Sweden's Big Christmas Decoration Trend (And You Can Make It Yourself!)

There's only one week to go before the first Sunday of advent and Christmas decorations are starting to pop across Sweden. Don't get me wrong, they haven't gone the whole hog - Christmas trees and dried orange garlands can wait. But nothing cuts through the darkness and lights your way home like the soft, white glow from 'adventstake' (7 candles arranged in a triangle), fairy lights and lanterns. Paper star lanterns have been one of the favourites for many years in Sweden, but this year there's a newcomer on the block: the 'snöblomma'. Made from tracing paper, card or even brown paper bags, these beautiful 'snow flowers' look equally beautiful hung in the window as they do strung up around the house. Last year they sold like wildfire so I wanted to give you a heads up - and spread a little snow flower love! 

Arte Interior Inspo

Rosies Bubble

By Nordic Collective

Viktoria Holmgren

Hjerter Dame

Matilda Stillvaro

Josefin Netz

Möbelmästarna Trollhättan

Nic

Viktoria Holmgren

Aren't they beautiful?! There's a whole array available online - here are a few of my favourites:

GET THE LOOK

1. Paper star
2. Paper lamp shade lantern
3. Watt & Veke Julia Pappstjärna Blush
4. Snöblomma adventsstjärna
5. Watt & Veke Julius Pappstjärna Vit
6. Kathmandu paper star
7. Watt & Veke Oslo Pappstjärna
8. Paper flake
9. Watt & Veke Juliette Pappstjärna Rosa
10. Hanging paper stars

Not available in your country, or prefer to make your own? The good news is that some of these varieties are so easy to make. My girls and I followed Viktoria Holmgren's step by step DIY tutorial below and within an hour we'd created an entire garland!

Simple snow flowers

Frida Ramstedt of Trendenser recently shared this lovely DIY tutorial on how to make brown paper stars / flowers. It's relatively simple, and if you re-use brown paper bags /recycled paper - it's eco-friendly too!

Brown Paper Snow Flowers

Alternatively, if you're a bit of a dab hand at origami (I'm not!), you might like to create your own multi-tiered snow flower. Linnéa has shared a great tutorial (it's in Swedish but accompanied by plenty of pictures to guide you through the process) below:

Masterclass for the origami gifted!

What do you think? Could you imagine hanging these in your home this Christmas?

I think they're so beautiful!

Hop over to this archive to see more Scandi Christmas decorating inspiration this weekend (if this pops up first just scroll over!).

Have a fabulous couple of days friends and see you Monday!

Niki

PS I promise I'm not going to flood the blog with daily Christmas inspiration between now and the 24th December (although there'll certainly be a few!), I just thought I'd better get this out there in case you wanted to hop on the snow flower train! I've got a great home tour to share with you on Monday - not a decoration in sight!

Credits: top picture Fanny Blinden

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A Magnificent Danish Home With a Touch of Hygge!

I am not sure when we last saw the sun here in Southern Sweden, so we're busy making our own light in a way the Scandinavian's know best: with candles. A few bridges away on the Danish mainland, Helle Rye is doing the same in her magnificent apartment in Aarhus, Jutland. Dating back to 1899, the palatial property features parquet flooring, beautiful period touches and large, awe-inspiring rooms which lead through to one another via double doors. Light and airy the space may be, but Helle has also create a wonderfully cosy home for herself and husband Bo. Look closely and you'll spot sofas laden with cushions and blankets, cosy daybeds and sheepskin throws draped over the back of chairs. Oh, and candles, plenty of candles! Welcome to Helle's hyggelige world! 

I am so curious about the black curtains - my guess is that they are in place to dampen the sound, but they also add a certain cosiness (and drama!) to the space too. UPDATE: Helle tells me that she's put the curtains up to hide some really ugly paintings (it's a rental and they're not allowed to do anything about them!).

Does this scene also remind you a little of a sun lounger under a palm tree? Such a great idea to soak up the winter sun (when it appears!). 

Oooooh wow!  Isn't this lovely?!

There's something incredibly regal about Helle's home - and yet it feels cosy and personal too.

Is there anything in particular that stood out to you?

See more of Helle's magnificent home on her instagram A Nordic Moment (news alert: she's started decorating her home for Christmas and it looks magical!).

There's also a load of other danish homes in the archives, I'm loving this Copenhagen family home,  an enchanting apartment in shades of sea-green and an art-filled apartment in Aarhus.

Hav en dejlige dag! - I hope someone, somewhere is enjoying a little sunshine, and if you are - please send a few rays this way!

Niki

Photography: Helle Rye

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10 Super Stylish Ways to Display (or Hide!) Your TV

When I show home tours I'm often asked - "but where's the TV"?! I completely understand, after all, almost every household has one, and they don't often feature. Why is that?! Well, let's face it, a big black rectangle doesn't always make the prettiest shot. But that's what makes inspiration for ways to display our goggle boxes even more important. After all, the viewing position often means it needs to take pride of place in the room! So, here it is folks, a long-awaited blog post dedicated to the telly. I hope you find these 10 genius ways to artfully display - or hide  -  a TV in your home inspiring (feel free to add your own in the comment section below). Here's to binge watching Netflix in style!

Visible

Micaila Britton
1. The 'just another thing on the wall ' trick (top and above) - Helsingborg based Ruta Vitesson (top) and Chicago girl Macaila Britton (above) have both place their flat screens between two shelves, surrounding it with treasures such as art, books and plants for a cosy look and feel.

Muk van Lil

Simone Polk

2. The gallery wall - concealing your TV as part of a gallery wall has never been easier thanks to the arrival of The Frame TV (seen above and below) which displays art instead of a black rectangle when your TV is not in use (genius!). Many modern TV's also allow you to showcase your own photography which can look equally lovely and even more personal!



Kate La Vie
3. Statement art - in a creative home, a TV that can be camouflaged as art makes a huge difference and even add to the space!



Katerina Dima
4. The vignette: help your telly to fit in by including it in a monochrome display which includes plants, candles and cushions. Ikea Bestå units provide the perfect platform and mean you can hide cables, remote controls and other unsightly things underneath. Perfect!

Rikki Lancaster

5. Tone on tone! Let's face it, the TV is never a problem when it's on since it's providing entertainment. The decorating issues arise when it's off! I love this idea of opting for a sleek black TV and mounting it on a matching black wall, it almost disappears!




6. Upstage the TV: place a bold piece of art on the wall beside the telly and your eye will be drawn to that instead of the black rectangle. Extra marks for a beautiful daybed like this so you can turn your back on the flat screen (literally) when not in use too!




7. Create balance: if your goggle box is the only black rectangle in the room, it'll be sure to stand out. Balance the look with other black items (especially if they're rectangular) and the look will be easier on the eye. I love the contemporary fireplace in this sitting room!

Entrance

8. The raiseable TV: This super clever hidden TV solution first appeared in a home tour back in 2015, and I've never forgotten it! The bespoke unit has been designed to cover the radiators and conceal the TV when not in use. Genius!

Amber Interiors / Tessa Neustadt

9. The closet TV: At first glance it's hard to guess where the TV could possibly be in this cosy room. Look closer though, and you'll spot a set of barn doors above the fireplace!

Brady Tolbert / Emily Henderson

10. Behind closed doors: Don't want to see it at all when it's off, but still looking for easy access? Why not stash it in a freestanding cabinet - whether built-in or an enviable unit like the one in Brady Tolbert's bedroom - you'll forget it's even there!

There are just so many clever solutions here, don't you think?

Do you have a favourite?

I mentioned the other day that I've also found a way to hide the TV in my sitting room - and it doesn't involve any of the solutions above. I really hope I get a chance to photograph it and share it with you soon (it's very simple, but often those solutions are the best, right?!).

Do you have any tips for displaying a TV that I haven't covered? If so, I'd love to hear about them!

Niki

PS I have been watching so many series lately (which I blame on the cold and darkness!). A few of my favourites include Big Little Lies, The Affair, The Handmaid's Tale, Killing Eve and Dr Foster. I need a new one now - guh! any tips?!

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If you move to Gothenburg in Sweden, you could live like this!

I mean, seriously - look at this place! It's 184 square metres (1980 square feet) of pure heaven. I'm already picturing myself swanning (because that surely what's you'd in an elegant apartment like this, swan!) from room to spacious room, the parquet floor softly creaking under foot! Fires would crackle away in the wood burning stoves, casting shadows on the lavish 19th century period features! It's Monday, I'm in love! Let's take a tour and then decide which one of us will move in and invite the other for fika (and the odd party!). Deal?!

Be still, beating heart. I do believe it's a Grand Air love seat (Gen has one in her living room and I couldn't get out of it the entire shoot!). The rug is from Tisca. I also spy a Pion light by Hay.

I really love how the doors, doorframe and skirting boards have been painted in a mid-grey, it adds a contemporary touch to the room and helps to highlight the details of the magnificent doors. 

 

I'm all into blue velvet sofas right now having installed one in my own sitting room last week - are you a fan too? I'm not sure where this one is from (love the studs!) - any idea?

We have a rubber plant like this at home too. We call it 'Farfar' (which means Father's Father or 'Grandad' in Swedish) since Per inherited it from his grandfather who passed away many years ago. It's an amazing plant!

These Swedish masonry ovens are just so beautiful, don't you think? They are amazingly efficient too (the tiles retain their heat long after the fire has gone out).

Are you convinced yet?! 

I'd move in in a heartbeat!

Other fabulous historical properties to enjoy today:

A vintage inspired Swedish home full of soul (this one is soooo charming!)

A boho dairy in the Swedish countryside

An eclectic 19th century Swedish house

I hope you have a great start to the week, I've got a feeling this one is going to be a great one!

Niki

PS - I've had SO many questions about the Bemz covers from Friday's post. If you're stuck on which fabric to choose, I'd advise ordering a few samples. They're very quick to send them out and you should still be able to order in time to receive the 25% discount. 

Photographs courtesy of Entrance, with thanks.

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