wreaths and the continuous search for a pair of scissors! Are we the only ones?
Swedes are masters at adapting their home for the season. In winter, it's all about the cosy blankets, sheepskins and bringing plenty of greenery indoors - and I'm here for it! This corner is where we all snuggle up trying to find something we ALL want to watch (no easy feat!). In case you're wondering, our TV is hidden behind the curtain!
Our tree is full of different decorations amassed over the years. Last year I acquired this cute little champagne bottle, which has become a new favourite. If only it was real (and a little bigger!)!
This year, we’ll be at Per’s parents’ for our Swedish Christmas. Swedish tradition has it that Tomten (Father Christmas) brings all the presents in a sack over his shoulder during the afternoon (unfortunately, one family member always seems to miss him—usually when they’ve popped out to buy a newspaper at the most inconvenient moment!). In the meantime, a few presents are already wrapped and waiting for Tomten to collect.
If you’re stuck for ideas, this Yuletide gift set makes a wonderful present for anyone who would love to bring the scent of a Scandinavian Christmas into their home (discount code below!).
This trusty bench has been our coffee table for years. I love changing up what’s on it from month to month; right now it holds some in-season flowers and foliage, a bowl of pine cones, sculptures by our neighbour Simon Vendin, a few vintage decorations, and the gentle smell of the Scandinavian boreal forest thanks to the special edition SKOG candle and scent diffuser. It’s Per’s all-time favourite scent, and it really comes into its own at Christmas (especially if you have a non-smelling tree).
Amaryllis are a Christmas favourite, and this year I went for a burgundy-red variety—simple yet so pretty with a few sprigs of pine. Beside it is a book by my friend Malin Persson, and a JUL candle that fills our upstairs landing with the scent of baked gingerbread, winter cloves, spiced oranges, and mulled wine. Delicious!
I hope you enjoyed these little snapshots of our home at Christmas. If there’s anything you’re curious about that I haven’t mentioned, just let me know below and I'll share the source.
If you’re thinking of treating yourself or a friend to one of the wonderful home fragrances from Skandinavisk ( a B Corp), there’s a 20% code (jul20) available until 20th December 2025.
Wishing you a warm and cosy festive weekend, and thank you for being here. I hope you liked this glimpse inside our home at Christmas. The light already starts to fade at 2pm and it's pitch dark by 3.30pm so it's the perfect place to thaw out from the bike ride home and cosy up for the evening.
Niki
Credits: I took these photographs together with Helen Sturesson.
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