Stunning Serene Nordic French Holiday Decorating Ideas are inspired by a home in…Spain! Spain? Yep. A rustic French country cottage in the Spanish countryside is decorated with white country French flair. This cotton candy cloud fairy tale home with whimsical and romantic decorations inspires with a tone on tone color palette, twinkling lights, and soft romance.
Photos: El Mueble
Serene Nordic French Holiday Decorating Ideas
Timeless Christmas Decorations
I recall seeing this Christmas decorated home online everywhere a few years back, and what a testament to timeless style that it still tingles my jingles after seasons have passed.
Location of This Beautiful Cottage
This beautiful home located on the Maresme coast in Spain hails from 1864. It has been lovingly restored, lightened, brightened, and quite possibly kissed by angels.
Subtle Christmas Color Palette
What a magical example of the softer side of holiday decor destined to thrill Nordic Frenchies and Parisienne-wannabes as well as fabby not too shabby chic-sters.
Let’s collect white Christmas decorating ideas from gorgeous French Nordic style interiors.
1. Rustic Crates and Wood Boxes
Unfinished wood crates and wood boxes are easily found and can be customized with hand-lettering (for the most authentic, rustic look) or a stencil. Tuck gifts, books, pet toys, firewood, candles, dishes, and other festive objects inside.
Crates and boxes look great near the Christmas tree, fireplace, near a chair, in the entry or in an empty corner.
FIND Rustic Crate POSSIBILITIES HERE.
2. White Tulle Ribbon for Christmas Tree & Garland
It’s the simple things! I have used white tulle on Christmas trees through the years, and I like it best as seen here. A simple tied bow at top and long straight ribbons casually streaming to the floor.
Weave white tulle with sparkling white Christmas lights through simple greenery (artificial or fresh). Your mantel, dresser top or stair railing can be dressed with this romantic trio.
FIND White Tulle POSSIBILITIES HERE.
3. Christmas Star Motif
There’s something utterly nostalgic and classic about decorating with stars at Christmas, recalling the Star in the East. Repeat this dreamily simple motif throughout your holiday decorated home to leave everyone starry-eyed.
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4. Beyond Stockings on Fireplace Mantel
Most folks understand the language of Christmas mantelscape (greenery, candles, stocking hangers, signage). But what about delicate little stars or hearts or Christmas trees suspended from silk thread or fishing line?
They can be simply adhered with tape to the mantel and hidden under greenery. What I love about this sweet holiday decor touch is the gentle sway and movement these sweet embellishments are destined to make.
5. Tulle Ribbon Suspended Holiday Ornaments
Tulle ribbon works so well for a variety of Christmas decorations when you’re after an ethereal, gossamer, airy mood. I have had great success feeding tulle through the little loop of Christmas ornaments to suspend them from windows, mirrors, door knobs, kitchen cabinet pulls and beyond.
6. White Candles in the Fireplace
There’s nothing quite like a crackling fire to set a romantic Christmas mood. But whether your fireplace is a working one or just decoration, the flickering flames of creamy white candles provide a hard to beat ambient glow.
Use various sizes and arrange them in a metal receptacle to catch wax.
7. Christmas Candelabra
I don’t know about you, but after this home tour, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for a candelabra or three from a thrift store. Who cares if they are the wrong color if they are inexpensive?
You can easily spray paint them and create French Nordic inspired Joyeux Noel moments. For a more dramatic statement, dangle metallic Christmas ornaments from the candelabra arms as this homeowner did.
8. Simple Wreath & Vintage Frame
It hardly gets easier than this simple DIY. Score an ugly framed piece of art from your basement or antique mall, spray paint it white, then tack a little nail on the frame. Voila! Any wreath (even a plain grapevine one) hung from a ribbon will look more important and interesting.
9. White Christmas Reindeer
You can’t beat white reindeer for a White Christmas plan!
Transform dollar store, thrift store, or inexpensive new reindeer with your favorite white paints. Make it more interesting by varying the shades of white.
10. Stacks of Creamy Hued Books
Keep an eye out for pretty vintage books with white, cream, oatmeal, and pale hued covers. Are they falling apart? Lucky!
Tie the stacks together with waxed twine or white ribbon or stack them imperfectly.
11. Balance White With Woven Textures
It will make all the difference when you incorporate plenty of Scandinavian and European inspired baskets, placemats, and woven accents.
12. White Roses for Christmas
Fresh white roses are right at home in a white Christmas decorated home and dazzle in rustic urns, white ironstone pitchers, crystal vases, and pale earthenware. I have even tucked everlasting white roses into branches of the Christmas tree for a very French Nordic look.
13. Skip the Christmas Red
This may ignite controversy, but bear with me. You’ll note this beautiful Nordic French home’s subdued, calm mood is accomplished without pinks and reds (beyond apples in the kitchen).
What can we do with all those red decorations?
14. Give Tired Christmas Decor a Makeunder
If a few decorations have lost their charm and aren’t sentimental or valuable…yes, I’m going to say it–of course, I’m going to say it. PAINT THEM WHITE.
However, if painting everything white doesn’t delight you as it delights me, perhaps limit reds and greens to one room. Go for vibrant color in a powder room or guest room if the surroundings won’t fit with the white Christmas decor scheme. Or simply tuck colorful pieces away for next year’s bold scheme if you change it up each year.
15. Lovely White Tulle + Gift Wrap
Does decorating for Christmas with pretty wrapped Christmas gifts even qualify as a decor idea? Maybe not, but for a more romantic and feminine look, use white tulle alone or combined with ribbon.
16. White Christmas Cakes
Think beyond frosted windowpanes and royal iced houses. Why not? I am a hopeless cake decorator–just no natural skill or patience for it–but I am exceptional at whipping up buttercream to pile on for plain and simple cupcakes.
Skip the baking and buy premade cakes! Request an all white frosted cake or plain cupcakes from the bakery if all you see in the case are colorful and tacky specimens.
Wait. ARE YOU SUGGESTING TO DISPLAY THE CAKE AS DECOR and keep it off my hips? I like my cake and am nahhhhhhht gonna judge whether that cake sits prettily on the pedestal for one hour or one month. Hahahahaha.
17. White Sheepskin Rugs & Pillows (I like the Faux ones!)
Oh this is just the best white Christmas decor idea EVER. Why? Because it satisfies so many requirements. Nordic French? Um, totes Mcgoats. Cozy and tactile? Oui. Functional and beautiful? Hallelujah.
FIND a few possibilities HERE.
18. White Painted Vintage Chairs
If you require extra seating during the holidays, shop your basement, garage, FB Marketplace, or thrift shop. Look for stools and castoff chairs with potential to be transformed with a few coats of white.
You may recall that eons ago, I painted an ugly brown upholstered Louis-style arm chair white…including the fabric. While that chair serves as a perch for bath towels and decor, it would also be perfect laden with gifts in a French Nordic Christmas decorated room.
19. Treat a Table in the Entry as a Mantel
Decorate the top of a console table, shelf, or other surface in the entry with a few metallic or light-hued ornaments and votives. I love how amber glass works with all the white in this glorious French inspired home. Even minimal and simple amber glass jars would be lovely!
20. Celebrate Green + White
Something truly magical happens when green and white come together for the holidays so don’t underestimate this duo.
Watch this video to see what finding the right GREEN paint can do for a French Country room decorated for Christmas.
Do you like this green paint color, Benjamin Moore ROOFTOP GARDEN?
And here’s a pretty basket set to hold holiday cards:
21. Remember to Look Down
The holiday decorated interiors of this enchanting white home remind us to not neglect the floor or lower shelves. A simple detail like a grapevine sphere wrapped in white twinkle lights where a doorstop would be can be a charming unexpected design detail.
Scandinavians are such pros at laid back, rustic yet elegant touches like candlelight upon the floor. Not every home (kids! pets!) may be appropriate for glowing floor decor, but LED candles do the trick!
22. White Tissue Paper & White Poufs
If you have followed this blog for a spell, you know I have a thang for tissue paper pom poms, poufs, and garlands. They are relaxing to make and add whimsy and fun for Christmas and beyond. They are also suggestive of Nordic French style so it’s an inexpensive, creative layer to add to white holiday decor themes.
FIND TISSUE PAPER IN BULK HERE.
23. Understated White DIY Reindeer Pillow
While this tutorial is not in English, it matters not!
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Do you happen to know the paint colors used in this home or ones close to the colors
Thank you kindly
Bonnie
Author
Hi Bonnie. Benjamin Moore Pale Oak would be comparable to this wall color. If after sampling it, it is a bit too dark for your space, look at Benjamin Moore Ballet White. Let us know what you think if you go for it!