Perfect dining settings alfresco and indoors

It's Friiiiday - woohoo! Whether you're having a casual weekend at home or a get together with friends and family, here are three very different table settings, all lovely in their own way. I'll be taking inspiration from all the pretty scented jasmine and vines and the strings of light bulbs. Beautiful!

Photography: Gine Meola Photography,Wedding Coordination: Belle Destination Weddings & Events, Inc.,Floral Design: Bella Bloom

Ariel Dearie Flowers

IKEA Livet Hemma

Imagine a party under the boughs of that tree by the beach?!

When it comes to the great outdoors and eating I have a very particular taste - as you can see from my alfresco board on Pinterest! However, if you're into the more contemporary style you'll love this outdoor lounge by Studiopepe and for cool roof top living check out this post (loving the apple green table).

If you're looking for outdoor furniture Nest have the most amazing collection of contemporary pieces. Or for garden furniture on a shoe string, the fab Roxö chairs in grey (as shown in the last three pics) from IKEA are a perfect choice.

For some fantastic inspiration on how to bring green indoors check out the home of florist Sarah Nolan. Or for simplicity, how about floating plants in glass, so beautiful!

It's going to be SUNNY here in Southern Sweden all weekend so I'll definitely be working on my (tiny) garden and sipping mint tea a chilled glass of Sancerre while my girls mix mud and water to make cakes :) How about you? 

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Merry Christmas / God Jul!

Dear friends, thank you for making this year so special—with your kind, thoughtful, and inspiring comments and emails - or simply for stopping by and having a quiet read. You’ve helped make My Scandinavian Home a space that brings calm and positivity, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. This community truly means the world to me!

If you’re craving more inspiration over the holidays, here are some of my favourite archives to explore:

Swedish homes
Danish homes
Norwegian homes
Cabins
Small spaces

And for a little sparkle: 

Pretty table settings
Christmas / Christmas decorations

Or if you'd prefer to spend a little time offline, you can find all my books here, here and here* (just in case you'd like some extra Scandinavian decorating and lifestyle inspiration over the holidays!). 

I’ll be taking a short break to recharge and will return to My Scandinavian Home on Monday 6th January. 

Wishing you all a wonderful, relaxing break, a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you! 

Niki 

*advert / promotion for my own work. 

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Viktoria's Swedish Home with Pretty DIY Festive Touches

Today, we're going on a journey up North to the cosy home of Viktoria Holmgren in Umeå. Sweden. Viktoria is a dab hand at DIY and there are so many lovely creative ideas around her home at Christmas time. Wreaths, stars, bouquets and small embellishments all feature in each room of the house, making it a warm, inviting and 'mysigt' place to be, even when it's cold outside. Let's take a look! 

At Christmas time, Swedes love to go all out, even swapping normal pendant lights for wreaths or stars like this one by Watt & Veke. 

A sidetable in the kitchen has been transformed into a festive bar with glasses and plates at the ready! My Mum does this too in her house in London and it creates such a lovely vibe - like there could be a party any minute! I do love a home bar, how about you? 

There's something special about vintage glasses like these. I have set from the 1930s at home. 

Viktoria has made candleholder embellishments out of metal leaves to enhance her usual candlestick holders at Christmas - such a lovely idea! 

Wreath making is on the cards year round in Viktoria's home. In December boxwood or eucalyptus are the preferred material! 

A simple bouquet of eucalyptus hangs in the study. It would be equally nice placed in the shower to allow the steam to release the aroma - a perfect way to freshen up in winter! 

I love these little mini Christmas trees - they are so simple and take up next to no space. Look at the little mice too! 

Stars and amaryllis add a wintery touch to the bedroom while the snow comes down outside. 

Lovely!

I'm feeling especially inspired about the metal work - and making small embellishments to add to existing items to give them a small Christmassy touch - so clever! 

Is there anything that stood out to you?

See more of Viktoria's ideas and pictures from her lovely home in Umeå here. 

It's dawned on my that there aren't that many posts left here on My Scandinavian Home before the holidays. Is there anything in particular you would like to see? Perhaps Scandinavian Christmas tree round-ups, gift wrapping ideas, party table settings, DIY decorations or other festive decorating inspiration? It's also dawned on me that I haven't showed the full tour of my cabin yet, so perhaps that could also be of interest? Please do let me know your thoughts and ideas below! 

Oh, and another thing, sorry for the mix up with the links in Mondays newsletter. I can only put it down to the fact that it was, well, Monday! Gaaah! If you would like to receive each post directly to your inbox, do sign up at the bottom of the page - and I promise to try to be better with the links! 

Happy Wednesday friends! 

Niki

Photography: Viktoria Holmgren

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'Glad Midsommar'

Studio Impressions / photographer Marcus Bell and team, Brisbane, Australia. Bali Wedding - Angie and Ben

“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,

Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,

Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,

With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.” 

― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Happy Midsummer! And a great weekend (for those of you in the Southern hemisphere!). See you Monday! x

PS - for midsummer floral hair garland inspiration see today's post by 79 ideas and this page on Pinterest. Beautiful alfresco table settings here and here.  And a Swedish garden you'd want to spend midsummer in. 

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