Creating a Christmas atmosphere at home is one of December’s main tasks. The tree, tinsel, garlands, Christmas stars in the windows and other simple decorations are not just décor — they are a sure way to bring festive cheer long before the holiday itself.
A great example is the Rantakari family from Finland, who for 20 years have shown how to decorate a home for Christmas without a big budget or fuss.
Every December they dress their old house: they put up a tree, decorate the rooms and use tried-and-true décor ideas that are easy to repeat in any flat or country house.
Over the years the Rantakaris have collected plenty of tips for holiday decorating. These simple, cosy solutions can help you quickly transform an interior and add a touch of winter magic.
The Rantakari family — 46-year-old journalist Ulla, her 50-year-old husband Kalle and Ulla’s 82-year-old mother — live in the town of Pälkäne, about a two-hour drive from Helsinki.
Pälkäne is a small town with just over 6,000 residents. The Rantakaris live in a house built in 1936 that is protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency. The house even has its own name: Villa Tilda.
The villa covers 118 square metres. The building was restored in the 1990s, and it has central heating and running water.
“This is our family home. It was once built for my grandfather’s aunt — Matilda, who everyone simply called Tilda, hence the villa’s name. My mother inherited the house from Matilda’s daughter,” Ulla told Meillakotona.
In the photo: Ulla with her mother and their golden retriever, Voitto.
As a child Ulla spent a lot of time in this house: all summer, most weekends and every Christmas holiday. Since her teenage years she dreamed of returning to Pälkäne, renovating the villa and living there with her own family.
“After finishing university in the early 2000s, I came back to my native Pälkäne to spend more time with my mother and my late father. In 2021 my mother decided I should become the sole owner of the house. It was a great honor for me,” Ulla says.
Every year, at the start of December, the family buys a real Christmas tree from a forester they know.
This year the tree shows not only store-bought ornaments but also handmade straw stars. Ulla makes them together with her 82-year-old mother — an activity that helps the elderly woman practise fine motor skills.
A living fire in the stove helps create a warm atmosphere in the cold winter days. Ulla, like her mother, likes to sit here with a book or knitting.
The tiled stove looks vintage, but it is brand new — it was installed in 2025 to replace the old, broken stove. The red wallpaper in the living room is from Morris & Co.
They traditionally place the tree not only in the living room but also on the summer veranda. The veranda is not heated, but they still decorate it for Christmas.
A required finishing touch is a fresh flower arrangement on the dining table.
Ulla likes to decorate the house without excess. Only neat, carefully chosen décor accumulated over the years. On the window hangs a handmade Christmas star cut from cardboard. On the windowsill and countertops are candles in antique candlesticks that once belonged to Villa Tilda’s first owner, Matilda.
“We never decorate the house lavishly. We try to create a festive mood with a minimum of decoration. We have a rich collection of Christmas ornaments: porcelain angels and elves from the early 20th century left by former residents, my own childhood toys and decorations from those years,” Ulla explains.
Almost all the wallpapers in the house are traditional designs by Morris & Co, and some walls are painted in historic shades by Farrow & Ball.
Next to the kitchen is Ulla’s mother’s bedroom. The elderly woman used to sleep in a larger room on the second floor, but it became harder for her to climb the stairs with age, so they arranged a cosy bedroom for her on the ground floor.
This room also feels festive: a hyacinth on the table and candles set safely in vases.
On the landing of the second floor there is a magical atmosphere. You can see a raspberry-coloured sofa from the 1930s, an American travel trunk from the early 20th century and an old rug from Ulla’s parents’ home.
Soft lighting and candles enhance the antique feel. Little rocking horses on stands and a hyacinth in a metal bowl create a celebratory mood.
This sewing machine was once used by Matilda — Tilda herself.
A stack of Christmas cards tied with a red ribbon is kept as a family heirloom. The oldest cards date back to the 19th century — they were once sent to the Rantakari ancestors.
Many people associate fresh flowers, like hyacinths, with spring, but Ulla has learned to use them in Christmas décor. On the windowsills you’ll find festive displays made from flowers, garlands and old porcelain figurines.
This is Ulla’s bedroom (her husband sleeps in a separate room). Pink dominates the room — Ulla loves it. The dressing table once belonged to her grandmother. The lamp and wooden chair are from the old family home.
Books, a wooden box, sprigs of cypress and a porcelain figure make up a Christmas arrangement on the table.
This is the head-of-household’s bedroom. The checked wallpaper is by Ralph Lauren and the dark-blue panels are painted with Farrow & Ball. Once, Ulla’s mother slept in this room.
The sink in the bathroom has a white marble countertop and a dark-blue vanity.
Ulla even decorated the bathroom. The Christmas décor is carefully and tastefully integrated: a candle in a brass holder, green sprigs in a vase and fir twigs tied with a white bow above the mirror.
“In addition to decorations, we have special tablecloths and textiles that we use only at Christmas. We also always order a flower arrangement for the festive table, and we decorate other surfaces in the house with homemade displays — flowers or dried bouquets in old dishes or baskets,” Ulla advises, sharing how you can decorate your home for Christmas.
Images: Johanna Myllymäki
