A Little Cosy Scandinavian Christmas Inspiration

Tjena! I hope you had a cosy weekend and a happy first Sunday of Advent. In Scandinavia, that’s officially when the home gets its first layer of Christmas decorations – stars and adventsljusstake (candelabras) appear in the windows, lighting up the dark streets and bathing them in a welcoming glow. It’s a magical time of year to be here.

Today I wanted to share a little of the Scandinavian festive spirit with you through some beautiful, cosy, Christmas-ready images I’ve been squirrelling away on Instagram. This year I’ve noticed red creeping back in, alongside plenty of nostalgia — think vintage finds and ornaments collected over time or passed down through generations. I hope you enjoy the inspiration and the journey to Scandinavia in wintertime.

I love how the tree is bursting with an array of ornaments, flags, garlands — anything goes! It reminds me of the tree we had growing up in my parents’ house. My sisters and I were always in charge of the decorations; boxes and boxes of ornaments would be brought down from the loft and, just as we thought we’d finished (after a good few hours!), the weight of the reindeer, chocolates, drums and tiny children sledging would be weighing down the branches, with not a space left for one more. And my mother would come in and say, “That’s not finished — there’s hardly anything on it!”

I felt all the other images also perfectly capture this time of year. I love the Norwegian sauna in the fjords at the end. On the 23rd of December, a sauna is booked for the entire extended family so we can dust off the cobwebs, shake off work, and prepare for the holidays feeling relaxed, revived and rosey cheeked (and that's before the 'glögg'! 

Did any of the images catch your eye?

And if you have a tree, how do you like to decorate it?

For a couple of Christmassy home tours today, take a peek inside: 

Anna Truelsen's festive Swedish home
DIY touches in a Swedish maker's home at Christmas
Maria's rustic Christmas home with rustic DIY touches

Happy 1st December!

Niki

PS did you spot the little kitty? 

Photography credits: 1. Cato Ravatsbakk 2. @vartlillagrona 3. @myhappydays 3. @elinmeadowss 4. @hjarterumdeisgnointerior 5. @hannesmauritzson 6. @fjordfiskerenhjem 7. @vartlillagrona 8. @breakfastlondon. 

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DIY Swedish Christmas Decorations From Johanna's Charming Home

Yes, there is a definite theme running through my posts right now – they all seem to start with a traditional red-and-white Swedish cottage in the snow. But while the outside might have similarities, on the inside they all have a unique stamp. And this cosy home of Johanna in Vimmerby, Småland is no different — the town is best known as the birthplace of beloved author Astrid Lindgren.

With the first Sunday of Advent this weekend, I wanted to share something from Johanna’s charming home that I think the Swedes are especially great at – simple, DIY Christmas decorations that don’t cost the earth and look absolutely lovely!

Keep an eye out for Johanna’s step-by-step visual guide on how to create paper chains to hang from the ceiling and paper baubles to adorn your tree – all you need is some paper, scissors, and a needle and thread. I also love her bowl decoration with pomegranates and Advent candles!

Ready to feel inspired? Step this way! 

Johanna's DIY paper chain

Johanna's DIY paper tree ornament

I hope Johanna's lovely home in Vimmerby has given you some inspiration for your own decorations this season! Will you also be making a few?

Here, I'm looking forward to having my first glögg (spiced mulled wine) of the season (while reading through all your comments and responding!) and putting a few decorations up on Sunday to brighten up the darkness. I hope to share some pics with you later next week!

In the meantime, if you're looking for more festive inspiration from Sweden – take a peek at Johanna's inspiring Instagram feed and also:

DIY Christmas decorations
Christmas home tours

Have a cosy weekend. See you Monday!

Niki

Photography by @johannaikulla, shared with kind permission. 

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Step Inside a Warm & Welcoming Swedish Christmas Home

I’m often asked how Scandinavians cope with the long, dark winters — and honestly, even when you try your best, the cold and endless twilight can wear you down. But if there’s one thing they’ve mastered, it’s hygge: that soft, glowing sense of comfort that makes winter feel that bit more manageable. And it shines brightest at Christmas. Paper stars are already glowing in windows, early trees are popping up, and the whole vibe is warm and welcoming — exactly what you want after biking home through the icy dark.

It’s one of my favourite moments of the year, which is why I’m excited to start sharing some “Jul” inspiration here on the blog ahead of the first Sunday of Advent. Yay! Ready to get cosy?

I thought today’s home tour is the perfect way to ease in. This charming red-and-white country house outside Kristinehamn belongs to Emma and Rickard and their children, and it captures everything I love about Swedish Christmas. They’ve gently updated their 1930s home, blending old character with a light, modern touch that feels especially magical in Advent.

Outside, the landscape is tucked under a fresh layer of snow, and the windows glow with soft Advent lights. Indoors, it’s simple, cosy and wonderfully unhurried — exactly the kind of festive feeling I can’t wait to share more of.

Ready to take a look? Photographer Jonas Lundberg and stylist Anna Truelsen paid a visit and took these lovely pictures. 

I love how every room has a little touch of holiday spirit — a few sprigs of pine in the pantry, a star by the bed, even a hyacinth infusing the bathroom with scent.

Do you like to sprinkle festive touches throughout your home too?

Are there any details here that stand out to you — or feel different from your own traditions?

I’m hoping to share a glimpse of my own home next week, and of course, there'll be lots more festive posts to come. In the meantime there’s plenty of yuletide inspiration waiting for you in the Christmas archive. 

And before I forget — a big Happy Thanksgiving to all American friends!

Niki

Photography Jonas Lundberg, styling Anna Truelsen, shared with kind permission. 

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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.

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5 extra-cosy Scandinavian cottages in the snow

The snow arrived in Sweden yesterday and oh, how I scoured the web for a snow cottage to share with you today. But alas, it’s been a cazry week and an equally crazy day, and I’ve completely run out of time. And now, with it being 5pm on a Friday night — and our own getaway beckoning this weekend (we really need to hit the road soon; with all the ice, it’s getting more and more treacherous after dark!) — I thought I’d share a throwback to five beautiful, extra-toasty Scandinavian cottages and cabins in the snow with you instead.

I hope they put you in a cosy, wintery mood! 

1. Hanna's Finnish country home in the snow at Christmas

2. A Swedish log cabin by a (iced-over) lake

3. A Swedish country home in snowy North Sweden

4. Pretty DIY Christmas decorting ideas from a Swedish country house

5. A cosy off-grid cabin in Lapland

How wonderful! Is there anything better than a log cabin in the snow with a roaring fire, a ton of books, and a stack of games?

Speaking of which, it’s time for us to head down to Ystad! I hope you have a wonderful weekend — and stay warm if it’s as cold where you are as it is here.

I’m looking forward to getting started with some more Christmassy posts next week… it’s time!

Niki

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