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Use twinkle lights liberally. Don't limit yourself to the tree — white Christmas lights (with white cords) can be draped on shelves and mantels, coiled inside glass vessels or wooden birdcages, or hung vertically in the corner of a room. Covered twinkle lights make lovely accents, too, so keep an eye out for interesting versions.
by A Few Things From My Life
Find a Dala horse. The Dala horse, a simple carved wood and often painted horse, began as a toy for children but has become a sort of national symbol for Sweden. The Dala horse is a popular decoration during the winter holidays, finding a place on windowsills and shelves just about anywhere in the home. While not as common in America, they're easily found online — just search for "Dala horse".
by Holly Marder
Decorate with cut wood. Wood in all its forms is an essential element of Scandinavian decorating at all times of year, and even more so during winter. If you have a working fireplace or woodstove, you can make an attractive and useful display with the logs you plan to use. If you have a nonworking fireplace, filling it with neatly cut logs can be an attractive way to fill the space while suggesting woodsy warmth.
by Holly Marder
Stick with a simple palette. Much of the appeal of the Scandinavian approach to decorating comes from the pared-down, neutral palette. Putty gray, natural wood and white plus a metallic hue create a peaceful mood; red, white and wood are cheery and fun.
by Erica George Dines Photography  
Plant paperwhites. Any sort of blooming flowers are most welcome in winter, and the delicate white blooms of paperwhites look especially fitting alongside natural holiday decor. Cluster pots full of the blooming bulbs in the center of the dining table or along a buffet or entry table. Just be aware that paperwhites have a strong fragrance once in full bloom, so if you are sensitive to flower fragrances, you might want to choose a different plant.
by Highland Homes, Inc.
Embellish branches. Another way to bring in a touch of the woods is with an armful of bare branches. Simply plunk them in a nice big vase (no water needed) and attach ornaments, holiday cards, or any embellishments you wish.
by The Happy Home Blog
When in doubt, add a sheepskin. Whether you choose faux or the real deal, sheepskins are incredibly effective at cozifying any space. Place one where you can sink your toes into it upon waking in the morning, drape one over your sofa or place one at every seat around the dining table. Just looking at them will make you feel warmer.
by Niche Interiors  
Create an easy card display. If you receive a lot of cards during the holiday season, take advantage of their pretty covers by displaying them all in one place. If you can find a shopkeeper's card display like the one shown here, all you need to do is slide in your cards as you receive them. If you can't find one, attach a length of pretty ribbon to the wall and use clothespins to attach the cards.
by Kaylovesvintage
Make a scrap-wood Advent calendar. Feeling crafty? Try creating a Nordic-style tree out of small wood scraps. It would look beautiful on its own, either painted or left bare, but you can also attach small packages to turn it into an Advent calendar.
by Pullga
Decorate a mini Christmas tree. When you put up the big tree, snip off a piece of branch (from a place that won't be noticeable) and place it in water to create a pint-size Christmas tree for the tabletop. I would put it in the guest room to welcome holiday visitors.
by Kootut murut
Dress the table in red and white. If you already have a set of basic white dishes and table linens, all you need to re-create this look are a few red accents. The beauty is, nothing used is too holiday-specific, so you can reuse most of the items throughout the year.
by Kaylovesvintage
Hang delicate window wreaths. Welcome visitors in from the cold with candlelight and simple green wreaths hung from each window. You can create these quite easily using wreath forms from a local crafts supply shop and greenery snipped from the trees outside.
by Pullga
Make a pinecone wreath. Collect pine cones on a winter walk and bring them home to make this easy crafts project to adorn a doorway. Use craft wire or a child's wire clothing hanger (wrap with fabric or colored tape if you like) to create a wreath form, then attach pinecones with fishing line or hot glue.
by Jeanette Lunde
Bring in the woods with potted tree cuttings. Cluster a group of vintage containers and fill them with fresh tree cuttings for a display that will last for months when cared for properly.

Get the full instructions here
Christmas tree in a pot
Deck the table with sprigs of green. Looking for supersimple table decoration ideas? Try this: Snip branch tips from your Christmas tree (or use rosemary branches) and place one in a clear glass votive at each place. Sprinkle a handful of small vintage ornaments in silver and gold randomly down the center of the table, and ground the arrangement with a few tall candles.
by A Few Things From My Life
Make an ice wreath. I am dying to try this Scandinavian tradition — it looks like the perfect project for a snowy day, and it would look splendid outside at a holiday party. Just fill a container with water, then place a second smaller container inside it. Use a few rocks in the smaller container to displace water until the top is roughly at water level, then gently arrange leaves, berries and acorns in the water below. Set the containers outdoors to freeze overnight, then unmold.
by Pullga
Throw a Scandinavian-inspired holiday fete. Looking for something different to spice up your holiday party this year? Get inspired by Scandinavian traditions and serve spiced cookies along with warm glogg instead of eggnog, or light real candles on the tree — just be sure to use a fresh tree and have someone standing by to douse flames if need be! (See more safety tips here.)
by swedish interior design

Comments

Tile-Stones Love the ice wreath, that's so neat! Too bad it would melt quickly in Southern California :(
6 months ago · ·
olldbobbi I love all these ideas. I love white, and paperwhites are my favorite flower.
6 months ago · ·
Holly Marder Thank you for including two of my photographs in your ideabook! Some great ideas here. I love the simplicity of Scandinavian design. Holly
6 months ago · ·
pauli12 I love this idea book. Have always just loved Scandinavian design. It speaks so much simplicity and peace. Thank you very much.
5 months ago · ·
astraea I like the idea of the “ice wreath”, but you have to expect sub-freezing temperature for a period of time, for that to be practical.

Sometimes I wonder if decorators have any common sense .. who’d want wood stacked inside the house, if they’re not going to use it in a fireplace? It often contains bugs & deteriorates! And filling the interior of a fireplace with wood you’re going to use .. then what, take it all out, to actually use the fireplace?!
5 months ago · ·
Laura Gaskill @astraea - The wood stacked inside the fireplace is meant for those with nonworking fireplaces! As for the ice wreaths, you can make them inside your freezer too, if you are lucky enough to live somewhere it doesn't freeze all winter.
5 months ago · ·
sclawson I love the ice wreath too. I live in the Midwest and mostly it's cold in winter, but we are known for odd temperature swings. I tried this several years back to add some extra season's greetings to my front porch to welcome Christmas Day guests. It was 60 degrees!! I hung the wreath anyway, in a nearby tree, and it melted slowly and lasted the day. They are very pretty.
5 months ago · ·
idonttwantone Sigh, so peaceful and lovely to behold . . . the perfect white Christmas. Thank you, Laura!
5 months ago ·
Beth Have always love Scandinavian simplicity in design. And have incorporated it into our small house.
5 months ago ·
susannoelle So funny you guys show that picture from that Dela horse, and say that it is a national symbol from Sweden.. And then post a photo with books with some famous Dutch books next to it! Haha, I'm from Holland so I recognized the books immediately.
Love the article though! :)
5 months ago · ·
newmouse Here in Florida, we could certainly make an adorable ice wreath in our freezer. But we would have to leave it there. I bet Martha Stewart decorates her freezer :)
5 months ago · ·
A. Peltier Interiors Paperwhites are my favorite holiday decor. So simple and beautiful!
5 months ago ·
prospera The ice wreath works well in a punch bowl with edibles inside. Ikea has tons of moderately priced decorations and lights right now. A lot are already on sale. They are right before the checkout stands. They also have a feast this week that is wonderful. It requires a ticket but family club members get a reduced price. They also have entertainment. Really fun and nice.
5 months ago ·
miekeh Susannoelle, I noticed that too. I hadn't realized the Netherlands was Scandinavian!
5 months ago ·
Ladin Rameez grt work
5 months ago ·
sevenzeroseven perfect! thanks for this!
5 months ago ·
rosebud3 I like the idea of an ice wreath, except when I look at the photo I can't help thinking it looks like a fancy toilet seat. Sorry.
5 months ago · ·
Beth We are making the ice wreaths this week end because its finally cold enough here in the Sierras so they shouldn't melt. Also want to make a smaller one with cranberries and mint, for in a punch bowl with a cranberry drink we will be having.
5 months ago ·
Planika Fires Presented below is our interpretation of a Swedish interior with our contemporary Fire Line Automatic model E fireplace.
3 days ago · ·
Beth Planika Fires, since Sweden is such a northern situated country I wonder if white walls,floor, furniture doesn't make a home have more of a cold feeling.
3 days ago ·
Planika Fires I think it makes the room brighter...as winter is rather a depressing time of the year, there is not enough sunlight
2 days ago ·
Beth I think to much white in a cold winter climate makes a room look colder. White walls would add light to the room. But white floor, white furniture is a wee bit to much white for me. Here in the California Sierras where we have had snow up to the roof line if the small single story home we have, we have white walls with one accent wall in each room either a mellow yellow, eggplant purple, or cocoa brown. And light hardwood floors with simple area rugs. But furntiture is Zen simple with slip covers in winter that are warm colours. In spring-summer they we switch to white slip covers.
39 hours ago ·
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