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Scandi-style winter decorations are simple and hark back to nature as we remind ourselves of the cycle of birth and rebirth within. Poetic and philosophical points aside, however, there is something to be said about adorning your home with natural materials and DIY crafts. The extra effort and use of gifts from the ground make a Winter home that much more cosy. So, here are some tips from getting the lighting just right to creating a natural and relaxed space at a window.

Wrapping Garlands All-Around

It’s pretty easy to find faux garlands, and these are usually fine. But you can also make your own to adorn your home during the winter. Garlands look stunning, draped over windows, above doors, and even around stair railings. While there, you can even take the time to fix loose rails and clamps using black handrail brackets and other common types. This will ensure no one is injured at a time when we all need to de-stress while making the stairs look stunning.

Layer Your Lighting

Layered lighting is one of those things that many people struggle with. But it really isn’t hard to get right. And when you do, the cosiness of any room goes up to 11. There are three types of lighting: task, accent and ambient. Here are three simple tips to use each of them well:

  • Use ceiling lights for darker days so you can see what you are doing during the day.
  • Switch to lamps for a relaxing evening feeling, and vary the hues if you can.
  • Safely place candles around the home for a more natural and cosy feeling.
  • Make use of dark corners with dim lighting that makes for comfortable spaces.

These are great types of lighting that work wonders when you get them right. The trick is to use only the necessary lighting types and not force a lighting type where it doesn’t belong. Play around with them at different times of day and see what they can do for your needs right then.

A Scandi-Style Winter with Burlap Tree Bases

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas tree? A tree is very personal and should be decorated however you want. But keeping in line with our Scandi theme, your tree must be real and not fake. Real trees look superior, and around 80% of Christmas trees sold in countries like the UK are natural because of this. There are a few tricks you can use to keep your tree more Scandi, one of which is using natural materials such as natural burlap to wrap the base of the tree.

A DIY Xmas Door Wreath

You know it’s Xmas when the wreaths begin to appear. And the great thing about wreaths is that they tie into the Scandi-style decor theme really well. This is mainly because the best wreaths are natural ones. Using twigs and twine from the forest, it’s easy to make a circular DIY wreath. Then, it’s a matter of decorating the Christmas wreath with other natural elements such as berries and pinecones, and a dusting of fake snow on the top can elevate the Christmas feeling.

Accent the Dining Table

Winter should be embraced. Instead, many of us choose to stay indoors until spring as much as we can. But winter offers many bounties, just like the other seasons. Winter vegetables and game make for good eating throughout the cold season with stews and roasts. To honour these groceries, why not decorate your dining table with natural elements as well? Woven placemats, burlap napkins and some decorations from outdoors add a wonderful natural touch to the table.

Stockings for All the Family

Kids and grownups alike love the idea of stockings being filled by Santa. Of course, we know this isn’t real, but there’s still something wonderful about seeing hung stockings. They are a reminder that we should give generously to each other and be grateful for what we have, even beyond the material. You could even create a hung advent calendar for the kids, with each stocking containing a small treat for them to open up and enjoy every day until Christmas.

Use Gifts from Nature

It’s fun to track Santa and await the day. But there is an entire winter wonderland just outside your home for Christmas. Trees, pinecones and twigs can be used in many creative ways to fill the home with natural decor, some of which even have a wonderful fresh scent:

  • Bring smaller trees inside for use as table and corner decorations.
  • Place small trees around the home to keep the winter feeling wherever you are.
  • Use a real outdoor tree as your main Christmas tree, and keep it bare.
  • Get crafty and use twigs, berries and pinecones to make a natural wreath.
  • Make paper decorations and accent them with unassuming decor like twigs and leaves.
  • Accent candle jars with raw materials such as pebbles and stones.
  • Create safe feeding spaces near windows for wild animals to gather outside.

Natural decor can be as simple as bringing in a plant or working your creative magic to craft decorations for hanging, such as twig stars, wreaths and candle jars. You can use as little or as much as you like, depending on how much the materials accent your home. They’re free!

Keep the Colours Simple

Scandi-style decor is all about simplicity and cosiness. Because of this, the colours are never bold but remain elegant. Colours such as black, white, beige and grey are often used with this style. On their own, they can be dull and boring. What these colours lack from themselves is made up for by how well they match natural materials such as wood. They are also accented by warm lighting, which is much easier these days using smart bulbs and other types of LEDs.

Add a Touch of Snow

Flocking is when you use fibres or fabrics to add texture to something. A good example would be a Christmas wreath, where you could use flocking to add the appearance of snow. Flocking like this adds to the charm and magical feeling of an indoor winter scene and perfectly accents a Scandi-style room, like the dining room. But why stop there? You can also use flocking across your other rooms, which can add a deeper feeling to decorations such as Xmas trees.

Light Up Your Outside

We have talked much about bringing the outdoors inside, but what about sprucing up the outside too? There’s nothing quite like coming home to a warm and inviting house, and it all begins with your walk or drive up to the property. When you come home, you want it to feel like home. All of the beautiful decorations, lighting, and even flocking mentioned above are easily translated to the outdoor space of your home, such as the porch, any garden space, and patio.

Set a Scandi-Style Winter Scene

The Scandinavian style of decorating is one of the most popular today in countries such as the UK and the US. Emerging in the 20th century, it is more popular than ever, not least because it feels more natural than most other styles. This translates well for any season, but especially for winter. It is easy to make a winter scene that accents this style. This can be as simple as placing a small tree on the dining table, cosying up your entryway or accenting colours and lighting.

Create a Comfy Window Space

There’s an amazing feeling you get when looking at the outside winter world from inside your cosy home. On a rainy or snowy afternoon, gazing out the window with a soup or stew is one of life’s greatest pleasures. So why not make it even more cosy with some simple changes:

  • Find a great spot where you love to relax and have a good view.
  • Use natural materials for baskets and cushions for warmth.
  • Adorn the window area with some of the natural DIY decorations above.
  • Take it easy with lighting and carefully place candles to heighten the cosiness.

This should be your “go-to” space when you need to refresh your energy, motivation and gratitude. Just ten minutes of watching the world go by while you enjoy some music, a snack or even a good book can work miracles for beating winter blues and feeling good about your life.

Don’t Overdo the Xmas Tree

Decorating a Christmas tree is a grand tradition of the season. But it can be hard to get decorations to look right, and the tree never seems to look like it’s from a movie scene. But why do we bother with this stress? The whole point of Scandi decor is to keep things simple, right? And this also applies to the tree. It’s also hard to decorate a natural tree and fill the gaps between branches. But a sprinkle of lights and some natural decorations are all you really need. 

Summary

Decorative garlands, layered lighting, and naturally crafted Christmas wreaths are excellent Scandi-style winter decorations that can make a huge difference. You can also make better use of stockings by creating an advent calendar for the whole family. Bringing the outdoors inside, such as trees and twigs, helps boost the natural feeling. Above all, though, try to keep things simple and enjoy what the season offers, even if this means a sparsely decorated Xmas tree.