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A Scandinavian Inspired Christmas: Tips for Minimal Decorating with Vintage Pieces

By Rachel

published 12/12/2024

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My take on a Scandinavian Christmas is filled with vintage and thrifted decor for a serene, minimal, and cozy aesthetic!

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the endless array of decorations and trends that flood the stores this time of year? Me too! But, there is a way to have a beautifully festive Christmas without all the clutter and consumerism! Enter the concept of a Scandinavian inspired Christmas where minimalism and vintage charm collide to create a cozy and one-of-a-kind holiday aesthetic.

Decorating for Christmas with Thrifted Finds (Scandinavian Style)

In this post, we’ll explore the principles of a Scandinavian Christmas! I’ll provide tips on how to incorporate vintage and thrifted pieces for a simple yet vibrant celebration.

Table of Contents

My hubby has been asking me for years if we could try a new approach to holiday decorating and, possibly, style it with his heritage in mind, which is Swedish! This year, at long last, his wish came true 🙂

So, let’s try something different this season rather than the traditional red and green décor and embrace a more sustainable, and timeless, approach to the holidays!

Shop My Christmas Look!

Creating a Cozy Minimalist Christmas with Vintage Decor

Hello, guys! Merry Christmas to you! Welcome, or welcome back, to the blog. I am thrilled to welcome you to my Christmas 2024 home tour.

A few months ago, as I was starting to think about and brainstorm Christmas decor for the season, I was being pulled to try something different. And, the more I thought about it, the more excited I became.

So, this year, I did things differently. Like…very different. In the past, I’ve done lots of red and green with bright and bold vintage textures.

Enter this year’s Christmas theme, which is a HUGE change from what I’m used to. I was craving a simpler aesthetic and a simpler aesthetic I got!

Filled with loads of greenery and neutral colors, it’s the most serene and calming space for the season. Do I miss the red? Yes. But, I truly love how my take on a Scandinavian Christmas turned out.

It’s my sincere hope that this Nordic Christmas decor with a vintage twist fills you with festive joy.

Affordable Scandinavian Christmas Decorating Tips

Let’s start off by briefly chatting about how to get the Scandinavian holiday look for less, shall we? As you know, I’m all about thrifty decorating and this year’s theme is no exception.

Truly, 98% of the Christmas decor I used this season are things that I already had on hand. Pulling from my vintage collections, I used milk glass, ironstone, and restaurantware, just to name a few.

All of these pieces have been found secondhand at thrift stores or vintage shops for just a few dollars!

If you would like to style a similar Scandinavian Christmas look in your home, here are some thrifty decorating tips:

For the most affordable selection, shop at thrift stores, garage sales, antique malls, or estate sales.
Know what you need before you go shopping to avoid over-buying and over-spending.
Use decor that you already have and tweak it to lean more Christmas by simply adding cedar or pine stems.
Ribbon goes a long way when decorating for Christmas. Tie it on handles, knobs, around vases, on a tree, or around a garland!
Think less. Especially when going with a Nordic aesthetic, less is always more! Don’t feel like you need to pack every inch full of stuff.
Go outside and forage for free natural elements such as pinecones, acorns, pine branches, birch logs, and the like.

Tips for Finding Thrifted Christmas Decor that Fits a Minimal Aesthetic

When shopping secondhand for budget-friendly Scandinavian Christmas decor, there are a handful of timeless items to be on the look out for. Most of these pieces can be found fairly easily at thrift stores and antique shops or using online sources such as Etsy, e-Bay, or Mercari.

Remember, the traditional way of decorating for Christmas in a Scandinavian or Nordic aesthetic is probably much more simplistic and minimal than my take on it so take what feels right to you and leave the rest.

Christmas decor (which I included in my Scandinavian-inspired holiday decor) that can be found thrifted includes:

vintage milk glass
vintage ironstone
brown or green transferware
green and white restaurantware
flocked and plain tabletop trees
ribbon
ornaments
vintage books
greenery stems and garland

A Scandinavian Inspired Christmas: Tips for Minimal Decorating with Vintage Pieces

With that, let’s get into the tour!

Below, you will find a few select areas of my home that are decorated for the season. For each area, I’ll share a specific Scandinavian Christmas decor ideal and how I accomplished each element in my home.

Transforming Vintage Finds into Scandinavian Christmas Wonders

With a brand new Christmas theme came a learning curve. But honestly, guys, it was not hard! I had so much fun playing with my decor in a fresh, new way.

Let’s get into the six Scandinavian Christmas elements that inspired my theme and take in the sights of a Scandi-themed holiday home.

1. Incorporate Loads of Greenery and Natural Textures.

Most Scandinavian design is white, bright, and airy. So, to make sure that displays don’t fall flat, natural textures are an integral part of Scandi Christmas decorating!

To tie natural colors in with all of the textures, I incorporated neutral hues such as dark green, khaki, brown and cream.

In fact, I was so in love with the thought of using brown in my Christmas decor that I actually kept out all my brown transferware from fall and rolled it right on into the holiday season! Never, in a million years, did I think I would style brown anything into my Christmas vignettes, but here we are! And, you guys, I adore it. Vintage brown with dark green is totally a new holiday jam!

On the mantel, I used a variety of greenery including a Norfolk pine garland and flocked trees.

For a fresh take on holiday greens, I combined cedar stems with eucalyptus stems in my favorite transferware pitcher. In keeping with the all-natural look, I tied a brown velvet ribbon on the handle!

The Scandi theme was accomplished here by combining natural greenery with pieces of vintage such as white hankies, milk glass, and an ironstone tureen filled with bells.

The biggest thing I learned while taking on this new theme is that, when it comes to Scandinavian Christmas, there is no such thing is too much greenery.

Other textural elements that you can combine with greenery include:

wood
candles
brass
cozy pillows or throws
velvet ribbon
decorative objects such as small trees, creamers, linens, or books
pinecones, dried orange slices, dried apple slices, or birch logs

2. Cut Back on the Use of Decor. Less Is More!

Scandi and Nordic design is known for its minimal and simplistic look. The name of the game is cutting back and reducing the amount of ‘stuff’. Let a few favorite decor pieces shine!

On the credenza this year, I really kept that mentality in my brain as I styled a mostly green and white forest scene. Using various trees, flocked green deer, and a simple garland, the beauty of each piece radiates through.

The less is more ideal includes colors, textures, and decor items. So, as I was putting this little forest scene together, I tried my hardest to not pack it full, keeping some white space and breathing room amongst each thing.

To fill in the front of this display, and to fulfill my love of vintage Christmas, I placed a vintage Christmas postcard in a flower frog and then set a small ironstone creamer to the left.

It’s the small, simple details that add up to a striking yet minimal holiday scene!

3. Add a Splash of Dark Color.

As I stated above, Nordic decorating is very much white-infused. Incorporating a darker color throughout a room or vignette for Christmas ups the drama a tad and helps create a contrast amongst the mainly neutral and natural greenery.

This aesthetic pop encourages a moody take on holiday decor and helps the minimal aesthetic not seem so stark. This visual element is basically creating a balance between light and dark.

So, to balance out all of the white and green on the wall shelf in my living room, I added a vintage brass Christmas tree and thrifted brass candle holders as well as an old basket. The combination of these darker colors and textures makes the mainly neutral shelf come to life!

I also utilized more brown transferware on this shelf to not only tie in with the mantel but to incorporate the brown hues, as well. The brass bell garland is a decor item that I used last year but it fits perfectly with this theme, too! It pairs beautifully with the milk glass and various light-toned pieces.

Other dark, moody colors that would pair nicely with a Scandinavian-inspired Christmas aesthetic can include:

black
various shades of dark brown
dark green
dark grey
brass or copper

4. Create Your Own Decor.

Many times, Nordic decor, especially for Christmas, is handmade.

I am of the mentality that anything that is handmade, regardless of theme or country origin, creates a whole lot more meaning.

When you can tell someone you made a beautiful ornament or handcrafted a decor piece, how special is that?!

So, I decided to take on this Scandi design challenge and make some ornaments for my tree. If you saw last week’s post, you would have read all about my DIY star anise and clove ornaments! These beautifully scented balls match my Christmas theme so perfectly and am thrilled with how they turned out.

This is homemade, natural decor at its finest!

Other holiday decor that you could make from scratch, or embellish with your own twist, can include:

wreaths
garlands such as beaded, popcorn, or cranberry
gift tags
wrapping paper
paper chains
swags or greenery displays using ribbon

5. Add Some Character and Playfulness.

I think, out of all the Scandi Christmas decor elements, this one is my favorite. I mean..who doesn’t love playfulness?!

For me, infusing whimsy and holiday charm into this theme is found through the use of my vintage collections. Each individual piece of ironstone, milk glass, or creamer exudes such character that can’t be found in new, mass-produced items.

Charm and whimsy is also found in my small but mighty Christmas village! I thrifted both of these houses years ago but are truly some of my favorite items to decorate with year after year.

I love to create a countryside scene with the house and the barn on the bottom shelf of my hutch. By adding in a handful of bottle brush trees and some vintage dishes, this little display makes me think of my favorite fishing spot out in the snowy country.

Using your imagination while decorating is the epitome of playfulness, after all!

6. Infuse Warmth for a Cozy Atmosphere.

Scandinavian Christmas decor is the furthest thing from complicated that there is. This style is about simple living, minimalism, and not spending a ton of money.

I think, by far, Nordic holiday decorating has the coziest look to it. With its no-frill approach, there is plenty of room to infuse warm and cozy comforts for a peaceful and relaxing holiday season.

For me, this looks like a simple shelf display as you enter my home. This calming scene, using just a select few thrifted decor pieces, sets the serene tone for the rest of the house.

A cozy Christmas aesthetic also includes white lights on Christmas trees.

This small tree, also in my entry, is decorated with ornaments from my shiny brite collection as well as a selection of more sentimental ornaments and a string of white fairy lights.

Topped with a green velvet bow, the pretty tree is a warm and cheery welcome.

In my opinion, you can never have too much cozy. There’s no such thing as too much cozy!

Other warm and cozy Christmas elements include:

plenty of candles
a roaring fireplace
plush blankets
white Christmas lights

Shop Cozy Christmas Candles

Closing Tidbits on Sustainable Scandinavian Christmas Decorations

With that, we’ve come to the end of this year’s Christmas home tour. I am just delighted that you joined me as we celebrate this festive time of year together!

A Scandinavian inspired Christmas is a lovely yet minimal way to add simplicity and charm to your holiday decor.

By incorporating vintage pieces and opting for a more neutral approach, you can create a cozy and timeless atmosphere that is equal parts cheery, eco-friendly, and sustainable. Now that’s the Christmas spirit, don’t you think?!

This holiday season, be encouraged to embrace the beauty found in simple living, finding a calm sense of renewal along the way.

Leave me a comment! What’s your favorite Christmas theme? I love hearing from you!

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If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more.

Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!