Scandi interiors expert shares tips on how to spruce up your home for extra festive cheer.
For many, the chance to decorate their home at Christmas is an opportunity to be seized. Designing unique, fun and all-encompassing decorations not only elevates your interiors, it is also a way to connect to loved ones this Christmas season – from crafting them to creating snug spaces to spend quality time together.
Scandis are well-versed in finding the balance between function, making an impact and creating a cosy feel. To help Brits achieve the same this festive period, Catharina Björkman, Scandi interiors expert at Contura, is sharing her top design ideas on how to decorate your home this Christmas.
Catharina says: “In Sweden we love to celebrate not just Christmas itself, but the entire build up to it. One of the best ways to do this is with festive decor. Starting four weeks before Christmas, we light the first candle in the Advent wreath and begin the process of decorating the home.
“Ideally decorations invite greenery in, as during the cold months we miss the colours of nature. However, elements of glitz and glamour are also wholly appropriate at this time of year, and we like to incorporate a good dash of nostalgia with our decorations too.”
Read on for Catharina’s Scandi-inspired guide to decorating this Christmas…
Retro-fit
In the 1970s, playful and colourful interiors were popular throughout Sweden, so it is no surprise that Scandis return to this period when seeking to create fun and nostalgic interiors at Christmas.
Instead of perfectly polished and colour coordinated décor, the retro-look is about embracing kitsch and eclectic elements in the home. Think sweet ornaments of gingerbread men and candy canes made from felt, and mismatched baubles in ruby reds, bright blues, and emerald greens. Or why not relive the disco-fever heyday by using glitterballs as bauble alternatives, which will also add a lively metallic tone to the mix?
To keep it Scandi, however, it is key to not let the retro look to spread too far. Keep it to one area of the home, such as the tree or perhaps even the dining table, where one could embrace a fun 70s-inspired tablescape with lots of glitter and funky thrifted crockery.
Home-scaping
The idea of creating design focal points in the home has been gaining traction in recent years but for Scandis it’s standard.
In December, Scandis often turn windows to canvases, dangling handcrafted stars made from paper and straw to add a festive touch – one that can be enjoyed by those within the home as well as passersby outside.
Creating these decorations is a great activity to do with loved ones too, with the hands-on approach making it impossible to get distracted by phones and perfect for spending wholesome and cosy quality time together.
There is no need to limit the ‘scaping’ to just windows. Door-scaping is very popular and is a lovely way to make an impact. A classic wreath hung over the door is always a winner, and the seasonal foliage can be dressed up with velvet bows for a glamorous feel.
Planters or hanging baskets outside the front door can also be given a makeover to up the festive-factor, simply hang baubles underneath the baskets or wrap battery-powered fairy lights around the base.
For ‘scaping’ inside the home, decorating the staircase banister with garlands of holly intertwined with gem-coloured ribbons will elevate your interiors and add a welcome dose of greenery and earthiness.
Similarly, take advantage of any mantlepieces in the home. Start with a classic by hanging Christmas stockings – ones with a vintage look (think deep burgundy in colour and hemmed with plaid or faux fur) are ideal. Then, for a modern twist on boughs of holly, add small vases or mason jars along the mantle itself and fill with holly cuttings, as well as red carnations, berry stems and poinsettia.
Gift giving
An often-underappreciated part of the overall Christmas décor is gift wrapping. It’s a much more unique way to complement festive interiors and also means that your gifts will be easily recognised under the tree.
A rustic, simple look is a Scandi go-to. Brown craft paper is easy to come by and durable, so is the perfect option for gift wrapping. A strip of linen sage green fabric or a strand of cheery red ribbon can be tied around the gift for a practical yet fun dash of colour in-line with the homey feel.
For a more glamourous look that still feels simple, create a monochromatic design, using different textures to make it pop. Matte red wrapping paper tied with a velvet ribbon or coloured twine will look uniform whilst also feeling luxurious – creating a delightful experience for the gift receiver too.
Glow up
Nothing says festive cheer quite like a string of fairy lights or some flickering flames. Lighting is a crucial element in interior design and, as such, shouldn’t be overlooked when decorating for Christmas.
Add thrifted mismatched candlestick holders with tall candles in neutral colours along your dining table to create a soft glow and quirky design feature. Similarly, tea lights on a mantlepiece can complement overall lighting design, and electric versions are perfect for bustling households.
Fairy lights with yellow-tinged bulbs are ideal for simulating a fiery glimmer in any room. String them across the top of curtains poles and shelves to add them into living spaces effortlessly and make the space extra cosy ahead of any festive get-togethers.
That said, nothing beats the real deal of the warmth and sound of crackling flames. To give your home a glow from within, stack and light hardwoods such as ash, beech and birch, which burn for longer and create a bright flame, in a woodburning stove for the ultimate festive, cosy experience.
For more information, please visit www.contura.eu/en-gb.
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Notes to editors:
- Rooster PR will coordinate comment, interview and profile opportunities for Contura UK Country Manager, Phil Wood.
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About Contura:
Contura is Europe’s leading manufacturer of wood burning stoves, offering an extensive range of classic and contemporary wood burners; from traditional insert stoves suitable for existing fireplaces, to freestanding statement models made with innovative materials such as soapstone.
Starting at £1,295, Contura stoves are premium yet affordable. Award winning, timeless Swedish design means the products complement or enhance any style of home, whilst also offering outstanding performance, maximum efficiency, practicality and ease of use.
Designed and assembled at the factory located in Markaryd, Sweden, and manufactured to the highest standards, Contura stoves are highly energy efficient, offering powerful convection, superior combustion technology and clean burning systems. All Contura stoves are DEFRA Clean Air Act exempt and thus approved for use in Smoke Control Areas.
Contura stoves can be purchased through a network of 165 independent retailers nationwide.
Contura is part of the NIBE group, a Swedish manufacturing company producing world class solutions in sustainable energy across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Contura is a founding member of the Stove Industry Association (SIA) in the UK.
Contura is a proud supporter of Eden: People+Planet’s efforts to restore and monitor over 241,150 hectares of land, creating jobs to support local communities and the environment in the long-term. Since 2018, Contura has funded the planting of over 170,000 trees.
For more information, please visit www.contura.eu
