Photography: Krista Keltanen/Living Inside
Christmas in the northern hemisphere has a romance all its own – but it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. Festive decoration, for example, often starts early, because the evenings do, too. “Right after Halloween, in early November, I start adding more candles and lanterns because it gets so dark,” says Sanna Raatikainen, 46, who lives in this home outside Helsinki with her husband Jouni, 46, their sons, Teo, 11, and Emil, 15, and Benkku the dog.
“In December, I bring in Christmas flowers, wreaths, and a few decorations. The Christmas tree and the main holiday decorations arrive during Christmas week.” That might sound on the late side to many of us, but when Sanna, who ran her own interior design shop, Nougat, for nearly 15 years, does bring out the classic decorations, they’re perfectly chosen, and filled with sentimental value.
“Our most precious decorations are the ones we’ve collected for our sons over the years,” Sanna explains. “They’re stored in large boxes and brought out each Christmas week to decorate the tree. Many of them came from Nougat, my shop. Every year for a decade now, I’ve displayed my white woodland animal ornaments and house-shaped lanterns as part of our Christmas tradition.”
Sanna says abundance is key to her seasonal decor. “I love creating decorative arrangements, and throughout the year, I place stacks of books, candles, and beautiful objects on various surfaces. As Christmas approaches, I add even more candles, string lights, and festive decorations. Flowers play a big role in our Christmas celebrations.”
She makes her own floral arrangements and wreaths, adding candles to moss-lined glass bowls and wrapping hyacinth bulbs in moss. “My favourite flowers include white amaryllis, deep plum-coloured hellebores, and white hyacinths,” says Sanna, who also loves eucalyptus branches. Textiles are also key to that celebratory atmosphere Sanna loves to create. “I love linen, and velvet has always been my favourite,” she says. “Christmas music also plays a big role in setting the mood. Generally, in the background, there’s often jazz or French music playing.”
To make sure all five senses get a seasonal treat, scent has a starring role, too. “I fell in love with scented candles a decade ago and burn them every day. Different rooms have different scents.” However, abundance never tips over into excess. Although this time of year is typically busy, Sanna still prioritises tranquillity – as her decorative scheme shows. “Shades are extremely important to me,” she says. “Our home’s colour palette consists of various shades of white, sandy brown, powdery beige, and peach. A few black furniture pieces add a Danish-style contrast to the otherwise soft tones. The colours create a serene atmosphere.”
It’s clear that the rituals of Christmas are key to this family’s celebrations. “Traditions matter, and some of them are repeated every year,” explains Sanna. “We’ve been baking the same spiced Christmas cake for at least 20 years – its recipe came to us in a Christmas card from a friend of my mother. A slow and peaceful pace is essential for the holiday season. I make mulled wine, prepare familiar treats, and keep up our traditions: visiting the Christmas market and admiring the holiday lights along Sofiankatu leading to Helsinki Cathedral.”
Before moving to this home seven years ago, the family lived near Annala Garden on Hämeentieand later in a newly built apartment in Arabia, but longed for more nature around them. The space in this home was adapted to fit the family’s needs. The bedrooms are upstairs, with the parents’ bedroom featuring a lovely terrace.
Downstairs, in addition to the entrance hall and kitchen, there is a spacious open-plan living and dining area. The home extends outdoors with a charming terrace and yard. It was the layout that first endeared the house to Sanna. “I love how the space is divided into upstairs bedrooms and a more open downstairs area combining the living room, dining area, and kitchen,” she says. “We also fell in love with the location – the neighbourhood is very peaceful, and our kids have friends in almost every house.”
There are no plans to move any time soon, then. But travel is still a temptation during the festive season: “I’d love to spend Christmas in New York, while our boys dream of a Christmas in Lapland,” Sanna says. “We could make it work by celebrating Christmas Eve at home and then travelling during the holiday break.”
But when they’re not braving trains, planes and automobiles in search of exotic seasonal experiences, this family is blissfully happy right here. Sanna says her home at Christmas is a source of daily joy, particularly citing “the scents, the twinkling lights, the music, and the atmosphere”.
A classic fairytale Christmas.
Shop the look
Christmas cottage decoration
Pillow Talk, $14.95
French flax linen tablecloth in Natural
I Love Linen, $145
Iron and Glass lanten in Gold
Myer, $109.95
Woollen mouse decoration set of 4
Bed Bath N’ Table, $29.99
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