Holiday harmony – check out our 8 + 1 tips for serene festive season

Hold onto your mittens, folks – winter is coming! This year the Holiday Season is all about the quiet charm and minor tweaks. Check out our best tips on how to effortlessly arouse that festive feeling and get ready to enjoy the December celebrations.

Savor the season

The holiday season calls for some simple pleasures: quality time with loved ones, leisure moments, and of course, delicious food. So invest in a table setting that encourages lingering around a bit longer. Now is the perfect time to set the table with the prettiest porcelain plates, fold the softest linen napkins, and maybe, if you're in the mood, add a hint of class with bamboo placemats. Take a seat and enjoy!

• All tableware >
• Read also: Desserts for the festive season >

Enjoy holiday dining

Alright, let's not sugarcoat it – sometimes the coziest spot in the house is not the table but the bed or the sofa. Good news are that this is the season to feast wherever your heart desires.

Taking the dining experience to the sofa or bed is a breeze with the right gear. The pine tray by Finnish Vaarnii features a small gap underneath to make lifting the tray easier and rounding the edges to make it more comfortable to hold. This tray isn't just for treats but doubles as a modern bowl for fruits of the season or a vessel to show off your favorite gifts.

• All trays >
• Read also: Rice porridge cooked in almond milk and 3 more breakfast recipes for the holiday season >

Some warmth for the cold season

Textiles are the quickest and easiest way to do a little winter makeover, so wrap your home in a hug of holiday season style with soft blankets, fluffy throws, and plush decorative cushions! Finarte's sweet Palsta cushion is adorned with a geometric pattern that was originally inspired by idyllic summer cottages but its vibrant red shades are perfect to decorate the winter festive, too.

• Finarte's Palsta cushion >
• All textiles >

Spice up winter days

As the year wraps up, it's the perfect time to paint the glooming days with a splash of colors. Sure, red and green are the traditional shades of the season, but who says the festive feelings can't groove in other hues as well? Bring some cheer and joy to dark winter days with the striped Molino grinder that is inspired by the lively spirit of designer Fabien Cappello's Mexican roots. Spice things up and welcome some tropical breezes to your kitchen!

• Hem's Molino grinder >
• All kitchen utensils >

Dance of delight

Colors are an easy way to add vibrancy to your decor, but this year the wildest are decorating their homes with floating ornaments. There is something enchanting and serene about the gentle movements of a hanging mobile – can you think of anything cozier for the holiday season than watching it sway?

Vitra's Plywood Mobiles resulted from plywood molding techniques by Charles and Ray Eames in the 1940s. The experiments led to free, organic shapes that playfully revolved around each other, like the ones found on the ceiling of the couple's home.

• Vitra Plywood Mobile >
• All mobiles >

Mood lighting magic

Why not update your lighting to be a little gentler for the holidays, too? Try setting up the soft mood with an Italian design classic from 1932. Designed by Gio Ponti for FontanaArte, the Bilia lamp combines two essential geometric shapes – a sphere and a cone – in a skillful and balanced manner. The table lamp is equipped with a handy dimmer that turns the captivating luminaire into a mood maestro that effortlessly adapts to any room and vibe.

• All lightning >
• Read also: Top tips on choosing a lamp >

Beyond brightness

If even the dimmable lamp is throwing shade too bright, why not go old-school and embrace the warm glow of candles? When placed in an elegant candleholder, a candle can be both a classic light source and a contemporary design piece for your dining or coffee table. The ambiance is complemented by scented candles, which are a pleasure not only for the eyes but also for the nose. So relax and get ready to enjoy with all your senses!

• All candles & candleholders >
• Read also: It’s candle time – cozy up and enjoy the hygge life! >

Holiday tree-free zone

Are you not a fan of a traditional holiday tree? No problem! Create a festive ambiance with smaller plants and several stems instead. The Ultima Thule vase, designed by Tapio Wirkkala, draws inspiration from the melting spring ice of Northern Finland. The glass vase is perfect for showcasing larger and more impressive floral bouquets as well.

• All vases >
• Read also: Decorate your home for the festive season with flowers! >

+ 1: The easiest gift

In the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the season, the challenge of finding the perfect gifts can feel a bit overwhelming. Simplify the joy of remembering your loved ones by adding Finnish Design Shop's eGift Card to your shopping cart and and let them be the ones to choose their own special surprises!

• Finnish Design Shop’s eGift Card >
• Read also: Sustainable gifts keep on giving >

See also:

• Holiday Season Shop >

Text: Susa Pääkkönen Images: Juho Huttunen, Suvi Kesäläinen and manufacturers