Traditional Swedish Christmas Decorations in Victoria's Cosy Home

 There are just eight days left until Christmas—are you ready (if you celebrate)? I have to admit, things are feeling a little chaotic here. I’m way behind, but hey, at least the tree is up and twinkling away! That counts as a solid start, right? I’m holding out hope that in the coming week, a little Christmas magic will swoop in and get everything sorted.

In the meantime, I’m taking a deep breath—and a good dose of yuletide calm—from the beautiful Swedish kitchen and dining space of Victoria Oderland in Åsa, a small coastal village in the countryside near Gothenburg. 

This cosy living area is brimming with all the charm of a traditional Swedish Christmas: an adventsljusstake glowing softly in the window, candle wreaths suspended overhead, and a warm glow from plenty of candlelight. But there’s one decoration in particular that really stands out—something quintessentially Scandinavian: the Julbock (Christmas goat!). Stay tuned for more on this festive icon!

Have you seen one of these guys before? The Julbock (yule goat) is a Scandinavian Christmas tradition with roots in Norse mythology and pagan harvest rituals. Initially linked to Thor’s goats and fertility symbols, it later became part of Christian Christmas celebrations. Traditionally made from straw and tied with red ribbons, the Julbock symbolized good fortune and holiday spirit. Today, it is a cherished holiday decoration,  and can be seen on tables, windowsills and doorsteps. Do you have something like this in your country? 

So pretty! I love the atmosphere, I so hope my house can feel like this by the end of the week. 

Oh, and did you spot the guy on the kick sled? This form of transport is particularly popular in the countryside further North where they get plenty of snow, it's a great way to get around!

Is there anything from Victoria's home that you loved in particular? If you'd like to see more, head over to her inspiring instagram feed @simple.slow.living. 

Would you like to see a few more homes with a festive touch today? Check out the Christmas archive. 

Have a happy start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @simple.slow.living, shared with kind permission. 

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Nina's Warm and Cosy 19th Century Home in Wintertime

On the 21st of December, we’ll celebrate the winter solstice—a turning point, as from then on, the days will gradually become a little lighter. Hooray! Today, in Sweden, it’s Lucia—a celebration of light, marked by a girl wearing a crown of candles, leading a Lucia train of others dressed as little Father Christmases, gingerbread men, and other whimsical characters. It’s a beautiful tradition filled with songs and Lucia bullar—delicious saffron buns. 

The darkness at this time of year also means the lights are often on all day—a detail we rarely see in interior photos. That’s why I was so excited to discover Nina’s home in Hamburg, Germany and the way she captures the essence of winter indoors. Picture sheepskins draped over chairs, golden slivers of sunlight, a roaring fire, soft, atmospheric lighting, and, of course, the subtle hints of Christmas. Her house, built in 1888, provides the perfect setting, with its wooden beams, chequered tiles, and charming architectural details that exude timeless character.

I hope this gets you into a cosy mood for the weekend!

I love this, you can really feel the warmth and cosiness throughout, do you agree?

And I love how the wood beams add so much character to the space. Did you notice the beautiful wall behind the staircase too?

Is there anything else you spotted in particular? 

You can see more of Nina's Hamburg home over at @hyggedaheim. 

Perhaps you'd like to see a few more cosy home tours this weekend? Here are some hygge-worthy living spaces to explore: 

Eleni's cosy Swedish apartment with festive touches

A cosy Norwegian country cottage at Christmas

A cosy and historic shipbuilder's cottage in Tasmania

Glad Lucia friends, have a lovely, cosy, warm and relaxing weekend.

Niki

PS photography courtesy of @hyggedaheim, shared with kind permission. 

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DIY Touches In A Danish Maker's Home at Christmas

Today, I’m transporting you to the charming thatched cottage of artist and designer Ane Kirstine Bilde to see what she’s up to this time of year. As you can imagine, her home is a hive of creative activity, with Ane at her desk crafting everything from paper snowflakes and sweet-filled cones to hang on the tree, to angel garlands, paper bell gift tags, and embroidered Christmas tree ornaments.

It’s truly inspiring for anyone looking to add their own pretty festive touches to brighten up the home this season! Let’s dive in:

So many pretty ideas, Ane is just so talented. 

I love the cones for sweets and the little gift tags - lovely! Will you make any decorations this holiday? Are there any of Ane's creations that stand out to you in particular? 

You can see a complete tour of Ane's thatched cottage here - and see more daily inspiration over at @anekirstine.bilde. 

Would you like to see a few more danish cottages today? If so, pour a cuppa and take a peek inside these beauties: 

Before and after: a century old danish cottage is given a make-over

A dated Danish home gets a make-over

Henriette's and Tommy's charming danish oasis

Have a happy Wednesday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of@anekirstine.bilde, shared with kind permission

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Maria's Swedish Country Home with Rustic, Handmade Decorations

Hello there! Thank you so much for all your lovely birthday messages on Friday! With that little celebration behind me, I’m all set to dive into the festive season! For those of you who’ve been following My Scandinavian Home for a while, you’ll know this is my absolute favourite time of year—not only because the Christmassy touches bring a much-needed sense of warmth and coziness to our homes during the cold weather (brrrrrr), but also because I love seeing the many unique ways people choose to celebrate. Whether it’s embracing ‘Jul’ or simply enjoying the beauty of the winter season, there’s so much inspiration to be found.

You might recognise the Swedish country home of Maria Narvefors from a previous before and after tour. Maria lives with her family in a 19th-century country house just outside Karlskrona. A lover of flea markets and all things handmade, Maria truly comes into her own during the Christmas season, crafting her own decorations with a simple, rustic flair. Think elegant wreaths, garlands made from dried oranges, foil ornaments, and even a handmade star lantern for the window. Let’s take a tour and see how Maria’s lovely home is transformed for the holidays!

Maria made this lovely star lantern by hand - and has shared the step by step instructions on her instagram.

I love wall hung candles - they are beautiful all year round, but easy to jazz up with a bow at this time of the year.

Check out Maria's DIY foil wreath instructions (in Swedish but easy to solve with a little help from Google translate!). 

There's something magical about a mini Christmas tree in the children's bedroom, plus they can decorate it however they like too! 

I couldn't resist including the last image from the children's bedroom as it's hands down the pretties play kitchen I've seen - the sink unit was handmade by Maria (of course!). Isn't it lovely?

I hope you felt inspired by the decorations in Maria's home. I love how they are mainly made from natural materials and so simple, yet pretty! Is there anything that stood out to you in particular? 

You can see more lovely inspiration from Maria's home over at @marianarvefors. 

Would you like to see some more Christmas / winter decorating ideas today? Take a peek at: 

21 beautiful Christmas tree ideas from traditional to all out crazy (and cat friendly!)

10 Scandinavian decoration ideas from Mari's home

6 subtle decorating ideas from Sandra's swedish home

Happy Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @marianarvefors, shared with kind permission. 

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