14 Scandinavian Christmas Decor Ideas for a Simple, Glowing Home

White Paper Star Lanterns Glowing in a Bare Window

Save

Three white paper star lanterns hang at staggered heights in a plain window. Each one holds a small warm bulb, so the points glow soft gold against the dark glass. No curtains, no garland, just stars.

Bare glass makes the light look twice as bright from inside and from the street. Hang the middle star 4 inches lower than the others for a gentle curve. Odd numbers always look more relaxed than pairs.

Copy it: Measure your window tonight and pick a cord color that matches the frame so it disappears. (about 20 minutes, cost $)

Sparse Spruce in a Seagrass Basket With Straw Ornaments

Save

A slim spruce with open, airy branches sits in a round seagrass basket on a pale oak floor. Golden straw stars and little straw goats hang from the tips. Warm white lights wrap the trunk loosely.

Gaps between branches are the whole point here, since every ornament gets room to breathe. Keep the tree watered daily and well away from heaters, because a dry real tree catches fast. Tuck a folded wool blanket around the stand to hide it.

Copy it: Pick the skinniest tree on the lot and ask them to trim the bottom row of branches. (about an hour, cost $$)

Brass Advent Candle Ring on a Pale Oak Table

Save

Four white pillar candles stand in a low brass ring on a bare oak dining table. Small sprigs of lingonberry style red berries and moss tuck around the base. One candle is burned down, then two, then three.

Lighting one more each Sunday turns December into a slow countdown. Set the ring on a ceramic plate and never leave the flames alone in the room. Trimming wicks to a quarter inch keeps the glow tall and steady.

Copy it: Buy four plain white pillars in the same height and set them out this Sunday. (about 15 minutes, cost $$)

Wooden Bead Garland Draped on Bare Birch Branches

Save

Tall white birch branches stand in a stoneware jug on a sideboard. Loops of natural wooden bead garland hang from the twigs like soft swags. A tiny felt star dangles from the highest branch.

Branches give you the height of a tree with none of the needles. Bead garland adds warmth because raw wood reads cozy next to white walls. Snap branches to three different lengths so the top line looks wild, not trimmed.

Copy it: Grab three bare branches from your yard or a park edge on your next walk. (about 15 minutes, cost $)

Sheepskin and Gray Wool on a Pale Wood Bench

Save

A long pale wood bench sits under a window with a creamy sheepskin thrown over one end. Folded gray wool and a single linen pillow finish it. Below, a pair of felt slippers waits on the floor.

Soft texture is how Nordic rooms stay warm while staying spare. Shake the sheepskin outside once a week to keep it fluffy. Folding the blanket in thirds lengthwise makes it look tidy without fuss.

Copy it: Move one throw blanket and one pillow to a hard seat that usually looks cold. (about 10 minutes, cost $$)

Red and White Ticking Stripe Pillows on a Linen Sofa

Save

Two pillows in thin red and white ticking stripe rest on an oatmeal linen sofa. A third pillow in plain red wool sits between them. Nothing else on the sofa competes.

Classic Nordic Christmas uses red sparingly, like a spice. Three pillows is plenty, so resist the urge to add a fourth. Zip covers over your everyday inserts and pack them away in January.

Copy it: Check the size of your current pillow inserts before you shop for covers. (about 10 minutes, cost $$)

Clementines and Cloves in a Shallow Wooden Bowl

Save

A wide, shallow wooden bowl sits in the middle of a kitchen island. It holds a pile of bright clementines, a few studded with whole cloves in neat rings. Two sprigs of fresh spruce tuck in at the edge.

Citrus and clove smell like Christmas morning every time someone walks by. Press the cloves into the peel with a toothpick hole first, so they slide right in. Replace the fruit as you eat it and the display stays fresh all month.

Copy it: Pick up a bag of clementines and a jar of whole cloves with your groceries this week. (about 20 minutes, cost $)

Woven Paper Heart Baskets on a Ladder

Save

A leaning wooden blanket ladder holds six woven paper heart baskets in red and white. They hang from thin white string on each rung. Two of them hold a sprig of dried baby's breath.

These little hearts are a Danish craft, and kids can fold them at the kitchen table. Use heavy paper so the weave stays crisp. Cut the strips with a ruler and a craft knife for clean lines.

Copy it: Print a free heart basket template and fold one tonight as a test. (about an hour, cost $)

Felted Wool Gnome Trio on a Windowsill

Save

Three small felted wool gnomes line up on a white windowsill. Their tall hats are gray, cream and red, and their beards are fluffy white wool. A tiny bottle brush tree stands beside them.

Gnomes are the playful wink in an otherwise quiet room. Group them in a triangle instead of a straight line so they look like they are chatting. Keep them small, under 8 inches, so they charm instead of crowd.

Copy it: Clear one windowsill completely, then add only the gnomes and one tree. (about 5 minutes, cost $)

Linen Runner Scattered With Fresh Spruce Sprigs

Save

A long natural linen runner stretches down a white dining table. Loose spruce sprigs lie along it with small gaps between them. Plain white plates and wooden chairs complete the scene.

Fresh greens on linen feel like a walk in the woods without any effort. Mist the sprigs with water in the morning to keep them soft. Leave the linen wrinkled, because crisp ironing fights the relaxed look.

Copy it: Ask your tree lot for free trimmed branches, then snip them into 8 inch pieces. (about 15 minutes, cost $)

Cut Paper Snowflakes on a Glass Door

Save

Eight white paper snowflakes in three sizes float across a glass patio door. Some sit high, some low, like a light snowfall. Outside, the yard is dark green and gray.

Paper costs almost nothing, and the shadows on the floor at noon are lovely. Stick them on with a dot of soapy water instead of tape and they peel right off in January. Folding into six parts, not four, gives true snowflake points.

Copy it: Fold a sheet of printer paper into six wedges and cut one snowflake before bed. (about 30 minutes, cost $)

Flat Plywood Tree Leaning Against a White Wall

Save

A simple tree shape cut from birch plywood leans against a white wall in a small entry. Tiny brass hooks hold six white ceramic ornaments. One short string of warm lights runs along one edge.

Small homes and pet owners love this one, since nothing tips over. Sand the edges smooth and leave the wood raw for a soft blond tone. Most hardware stores will cut a plywood sheet for you if you bring a sketch.

Copy it: Sketch a tall triangle with three steps on each side and take it to a hardware store. (about 2 hours, cost $$)

Fairy Lights Coiled Inside a Glass Cloche

Save

A tall glass cloche sits on a round wooden board on a bedside table. Inside, a coil of tiny warm white wire lights glows like a jar of fireflies. Next to it rests a stack of two cloth bound books with plain spines.

Battery lights give the candle feeling in a bedroom with no flame worries. Pick a strand with a timer so it clicks on at five every evening. Coiling the wire loosely, not tightly, spreads the sparkle.

Copy it: Find any clear jar or vase in your cabinet and test a strand of lights inside it. (about 5 minutes, cost $)

Single Wreath Hung on a Long Linen Ribbon

Save

A small wreath of eucalyptus and spruce hangs in a kitchen window. Cream linen ribbon, long and loose, holds it from the top of the frame. The ribbon tails fall loose below the wreath.

Hanging a wreath inside lets you enjoy it every time you wash a mug. Choose a wreath no wider than half the window so light still pours in. Knot the ribbon at the top with a simple bow and let gravity do the styling.

Copy it: Cut 3 feet of linen ribbon and try it on any small wreath you already own. (about 10 minutes, cost $)

Save This for Later

Save