If you are like us, the holiday season is the best time of the year. Gearing up for it can be just as much fun as the actual parties, get togethers and calm moments you are about to enjoy with your friends and family. Here are our tips for adding holiday decor and getting into the spirit without to mush stress or clutter.
The older we get the more this season is about the experiences and the fun times we are creating with our family and friends. Having an inviting and cozy home is the perfect setting. In order to not get too caught up into Holy-Mania we like to have a bit of a plan in mind. Doing the holiday prep in small but thoughtful stages makes it less stressful and also more enjoyable. Here is how we get our homes (and minds) ready for the season.
Clear out and make room
Before the winter arrives we take some time to declutter, donate unused toys and items that will only crowd your space. (A good deep cleaning never hurt either.) Give your house a little breathing room so that when you add in holiday decor it does not overwhelm and feel cluttered. We like to remove some of our regular decor items and will bring them back out once the holiday decor is put away. Sometimes digging through our closets and holiday items , we find items we had completely forgotten about.
Add simple greenery
We often start with adding greenery. Simple things like rosemary topiaries, wreaths and fresh flowers will make your home feel cozy and festive with our screaming Christmas. You can buy eucalyptus, boxwood or cut some greenery from your garden to add lovely to your table for a festive feel. Add a few votives and string lights and you are all set!
Holiday decor that is typical for Scandinavia
As cooler temperatures arrive, update your textiles for a winter feel
Second we swap out some textiles. For bedding we add warmer comforters, cozy blankets and a few new pillows. We love buying just two new shams for the bed or two fusion covers for the sofa.
Striped rustic linen for bedroom
Holiday decor for bed with velvet texture
Blankets and throws add function and style
Thanksgiving – holiday decor and recipes
Simple decor inspired by nature
We celebrate Thanksgiving together with friends. Everyone brings a dish and enjoys a calm evening together. Here are a few of our staples; Citrus – kale salad, corn casserole and sometime this amazing gingerbread apple cheesecake.
Citrus Kale Salad
Corn Casserole
Caramel Apple Cheesecake with Gingerbread Crust
Christmas trees and holiday decor
When it comes to Christmas trees we like to change them up a little bit from year to year. This year, the kids will get their own tree to decorate. Naturally their trees will surely be an explosion of color, handmade items and personal favorites such as Sponge Bob and Hamburger ornaments 🙂
Our trees will generally have a more neutral color scheme and we often end up with quite a few white items. We like to experiment with the lights and try new things. Last year, we draped a sting of larger cafe lights into the tree, but they were very warm and damaged the tree. This year, we are thinking of adding just small fairy light on a string. Let’s see how it goes.
Beautiful tree topper
Zink ornaments
Christmas Village
Mouse ornament holiday decor
Before you start decorating your tree (or adding to many new things) its a great idea to pull out all your ornaments and remove things that do not go with the color scheme or look that you have in mind.
Every year we stock up on some holiday scented candles. If possible, look for candles made with natural ingredients such as beeswax, and a wick that does not produce harsh chemicals when burning. Another cute idea is to stash some holiday soaps near the sink in the kitchen and bathroom. They often are wrapped in adorable paper and give off a lovely scent.
This year we will be using recycled or recyclable paper to wrap our gifts. IKEA had a great line of recyclable wrapping paper and bags that look adorable. We also like to look of just using brown craft paper and adding a beautiful ribbon or small piece of greenery as a gift topper.
Recyclable wrapping for holiday decor ideas
Simple recyclable design
As this holiday season draws near, we stock up on warm drinks and gingerbread. The perfect solutions to any last minute guests. We will celebrate Lucia, a Swedish light procession on December 13th and will wake the kids up to a cozy morning in front of the TV with music, hymns and Swedish baked saffron buns.
So this year before you pull out your holiday decor, take a moment to think about how you want your house to feel and edit down for a calm and serene feeling. We wish you all a wonderful start to the season!