How to Decorate a Large House for Holidays: A Swedish Example

Twenty years ago, the Lars and Kiki family was looking for a small summer cottage in southwestern Sweden. But when the couple saw this old farm house, they instantly changed their plans, deciding that buying a spacious home and a few additional farm buildings would be even better than seasonal real estate. The couple sold their apartment and moved into their new home.

Not everything went smoothly: the new owners had a one-year-old daughter, and the house built in the 1700s required repairs, serious ones: bathrooms were outdoors, fireplaces were broken, and the house was damp. However, the optimistic couple did not give up and comforted themselves by thinking that they were finally slowly but surely setting up their home exactly as they had always wanted.

The farmhouse is not perfect even today, but Lars and Kiki are satisfied with it, even the creaking of old floorboards: according to the owners, it makes the place cozier.

Since the house is spacious, and the porch and garden must also be considered when creating a festive atmosphere, patience is needed. However, the decoration itself is simple — mostly branches of fir trees that Lars and Kiki collect and arrange on shelves, wardrobes, and dressers.

Due to the high ceilings and open-plan layout, this solution works well in space compared to small apartments where one would have to tilt their head up to see branches on the upper shelves.

Special attention is paid to the kitchen decor, which takes up a significant part of the house. According to Lars and Kiki, the perfect Christmas table setting is a mix of crystal and porcelain, “spiced” with fresh fir branches. To give the festive dinner a vintage vibe, proper tablecloths and napkins are essential. In this house, for example, linen textiles are often used.

As final touches, the couple hang minimalist wreaths, arrange mock gifts under the Christmas tree, place tall candles, and symbolic hyacinths for Swedish winter holidays — all simple and accessible. These solutions are universal and suitable for any house: modern or very old and vintage, like this one.