How to Give Home a Quiet Serene Holiday Look

Simplicity, ethereality, and glorious white Nordic holiday inspiration is on the way with inspiration from My Petite Maison. How to Give Home a Quiet Serene Holiday Look offers ideas for pared down decorating with white to add comfort and joy to your interiors.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may also earn a commission.

Give Home a Quiet Serene Holiday Look

So many of us have long admired how shop owner Tracie of My Petite Maison creates all white cozy, yet spare Nordic cottage moments within her Midwest nest. Drawing inspiration from her decorated rooms, vignettes, and divine designs, we’ll learn the look by exploring the details.

Airy Christmas Trees

Not all Christmas trees need to be weighed down with ornamentation. An airy look where sparkly white lights add glow is easy to love.

Also note how the airy Christmas tree above seems more important with its surrounding sea of tone on tone!

Collect for Color

Tracie’s vintage angel wings (perhaps from an old Nativity costume) in a gorgeous hue of blush-white read like breathtaking art yet also introduce a spiritual wonder to the holidays.

Wispy Holiday Wreaths & White Blooms

Whether fresh or faux, wispy style greenery and wreaths impart a lighter mood than full dark green versions.

Even a few white roses in simple glassware or an old crock can add a sweet serenity when they aren’t lost amid a cluttered vignette or a field of saturated color.

Oh, the magic of vintage little sheep at Christmastime! I never tire of them!

Think Low Contrast

If you’re in the camp who think a room always needs a pop of color here and there, this look may not appeal. However, if you’re after an expansive, breezy, atmospheric mood, layer different shades of alabaster, putty, snow, stone, and linen.

Her adorable (and white!) furry babies add even more charm to her photography and styling.

Her sheer with lace curtains at the window also make me feel nostalgic as I treasure my own sheers which dressed the windows in almost every one of our homes over the years.

LEARN THE LOOK: When you’re aiming for tranquility, tone on tone and restraint are your best friends.

Whites never need to match. In fact, it’s a much more natural and lovely look when they vary.

LEARN THE LOOK: Shop for vintage items such as ironstone and accessories with pale hues that don’t shout “holidays” during the year to incorporate at Christmastime.

The pup Bechet who roamed here (below) has now flown to the angels, but new puppy, Leif has joined Tracie in her nest.

Ideas for Decorative Objects

Tracie stocks the lovely My Petite Maison with vintage pieces and antiques that she loves and would place in her own home.

LEARN THE LOOK: Poinsettia is one direction to pursue during the holidays; however, pale lovely garden roses set a quietly romantic mood.

As you may or may not know, antique French baskets can be extremely expensive. If you see one at a friendly price, snap it up!

From Tracie, I learned about Grace Rose Farm, a lovely source for charming, old fashioned, fresh roses from California. I have purchased many rose bouquets from the farm, and they are a sweet indulgence that can transform a room and a mood.

A Fresh Petite Tree in Aged White Urn

In a country and culture where far too often bigger is touted as better, there remains evidence that small is best.

Whether it is diminutive trees in decorative urns or little white ceramic houses and churches with steeples, petite is so flippin sweet.

LEARN THE LOOK: To soften a cool toned room, make sure to vary the shapes of objects and furnishings. Notice all of the curves in this corner:

Here’s another shot of that corner, and WOW, you get a sense of how even pale colors take on importance in the sea of snowy white.

Why leave the top of a cabinet bare when more gentle white can elevate the look?

I must admit that when I come across a find that is antique white, my first inclination is to get a paintbrush and brighten it with bright white paint; however, it’s okay to leave it alone!

LEARN THE LOOK: Keep your eyes peeled for vintage pedestals at the market and online since they make lovely perches for silver glass bulbs.

I love how Tracie’s vignettes feel authentic, undone, and anything but contrived (even if there is styling at work…it’s executed with intelligence!).

Little pre-lit bare birch trees are so perfect for this spare look:

Romantic White Simplicity Beyond the Holidays

What could be simpler than saved jam jars?

LEARN THE LOOK: Did your granny save every glass jar as I do? It feels wrong not to! They make lovely receptacles for blooms, as luminaria or everyday storage of essentials such as homemade granola (find my recipe here).

This stylist is drawn to religious antiques and celestial themes which add to the calm, otherworldly mood. Life outside the walls of home can be harsh.

How I would love to learn to knit something akin to these cableknit stockings!

LEARN THE LOOK: Chunky handknit throws are a trend that has only grown in popularity, but they are timeless. Knit stockings will never look irrelevant.

Sweet Animal Friendship in a Swedish Farmhouse

If you follow @mypetitemaison on IG, you will be treated to blissful moments of cloud living with white paws.

I imagine them underfoot as delicious cookies bake in the oven.

LEARN THE LOOK: A Scandi-inspired, humble look in the kitchen may be as simple as frosted white sugar cookies on a pedestal, and a few votives mercury glass holders.

Serenely Quiet White Christmas Mood

To say that all white or mostly white interiors are cold and sterile? Probably an over-generalization…golden sunlight warms it naturally.

LEARN THE LOOK: A wreath in the window need not be a lush evergreen with bold red ribbon…just look what happens when a wispy silhouette takes its place (above).

I have a huge grapevine wreath like that above and planned to spray paint it white and add pieces inside to make it a peace sign. But in my laziness to add the pieces, I began to enjoy the round form as-is. It has stayed bare for many years now!

Surely, antiqued brass and gold tones can be white’s best friend.

LEARN THE LOOK: I grew up in a house where our Christmas tree was the most beautifully decorated one in town, and my Swedish-loving mother often used these candle light strings to great effect.

You’ll notice Tracie’s window coverings are light-filtering and diaphanous.

And should you need encouragement that small rooms in closed floorplans can feel magical and not claustrophobic, let this be it. White is a miracle worker.

Rustic Elegant White Christmas Beauty

Bring the outside in: bare winter trees are like sculpture masterpieces with cloudy skies.

LEARN THE LOOK: If you’re fortunate enough to own vintage candelabras where the brass has patinaed, ooh la la! However, new examples can be aged as well or displayed as is.

Little vintage sheep and ironstone make such a delightful pairing.

White painted hardwood floors in winter must feel wonderfully snow-like.

LEARN THE LOOK: Tracie’s white painted hardwood floors play a starring role in her cottage, yet most folks are timid about the commitment. Consider it for a small area (screen porch, craft room, little used guest bedroom) before tackling a larger one.

White crocheted lace everything is so lovely in a cottage with French Nordic charm.

LEARN THE LOOK: Sweet little winter trees look magical with or without anything sparkly.

I love watching for new treasures that show up in Tracie’s cottage. They almost always end up in her shop.

As a result, her peaceful look is ever evolving, her home a fluid living art piece. All of this practice with letting go surely impacts other layers of one’s life.

Does the quiet reverence of all the white speak to you too?

Lovely, Simple & White Holiday Home

Swedish Christmas Traditions & Decor

I grew up with many Scandinavian traditions at Christmas including Santa Lucia and even candle spinners just like this.. Also enjoy the video where Northern Heart shares glimpses of holiday home hygge in Sweden.

If you should have a moment for more gorgeous holiday inspiration, you can also head HERE to savor each morsel, and do REPIN AWAY from my Christmas board!

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

Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

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