my scandinavian home

The Tale of Anna Truelsen's Swedish Home at Christmas

It wouldn't be Jul (Christmas) without sharing the charming home of Swedish interior stylist Anna Truelsen, right? And this year it's as cosy and festive as can be! I caught up briefly with Anna to find out more about what Christmas means to her and her ethos behind the yuletide touches in her country home!

What does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas means so much to me! I like to decorate in a simple way using what nature has to offer. I dress up chandeliers with lingonberry twigs and make garlands from fresh pine.

When do you bring in the Christmas tree?

We put up the tree on 1st December, and then a few days before Christmas when my daughter comes home from Lund University, we decorate the tree in a Nutcracker theme. We have watched the Nutcracker every Christmas together since my daughter was a child.

Your Christmas table looks beautiful!

For me, food means a lot at Christmas and I love picking herring and baking bread.

How do you celebrate Christmas?

We always celebrate on Christmas Eve at home. We start with a special breakfast and sip coffee before 'Tomten' (Father Christmas) arrives to hand out presents. And then we enjoy a a 'Julbord' (Christmas smörgåsbord) in the evening. The day ends with midnight mass at the church.

I love the sound of your Christmas Anna, thank you so much for sharing your story with us!

You can see more pictures from Anna's home on her instagram, and also see a tour from a previous December here.

I have to say, I love the idea of having decorations from the Nutcracker, how about you? My Mother used to take me to see the ballet every Christmas when I was little!

How do you decorate your tree (if you have one / celebrate Christmas)? Do you a have a theme? or perhaps your tree is decorated with an array of nostalgic items collected over the years. I'd love to hear more!

Today in Sweden is a very special day - it's Lucia! A celebration of light which brightens up the darkness, Lucia involves girls in white with a bright red sash and crowned with candles, followed by a procession of characters who are equally resplendent! Usually performed by children in schools across the country, we're treated to songs, saffron buns and glögg (spiced mulled wine)! It's one of my favourite events of the year!

Happy Lucia!

Niki

Photography: Jonas Lundberg

Styling: Anna Truelsen

Shared with kind permission

Lovisa's Cosy Swedish Country Home At Christmas

Tjena! I hope you had a cosy weekend! Sadly, here in the South of Sweden the slow has slowly melted away - but further North they're looking all set for a magical white Christmas!

Evelina Lovisa Lind's traditional red Swedish country home looks so pretty against the white of the snow, and inside it's full of festive touches and as cosy as can be! Think vintage star lanterns, wreaths and plenty of candlelight. One furry member of the family seems to be particularly enjoy the spirit. Scroll on to see more pictures of Lovisa's festive home.

Outside, the cold hasn't stopped Evelina Lovisa from using her greenhouse, quite the opposite! It's been transformed into a pretty dining space! Just added a heater and you can feel all toasty under cover, with the feeling of being outside!

What a beautiful home!

Could you imagine cosying up here this winter? I certainly could!

See more of Lovisa's home over at @lovisalind. I once featured her previous home (also lovely!).

There are also lots of more cosy festives homes to be found in the Christmas archive!

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @lovisalind, shared with kind permission.

10 Scandi Christmas Decoration Ideas from Mari's Home

Hello friends, how are you on this winter day? Now that my birthday is over (thank you for all your kind messages on Wednesday!), Christmas decorating has reached fever pitch in our household, and I've been scouring the web for ideas! One of my go-to people is Mari Magnusson who always adds the most magical festive touches to her country home.

As always, I love to keep things simple, and many of Mari's ideas feature touches from nature, candlelight, white stars and wreaths. Here are 10 beautiful decorations to feel inspired by:

1. Foraged branches bring in the season and look so pretty with paper decorations

2. Simple paper baubles hung from cabinet door knobs add a festive touch

3. Paper star lanterns in the window brighten up the darkness and create a warm and welcoming glow.

4. An imperfect rustic tree tucked in a corner adds charm and a relaxed feel. Add a few small festive touches to give the look a lift.

5. Candles in a row on a side table or in front of a little used cabinet add a touch of warmth and magic after dark.

6. Candle wreaths strung from the ceiling make a great replacement for overhead lights at Christmas time.

7. Fairy lights can brighten up any cabinet or shelving at this time of year.

8. If you have a relatively large living space, it's nice to have more than one tree! A mini one can brighten up the kitchen, a hallway or a landing!

9. make your own candleholder with a dough bowl, some moss and a clutch of slim candles!

10. And of course, the big tree itself! Go all out or keep it simple like Mari - the only rule is to make it uniquely yours!

I hope you enjoyed these ideas!

You can see more from Mari's beautiful home over at @anangelinmyhome.

Check out the Christmas archive for more Scandinavian decorating inspiration this weekend.

Have a cosy weekend!

Niki

Photography by Mari Magnusson courtesy of @anangelinmyhome, shared with kind permission.

FILED UNDER: Christmas Christmas decorations

Cosying up my Bedroom with a Danish Cabinet and Chair

This post is kindly sponsored by Skovby, thank you for supporting the brands that help make My Scandinavian Home possible.

Scandinavia is often synonymous with light wood, but lately I've noticed a growing trend - dark wood is making a steady comeback. In these darker days of December, while the snow falling silently outside, I think there is something incredibly cosy about the darker grain. Here's a fine example of how two beautiful 100% Danish crafted items from Skovby have transformed my bedroom.

My little bedside stool has been swapped out for the harmonious #402 sideboard in walnut - meaning I suddenly have storage for all kinds of things, as well as a lovely display surface to wake up to each day!

The beauty of Skovby items is that they are crafted in Denmark and you can often personalise them so they perfectly match your space. With the #402 sideboard, you can mix and match the top which is available in a variety of wood and laminate surfaces. For this shoot, I went for walnut throughout.

You can also choose between a selection of legs or a plinth depending on what works best with the style of your home.

Inside, the cabinet has a long drawer and two shelves. You could place the cabinet anywhere in your home, but there's something about being able to reach books, my diary etc without having to leave my bed. Bliss!

How beautiful is this embroidered cushion? It's a vintage Swedish cover which my friend, interior designer Helen Sturesson brought with her for the shoot! I'm going to keep an eye out for something similar on my antique rounds!

Do you have any vintage or antique bedding in your home?

And now for the other item!

You may recognise the #827 dining chair as I have the oak white oil version in my cabin! But I'm also absolutely in love with this oak mocca edition seen above in my bedroom - there's something beautiful about the combination of dark wood with the woven seat, don't you think? The rounded back makes it really comfortable too - little wonder it's won countless awards.

And now, it's just to curl up with a book until nightfall - heaven!

I have featured so many handcrafted items from Skovby in my home from the past. In case you're curious to discover more, take a peek at:

Coffee tables and festive touches in our cabin

A glögg bar courtesy of Skovby!

The skovby glass cabinet in our dining room

You can find your nearest store here.

In other news, today is my birthday! I was born on St Nicholas day, hence why I am called Nicola (Niki) - yes, my parents named me after 'Santa Claus'!! I am hoping this really does give me licence to curl up with a book this afternoon!

Have a cosy day friends,

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark

Styling: Helen Sturesson

FILED UNDER: Danish shopping dark colours my home

Sandra's Cosy Swedish House at Christmas

Hej hej! I hope you had a cosy weekend! Per and I have just returned from the Danish island of Bornholm where we drove through the snowy landscape and visited lots of Christmas markets. It was really magical! I've shared the stories in my highlights on instagram, but tempted to share the trip here, would that be of interest?

Speaking of Christmas - I hunted high and low to find a cosy festive home this morning, and came across Swedish photographer Sandra Nilsson's house in a village in South Sweden. It's full of 'mysig' (cosy) touches including advent candles, wreaths, hyacinths and of course a tree! Not only that, but the interior is a dream for anyone who loves vintage and antique items - which can be seen everywhere from the kitchen to the dining room and bathroom, all of which bear the wonderful markings of a life well lived!

Välkommen in!