🏠 How homes in Sweden are decorated for Christmas: stars in the windows, candlesticks and a straw goat

🎯 Why Swedish Christmas can be seen through the windows

In Sweden, Christmas does not begin with a tree in the corner of the living room, but with lights in the windows. Even before decorated fir trees and gifts appear in homes, paper stars and electric candlesticks light up in the windows in late November and early December. Just walking down the street in the evening, it's clear that the season has begun, even if there is no snow at all.

This is where that ‘Scandi picture’ that everyone saves on Pinterest comes from:

a star glowing softly in the window; candle lights lined up on the windowsill; a little red and dark green fabric; somewhere nearby — a small straw goat, julbock, without which Swedish Christmas seems incomplete.

This decor works both outside and inside at the same time:

• from the street, the house looks warm and ‘alive’;
• inside, the light, fabrics, natural materials and small details create a feeling of a calm, lived-in holiday, rather than an exhibition show.

This article is for those who want to see Swedish Christmas from the inside:

• tourists who walk around Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö in December and think, ‘How do they do it?’;
• expats setting up their first Swedish home or rented flat;
• lovers of Scandinavian interiors and anyone who dreams of ‘recreating this cosiness’ in their own home, even if they don't live in Scandinavia.

Let's break it down step by step: what are these stars, why do you need candlesticks, where did the straw goat come from, and how can you adapt all this to your home without renovations and a huge budget.

🌟 Stars in the windows: the main sign that the season has begun

If you arrive in Sweden in late November or early December, the first thing that catches your eye in the evening is the stars in the windows. They are called adventsstjärna and for Swedes they mean one thing: ‘Well, Advent and the Christmas season have begun.’

What is an adventsstjärna and what does it look like?

An adventsstjärna is a star-shaped hanging lamp that:

• hangs directly in the window opening;
• glows with a soft, warm light;
• is visible from both inside the room and from the street.

It can be one large star in the centre or several small ones in different windows. Sometimes the star is complemented by a candlestick on the windowsill, turning the window into an entire light composition.

Materials and styles

Stars come in many different forms, and that's part of their charm:

• Paper stars are the most popular, ranging from simple to super-decorative with cut-out patterns.
• Fabric stars are dense, often in calm colours, and give off a soft, diffused light.
• Minimalist stars are plain, white or beige, and are ideal for modern interiors.
• traditional ones are red, with ornaments, golden accents, sometimes with a slight vintage feel.

At this time of year, entire walls in shops are dedicated to stars: from budget to designer ones, so that everyone can find ‘their own’.

When stars appear in windows

They usually start hanging them on the first Sunday of Advent or a little earlier.

In some places, it's a family ritual:

• getting out the box of Christmas decorations,
• rehanging the lights,
• and turning on the star for the first time that season in the evening.

By the beginning of December, it seems that every other window is lit up. Even if there is no snow yet and everything is grey around, the city visually becomes warmer.

How it is perceived

From the outside, it is just simple decoration. For the Swedes themselves, adventsstjärna is a visual code:

‘We have officially entered the Christmas season.’

When you walk down the street and see dozens of stars in a row, it gives you a very calm feeling: the people around you live in the same winter rhythm, each with their own story, but the light in the windows is shared.

If you want to ‘make your home Swedish,’ a star in the window is the first and strongest gesture, even without any other decorations.

🕯 Electric candlesticks: staircases of light on windowsills

The second essential feature of a Swedish window in December is an electric candlestick. This is the very ‘staircase’ of light bulbs that is placed on the windowsill, slightly moving the curtains so that it can be seen both from inside and from the street.

The classic version is a stepped candlestick with several ‘candles’ (often 5 or 7) arranged in a ladder. They come in:

• wooden — from simple pine to dark wood;
• white minimalist — for modern interiors;
• more decorative ones — with carvings, ornaments, sometimes vintage-style.

Why are they almost always electric and not with real fire?

• It is safe — especially if there are children, animals, or a lot of textiles in the house.
• There is no need to monitor, trim wicks, or change candles.
• you can just turn them on in the evening and forget about them until nighttime, or even leave them on as a night light.
• In everyday Swedish life, where darkness is the norm, convenience wins out here, but the atmosphere remains intact.

When a candlestick is lit in one house, it is beautiful. When an entire street lights them up at the same time, the picture changes completely:

in the evening, the houses look like a row of warm, living islands of light, even if the facades are very ordinary.

Often, one window features a combination of a star and a candlestick:

the star hangs higher, in the centre, and the candlestick stands on the windowsill. As a result, the window turns into a small Christmas display, and the resident gets both cosiness inside and the feeling that their house is participating in the general winter spectacle of light.

🎄 Swedish Christmas trees: not always giant and not always from 1 December

Unlike the custom of ‘putting up the Christmas tree immediately after 1 December,’ in Sweden, the Christmas tree often appears closer to Christmas itself. Many families put up the Christmas tree a few days before Julafton, sometimes even on 23 December, so that it coincides with the peak of the holiday and does not ‘wear out’ in advance.

When and what kind of tree

There are several options:

• A real tree is a classic. Many people go out of their way to buy one at markets or supermarkets, and sometimes even cut one down themselves at special ‘Christmas tree farms.’
• Artificial trees are also common, especially in cities and small flats.
• mini Christmas trees are not uncommon: a small tree on a table, chest of drawers or windowsill can easily replace a large floor-standing tree if space is limited or the family is small.

The main thing is not the size, but that the tree becomes the centrepiece of a quiet family celebration.

Decoration style

Swedish Christmas trees usually look calmer than those we are used to in the post-Soviet space:

• a minimum of tinsel and ‘acid’ colours;
• more wood, glass, white, red, a little gold;
• simple baubles, straw or wooden figures, glass pendants.

Family decorations play an important role:

• toys that have been stored for years and are only taken out at Christmas;
• children's crafts, which can hang alongside designer baubles and are not perceived as ‘spoiling the picture’.

On the branches, you can often see:

• garlands with warm white light, without running and flashing modes;
• small flags on a string (for example, the Swedish flag or just red and white);
• figures of angels, hearts, straw stars.

As a result, the tree does not look like a ‘showpiece’, but rather very lively: a little eclectic, with a history, but at the same time surprisingly harmonious. This is a continuation of the general Swedish principle in a Christmas home: better warm and personal comfort than a perfect picture from a catalogue.

🐐 Straw goat (julbock): from an ancient symbol to a cute decoration

If you look closely at a Swedish Christmas home, you will almost always see a straw goat — julbock. Sometimes it is very small, sometimes the size of a small dog, tied with red ribbons.

What is a julbock and where did it come from?

Historically, the julbock has its roots in a time when winter and holidays were associated with agricultural rituals and old beliefs. The goat is a stubborn, strong animal closely associated with the village and farming, and straw is a natural remnant of the harvest.

Over time, pagan motifs faded away, but the image of the straw goat remained and became part of Christian Christmas as a warm, almost fairy-tale symbol. Today, most people perceive the julbock more as a traditional decoration than as a ‘ritual’ object, but it is still held in special respect.

What kinds of julbocks are there?

There are many formats:

• small straw figures — placed on shelves, under the Christmas tree, on windowsills;
• medium-sized goats — can be placed by the fireplace, window, or in the hallway;
• large julbocks at the door or on the street — sometimes almost ‘human-sized’, especially in private homes or at the entrance to shops.

The straw is tied with red ribbons, sometimes bells or small decorations are added, but the base almost always remains recognisable: a dense ‘straw’ silhouette.

Where it is placed in the house

Most often, julbock can be found:

• under the Christmas tree, next to the presents;
• at the entrance, as a kind of ‘guardian’ of the house during the holidays;
• on a shelf or chest of drawers in the living room;
• sometimes — in the company of other straw figures and traditional decorations.

In private homes and on the streets, you can also see large goats by the porch or gate — they set the mood even before you enter.

Why the picture is incomplete without it

Julbock is one of those elements that makes Swedish Christmas truly Swedish.

Stars and candlesticks can be found in other countries, and the Scandinavian style has long spread around the world, but the straw goat remains a very local, almost ‘domestic’ symbol.

When the interior features:

• a star in the window,
• a candlestick on the windowsill,
• a few textiles with red accents
• and a small julbock in the corner,
• the picture instantly transforms into not just a ‘winter Scandi interior’, but a recognisable Swedish Christmas.

🧣 Textiles and colours: how the house ‘changes its clothes’ for Christmas

A Swedish house rarely turns into a bright New Year's showcase for Christmas. Here, it feels more like the house has quietly changed its seasonal ‘clothes’: without repairs or rearrangements, but with a noticeable change in textiles and shades.

What changes first

The simplest but most effective steps:

• tablecloths and table runners — options appear in red, burgundy, green or warm beige tones, sometimes with embroidery or small patterns;
• Pillowcases — ordinary neutral ones are replaced by more ‘wintery’ ones: with checks, snowflakes, hearts, deer, stars;
• Throws — warm, denser ones appear on the sofa and armchairs, with wool or a ‘hand-knitted’ effect.

Even if the furniture remains the same, the house begins to look different simply because of these soft accents.

Christmas details

The following are used:

• cushions with winter prints or simply in deep colours;
• textile napkins and small table runners — sometimes with traditional motifs, sometimes completely minimalist;
• kitchen towels with Christmas patterns, pot holders, aprons — small items that subtly create the background.

Textiles are often stored in a separate ‘Christmas’ box and only taken out for the season — so they are perceived as part of the holiday, not the permanent interior.

Balance of background and accents

The base of many Swedish interiors is quite calm:

• light walls,
• natural wood,
• neutral furniture.

Against this background, a few seasonal accents are enough to suddenly make the house feel very ‘Christmassy’:

• one bright tablecloth,
• a couple of cushions,
• a blanket,
• a couple of runners and napkins.

It is important not to try to ‘overdo’ it — the Swedish style is based on the idea that

it is better to have a little, but to the point, so that the home remains cosy and lived-in, rather than turning into a shop window for decorative items.

🍊 Scents and details: oranges, cloves, candles

Swedish Christmas is not only about lights and decorations, but also has a very recognisable smell. Sometimes, just opening the door to your flat in December is enough to realise that the holidays are just around the corner.

Classic winter scents

The simplest and most effective combination:

• oranges with cloves — whole buds are stuck into the peel, the fruit is placed in a bowl or on a tray and gradually fills the room with a warm, spicy aroma;
• cinnamon, cardamom, cloves — in baked goods, glögg, teas;
• glögg — even if it is non-alcoholic, the very smell of this warm spiced drink creates a festive atmosphere;
• baked goods — lussekatter, pepparkakor, cinnamon and cardamom buns, which work better than any scented candle.

Often, the smell of home in December is a mixture of orange, baking and light spices, and that's enough to make a simple flat feel like a scene from a Christmas film.

Candles and home ‘fragrances’

Of course, there are also scented candles, diffusers and sprays with scents such as

• cinnamon and vanilla;
• orange and cloves;
• pine needles, fir, ‘winter forest’.

But many still rely on ‘natural’ sources:

• something baking in the oven;
• mulled wine or spiced tea warming on the stove;
• oranges and tangerines are placed in a vase and are simply peeled and eaten frequently.

It turns out that fragrance is not decoration for decoration's sake, but a side effect of living at home during the holidays.

The atmosphere of a ‘home Christmas film’

When combined:

• soft warm light,
• textiles and cosy details,
• a star in the window and a candlestick,
• the smell of orange, cinnamon and fresh baking,

an ordinary room begins to feel like that very ‘house from the movies’ that you want to return to.

You can recreate this almost anywhere:

just light a couple of candles, put some tea with cinnamon and orange on the stove, lay out a couple of mandarins and take your time. Scents do half the work for any decor — they literally ‘glue’ the atmosphere together.

🕯 Cosy light inside: not just the Christmas tree

In a Swedish home, Christmas lights are not limited to the garland on the Christmas tree. Quite the opposite: the Christmas tree is one of the lamps in a large orchestra of light that is spread throughout the apartment.

The house is decorated with:

• floor and table lamps with warm light;
• small garlands along shelves, around windows or on railings;
• lanterns on windowsills, chests of drawers, at the entrance;
• individual candlesticks with regular or LED candles — on the table, coffee table, near the sofa.

The main principle is to almost never turn on bright overhead lights, especially in winter.

Instead of one powerful chandelier, use several soft light sources in different places:

• one lamp by the sofa;
• another in the corner by the armchair;
• a star and a candlestick in the window;
• a couple of candles on the table or shelf.

This way, even a small room is transformed into a cosy space with depth: some areas are lighter, some are darker, and each corner has its own little ‘stage’.

Swedes pay close attention to corner lighting:

• stars, candlesticks, and lanterns on the windowsills;
• small lamps, candles, and glowing figurines on dressers and shelves;
• a floor lamp or table lamp next to an armchair so you can read or just sit with a cup of tea.

As a result, Christmas lighting is not a single bright object, but layered soft lighting that makes winter evenings at home the most beloved time of day.

🚪 Hallway, balcony, door: it's a holiday outside too

Swedish Christmas begins even before you enter the house. Even at the entrance or on the porch, you can see that winter is inside with lights and cinnamon, and not just ‘ordinary December’. Even if there is not much decoration, the entrance area is almost always ‘dressed for the season’.

A classic element is a wreath on the door.

It can be:

• made of real pine needles, with cones and ribbon;
• artificial, but very neat and restrained;
• minimalist: just a green circle without unnecessary details.
• The wreath immediately sends a clear signal: Christmas is remembered here, even if behind the door there is a quiet, not noisy family and a minimum of guests.

Small Christmas trees or bunches of branches often appear at the entrance:

• in a pot or basket next to the door;
• in a metal bucket on the landing;
• sometimes — just a bunch of pine needles tied with a ribbon and placed in a vase.

They also add lanterns or small lights:

• one or two lanterns with candles (usually LED) by the door;
• a garland along the railing or along the edge of the balcony;
• a small glowing house or figure next to the entrance.

Even a minimal set — a wreath + a lantern + a small Christmas tree — already creates the feeling that the house is participating in the general celebration, and not just standing in a row of anonymous entrance doors. It also works for the residents: coming home in the evening to a slightly illuminated entrance area ‘dressed’ for winter is much more pleasant than coming home to a bare, dark stairwell, especially in the long days of December.

🏘 Small flats and rented accommodation: Christmas cosiness without renovation

Not everyone's Swedish Christmas is a big house with a fireplace and a huge Christmas tree. Many people live in rented flats, studios, and dorm rooms. But even there, winter still ‘moves in’ — just in small, neat steps.

What students and expats do

The most common set looks something like this:

• one star in the window — already gives the feeling that you are ‘in the know’ about Advent and Christmas;
• one candlestick or a small garland — on the windowsill, table or shelf;
• a couple of textile accents:
  • one tablecloth or table runner;
  • one or two pillowcases on the pillows;
  • a warm blanket on the sofa or bed.

Sometimes they add a small julbock or a mini Christmas tree in a pot — and that's more than enough to turn even a studio in a new building into a ‘Swedish Christmas den’.

How to create a ‘Swedish look’ without nails and high costs

In rented accommodation, it is important that everything is:

• removable,
• neat,
• without marks on the walls and furniture.

Here's what you can do:

• Hang a star on a hook/suction cup or on a curtain rod — without drilling holes in the walls.
• Place a star table lamp or candlestick simply on the windowsill.
• Use textiles as your main tool:
  • replace the pillowcases on the pillows;
  • put a table runner on the table;
  • throw a red or plaid blanket over the sofa.
• Add candles in candlesticks or LED candles — they do not require any changes to the interior.
• Get one or two figurines: a straw goat, a small Christmas tree, a glass star.

That is, instead of global decor — a few specific items that can be easily packed away in a box in mid-January and return the flat to its ‘normal appearance’.

This way, Christmas cosiness is not the privilege of large houses, but something that can be arranged in any rented flat, room or studio — literally with one star, one candlestick and one nice blanket.

✈️ How to recreate the Swedish style at home

If you want a Swedish Christmas, you don't have to move to Stockholm. All you need is a few well-thought-out details, and your home will immediately take on that ‘Scandi cosiness’.

Mini checklist: 5 things that make your home feel like a Swedish Christmas

1. Star in the window One adventsstjärna already works wonders. Hang it in the most visible window — both from the street and from the room. Even without the rest of the decor, it sets the mood: ‘winter and Christmas have begun’.
2. Candle holder on the windowsill
3. Electric, with ‘ladder candles’ or any other calm option. Turn it on in the evening and the window will turn into a small island of light.
4. Small julbock
5. A straw goat is an easy way to add a Swedish touch, rather than just abstract ‘New Year's decor’. Place it under a makeshift Christmas tree, at the entrance or on a shelf in the living room.
6. Textiles: tablecloth or blanket
7. A single tablecloth in red/burgundy/green tones or a warm blanket on the sofa will make the room feel more ‘wintery.’ You don't have to change everything: one or two strong accents are better than a dozen random items.
8. Candles and the scent of cinnamon/orange
9. A couple of simple candles, tea with cinnamon and a slice of orange, a bowl of mandarins or oranges with cloves — and your home will start to smell like a Christmas card. The scent works just as well as any decor.

How not to overdo it

The main principle of a Swedish Christmas home is not to turn the space into a decoration shop.

Three simple rules help:

• keep a neutral background (walls, large furniture) and add seasonal accents, rather than changing everything at once;
• choose less, but better quality: one beautiful star is better than ten random figurines;
• remember that the goal is not ‘wow, how much,’ but ‘I want to sit here, drink tea and not rush anywhere.’

If you feel good at home with soft lighting and a cup of hot drink, then the Swedish style has worked, even if you only have one star and one goat.

🔚 A Swedish Christmas home as a feeling, not a picture

The main thing about Swedish Christmas is not a perfect tree ‘like in a magazine’ or a perfect set of decorations, but the feeling of light and cosiness that comes when you want to stay at home for another cup of tea. A star in the window, a staircase of lights on the windowsill, a straw goat, a warm blanket and the smell of cinnamon do their job precisely because they fit into everyday life rather than replacing it.

You don't have to copy everything down to the last detail. Just take a couple of Swedish ideas — a star or a candlestick, some textiles, candles and the scent of orange — and gently incorporate them into your home, whether it's an apartment in Stockholm, Tbilisi or a small town far from Scandinavia. The Swedish style is easy to adapt: it's not about right or wrong, but about comfort, light and silence on winter evenings.

And if you want to complete the puzzle of the Swedish winter, take a look at other materials: about Advent, about Saint Lucia's Day, about Christmas holidays in different regions and the atmosphere in Swedish cities in December–January. Together, they help you see not only the beautiful interior, but also the whole living context in which this cosy home exists.