My Houzz: A Bright and Colourful Christmas Home in Sweden
In this vibrant, welcoming house, the holiday spirit is palpable even without the traditional red and green decorations
You can definitely feel the Christmas spirit in Christine Cambring’s house in Sweden, even though it’s lacking the more traditional Swedish decorations in red and green. Instead, the interior designer and fashion stylist prepared for the coming holiday with innovative decorations that you can easily make yourself. Let her colourful Christmas style inspire you with décor ideas that work for the rest of the year, too.
It was the location that made Christine Cambring fall in love with this house. “It’s a safe and welcoming neighbourhood with a lot of children, and many of our children’s classmates live here,” she says.
This Christmas, Cambring decided to decorate the house in some unusual colours. “I’m not crazy about Christmas decorations that are only red and green,” she says, “but I love this holiday and we have strong Christmas traditions. One doesn’t need to have festive gnomes everywhere like we traditionally do in Sweden – more colours make Christmas more fun.”
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This Christmas, Cambring decided to decorate the house in some unusual colours. “I’m not crazy about Christmas decorations that are only red and green,” she says, “but I love this holiday and we have strong Christmas traditions. One doesn’t need to have festive gnomes everywhere like we traditionally do in Sweden – more colours make Christmas more fun.”
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After working in a variety of occupations, including being a tour guide, Cambring took some time off. That gave her the chance to explore her creative side, and it’s how she found her current career as a designer.
“I’ve always been good at being creative and people said, ‘You’re really good at this.’ That’s when I started to study to become a designer,” she says. “But my strength doesn’t lie in drawing plans but in making decorations.” Cambring’s kitchen décor shows her love of the contemporary and when it comes to Christmas decorations, she gladly blends traditional ones with more modern elements.
Units; stars, all Ikea.
“I’ve always been good at being creative and people said, ‘You’re really good at this.’ That’s when I started to study to become a designer,” she says. “But my strength doesn’t lie in drawing plans but in making decorations.” Cambring’s kitchen décor shows her love of the contemporary and when it comes to Christmas decorations, she gladly blends traditional ones with more modern elements.
Units; stars, all Ikea.
“When I go to someone’s house, I like to find something unexpected, and that’s exactly what I try to do at my place,” says Cambring. “There must be that special something. In my case, I think people are delighted by the colours. We tend to be afraid of trying out new things, but by having harmony in the tints and shades, a variety of different colours can coexist.”
The stylish, vibrant Christmas tree is decorated with crepe paper garlands, which were bought in rolls from Theo & jag. Christine likes to buy things that can be reused and these garlands can also be hung from the ceiling as decorations for her kids’ birthday parties.
The stylish, vibrant Christmas tree is decorated with crepe paper garlands, which were bought in rolls from Theo & jag. Christine likes to buy things that can be reused and these garlands can also be hung from the ceiling as decorations for her kids’ birthday parties.
Brightly coloured bunting from local store Little For Mini adds to the festive atmosphere.
The property’s first owner installed the old wood stove in the kitchen, which gives the space a cosy, welcoming feel.
“We use the stove in winter – it heats the whole house,” says Cambring. “I’ve even cooked on it but it’s difficult to control the temperature.
“The pretty cards hanging above the stove also come from Theo & jag and act as an Advent calendar. I put a little note on each of them with suggestions of different things that we can do together each day, like making crafts or going to the cinema.”
“We use the stove in winter – it heats the whole house,” says Cambring. “I’ve even cooked on it but it’s difficult to control the temperature.
“The pretty cards hanging above the stove also come from Theo & jag and act as an Advent calendar. I put a little note on each of them with suggestions of different things that we can do together each day, like making crafts or going to the cinema.”
Cambring made the graphic black-and-white Christmas tree on the wall using decorative plastic. “I measured the triangles and glued them onto the wall,” she says. “Of course, I didn’t want it to be too ‘normal’, so I replaced two of the black triangles with coloured ones.”
Bestå cabinet; repainted stool, both Ikea. B letter, Åhléns. Bear paper bag, Tellkiddo. Lights, Vita.
Bestå cabinet; repainted stool, both Ikea. B letter, Åhléns. Bear paper bag, Tellkiddo. Lights, Vita.
Cambring also made the vibrant paper stars. “You can find instructions online on how to make them by Googling ‘folding stars’,” she says. “It’s a great way to reuse old wrapping paper.”
For Cambring, making Christmas decorations is a great way to relax and do something fun with her family.
“It’s so easy to go overboard when it comes to Christmas, and it can be stressful knowing that you have to decorate and cook a lot of food,” she says. “A few years ago, we actually gave up on cooking most of the Christmas food and instead focused on only having a few choice items, such as the traditional Swedish Christmas dish Janssons frestelse, which is a creamy casserole featuring potatoes, onions and anchovies.
“When you don’t hurry and give yourself an hour to sit down and do some handicrafts, the whole family has time to talk to each other,” adds Cambring. “This is a great way to find out things, like how your children are doing at school, in a natural, unforced way. And even if you don’t finish your handicrafts, the important thing is that everyone takes part in the process.”
Fun figures, OMM Design.
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“It’s so easy to go overboard when it comes to Christmas, and it can be stressful knowing that you have to decorate and cook a lot of food,” she says. “A few years ago, we actually gave up on cooking most of the Christmas food and instead focused on only having a few choice items, such as the traditional Swedish Christmas dish Janssons frestelse, which is a creamy casserole featuring potatoes, onions and anchovies.
“When you don’t hurry and give yourself an hour to sit down and do some handicrafts, the whole family has time to talk to each other,” adds Cambring. “This is a great way to find out things, like how your children are doing at school, in a natural, unforced way. And even if you don’t finish your handicrafts, the important thing is that everyone takes part in the process.”
Fun figures, OMM Design.
Feeling stressed? Here’s how to make the festive season more relaxed
It’s bright in the Cambrings’ bedroom where bold colours mix with monochrome elements and lots of fun details. “The road signs come from a shop called Chilli,” says Cambring. “I’ve always liked patterns and I love the spruce pattern on the pillows and sheets.”
Cambring made the headboard herself out of an untreated oriented strand board, which has been screwed to the wall.
Bedside table, Kartell. Bed, Ikea. Spruce-patterned bedding, Fine Little Day. Ball lights, Irislights.
Cambring made the headboard herself out of an untreated oriented strand board, which has been screwed to the wall.
Bedside table, Kartell. Bed, Ikea. Spruce-patterned bedding, Fine Little Day. Ball lights, Irislights.
In the TV room, the focus isn’t on the TV but on creating a place where the family can socialise and spend time together. The spruce-patterned cushion is from Fine Little Day, and the coffee tables are from Ikea, as are “many other things in the house, though we’ve repainted them,” says Cambring.
String lights, Granit. Sofa, Bellus.
String lights, Granit. Sofa, Bellus.
Daughter Ebba chose striking black-and-white décor for her bedroom. “She’s not infatuated with colour like me!” says Cambring.
Dotted wallpaper, Ellos. Prints, all W:Form.
Dotted wallpaper, Ellos. Prints, all W:Form.
Sven Markelius’ Pythagoras wallpaper adorns the staircase to dramatic effect. The family had to buy 12 rolls of the design to cover the four-metre-high surface. “My husband wasn’t sure before we bought it,” says Cambring, “but now he’s really into it.”
Table, Kartell. Lamp on staircase, repainted flea market find. Pythagoras wallpaper, Scandinavian Designers collection by BoråsTapeter, available at Mr Perswall.
Table, Kartell. Lamp on staircase, repainted flea market find. Pythagoras wallpaper, Scandinavian Designers collection by BoråsTapeter, available at Mr Perswall.
Hanging up cheeky Christmas sayings is a clever way to decorate a plain wall.
“I made these decorations from those packs with letters that you can find in stores, and I stuck them on a large masonite board which we then fastened to the wall,” explains Cambring. “This way, we can easily replace any paintings or decorations without having to drill new holes. We bought the animal masks at Ejvor and the large paper clip at Granit, but I’ve added the beads myself.”
What do you like about this colourful, contemporary festive home? Tell us in the Comments below.
“I made these decorations from those packs with letters that you can find in stores, and I stuck them on a large masonite board which we then fastened to the wall,” explains Cambring. “This way, we can easily replace any paintings or decorations without having to drill new holes. We bought the animal masks at Ejvor and the large paper clip at Granit, but I’ve added the beads myself.”
What do you like about this colourful, contemporary festive home? Tell us in the Comments below.
Who lives here Christine and David Cambring and their two children, Ebba, 10, and Oliver, 8
Location Karlsborg, Västra Götaland County, Sweden
Property A house built in 1981
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Table, Mio