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As far as holidays go, Christmas is the least minimalist-friendly of the lot (Halloween is a close second). It's like there's some subliminal mandate to overstuff and overdecorate your home.

With the holiday season being such a hectic time, I like the idea of slowing down and keeping things simple at home; we tend towards minimalist decor, in general. So, why should the holidays be any different?!

If you haven't already, check out last week's post on minimalist Christmas decor inspiration!

This week, I'm sharing our Scandinavian-inspired, minimalist-friendly holiday decor home tour. Hope you enjoy!

 

If you've been following along for a while, you'll know that our design style is a combination of cozy minimalist and Scandiboho. We're into neutrals and modern/mid-century furniture with a warm, inviting feel. I wanted to take the same approach to our holiday decor this year, so we went with a Nordic theme.

You might have noticed our tree looks a little meagre. We went a bit crazy with the literal trimming of the tree this year. It sits right in front of the only window in the living room, so hacking off branches here and there allows for more natural light. Also, a sparser tree seems to blend in better with our existing decor! Rest assured, big, fluffy tree lovers: this isn't what it looked like when we picked it up at the Evergreen Garden Market.

For the longest time, I've wanted a Christmas tree in a basket. I love the simplicity and earthy feel of this look---not to mention the ability to hide that unsightly tree stand! This year, I finally found a basket big enough (well, sort of...) from H&M Home.

Our massive tree stand still didn't fit in the basket. To accommodate the stand, I had to cut the basket open and remove the bottom. I used a couple of pieces of twine to suture the basket back together around the stand (that medical degree comes in handy at the strangest times!). It still gapes open at the back (good thing I’m not a surgeon), but you can't tell unless you take a close look under the tree!

I draped a plush blanket overtop for added texture and better stand concealment. If you've read my post on clever living room storage for kid's toys, you'll know that blankets atop baskets are one of my stealthy storage staples!

 

Shop This Idea

Large Wicker Basket With Handles ($36.98, Amazon.com).

 

I prefer subtlety when it comes to holiday decor (well, any decor, really...). So, instead of bright reds and greens, I've opted for black and gold accents. I'm also a sucker for sheepskin in the winter! Click here for more on how we decorate our home for the fall and winter.

 

Shop This Look

Black Velvet Pillow Covers - set of 2 ($12.99, Amazon.com). These are the exact ones we have.

Gold Chenille Pillow Cases - set of 2 ($15.99, Amazon.com).

Faux Sheepskin Throw ($17.99, Amazon.com).

 

As for ornaments, I'm drawn to natural materials like wood, paper, and felt. I love their simplicity and laid-back vibe.

My husband brought this yurt ornament back from a trip to Mongolia. We used to try to return with an ornament from each place traveled. We gave up on this after spending hours hunting for non-tacky ornaments in the Caribbean! Think Santa in scuba gear...

This is a clay handprint from my son's first Christmas. Can't believe that was four years ago!