12 Scandinavian Christmas Trees

Rustic, Country-Style Design

In essence, the Scandinavian style is a rustic, country-style that favors functionalism over crowding a space with decorations. This quiet, clean aesthetic can be a welcome change from the over-the-top opulence that generally marks the Christmas season. In this room, a series of faux candles is all that's needed to make this tree the highlight of the space. The addition of the piano makes this the perfect place to sing some carols. 

Chic and Austere Decorating

With this chic, austere aesthetic, nothing is overdone. There's no need to struggle with trees that brush the ceiling or overwhelm the space—especially not when something much smaller will do. This tiny tree is the perfect complement to the large, ornate windows.  

A Natural Look

The Scandinavian approach to Christmas decorating stands out because of how naturally the tree is incorporated into the surrounding space. Instead of being conspicuously designated as a focal point, the tree simply adds to the space's overall look. Here, together with a small lit fireplace flanked by neatly cordoned stacks of wood, the tree adds a bright, warm pop of color to the room. 

White Ornaments

This example also shows how Scandinavian design makes the tree look and feel like a natural part of the room. With the view of the outdoors afforded by its large bay windows, this space looks like an extension of the snowy field outside. A tree placed front and center looks as if it's growing in its natural habitat. 

Full and Lit

In this room, the Christmas tree is paired with a wreath, another decoration that has played a number of roles in ancient European winter holiday traditions. According to one origin theory, wreaths were used in the Scandinavian Yule festival, lit on fire, and rolled down a hill as a means of inciting the sun to return. Other theories link them to Celtic traditions or to accessories worn by Roman nobility. Whatever the case may have been, wreaths are a welcome sight every holiday season. 

Potted Evergreen Plant

For a Scandinavian-style Christmas, even a small, potted, evergreen plant can be all you need to fill your home with the holiday spirit. This tree is a perfect example of Scandinavian-style, planted in a simple yet sturdy-looking bag and paired with a sheepskin rug.

Asymmetrical Beauty

Christmas decor in a Scandinavian-style room can create a pleasing and visually striking sense of contrast. In this example, the stark colors and straight lines are broken up by the deep greens and fuzzy asymmetry of the tree itself. Here, a healthy dose of decoration accents the tree wonderfully, adding light and color to the room.

Global Aesthetic

For a warmer, livelier look, pair Scandinavian design with other global aesthetics for a well-traveled and sophisticated-looking home. In this space, the pillows add a striking level of pattern and texture to the room, while the wooden floor brings a sense of warmth. For the tree, consider other globally inspired accents such as Christmas ornaments decorated with African-inspired prints or patterns. If you find yourself having a hard time finding exactly what you're looking for, you can always make your own ornaments.

Sparse and Unassuming

In emphasizing the minimalist aesthetic that is the hallmark of this style, Scandinavian rooms decorated for Christmas often feature trees with sparse or thin branches. This approach brings greater attention to a smaller number of ornaments that won't overload the thin branches. At the same time, the sparseness of the foliage speaks to the unassuming perspective of Scandinavian design.

Star Topper

Another benefit of having thinner or fewer branches at the top of the tree is that it allows your tree topper to stand alone. A simple star gains that much more gravitas and interest because of how it alone defines the very crown of the tree with no other decorations or ornaments to distract from the focal point. The number and size of the ornaments increases steadily down the tree as the foliage thickens. This weighted approach to trimming creates a tiered look that accentuates the sturdy base of the tree while giving the star topper enough space to shine.

Red Color Scheme

Though the Scandinavian decor is typically defined by a strong adherence to neutral color palettes, that doesn't mean that there isn't any room to spice things up with an extra bit of color. For the most part, this room keeps with the classic Scandinavian color conventions, but the Christmas tree is festooned from top to bottom in bright, colorful ornaments.

The color is beautifully echoed in the ribbon that binds the gifts together, as well as the table settings and flowers that decorate the dining table. Despite mixing in a little more color than is standard for rooms done in this style, the repetition of one primary ornament throughout the tree helps to maintain the sense of minimalism that Scandinavian design requires.

Golden Stars

Another way to warm up a cool, Scandi-style room for the holidays is to throw a few metallic elements into the mix. Warm metallics such as brass, copper, and bronze are a well-loved staple of holiday decor. Moreover, they blend amazingly well with the deep, leafy greens that are found in most Christmas trees and holiday wreaths. Extra touches, such as the brass bowl on the mantle in this room, help to ground the tree decoration as part of the space. Additionally, the shade of warm metallics blends beautifully with the wood tones for an even stronger warming effect.