IKEA combines Scandinavian traditions with a contemporary approach to decorating in its VINTERFINT, STRÅLA and VINTERSAGA winter collections. For some, Christmas means the scent of gingerbread, a decorated tree and family gathered around the table. For others, it is a chance to experiment with colour and give their home a different look. The collections make room for both, encouraging people to celebrate together in their own way.
Christmas trees in different forms
Decorating the tree is one of the year’s most anticipated rituals for many families. Some carefully coordinate the colours, while others hang baubles collected over decades, adding to shared memories. Those who prefer something less conventional can even choose a hot-dog-shaped ornament alongside the usual stars and angels.
A festive atmosphere does not depend on having room for a traditional tree. Paper trees can decorate a windowsill or chest of drawers, while a wall decoration makes space for seasonal details without occupying the floor. The STRÅLA light-up tree offers another alternative, using light alone to set the mood.
Festive details throughout the home
The VINTERFINT collection includes a reindeer-shaped bowl with a lid that can hold sweets and decorate a kitchen worktop. Accessories depicting Christmas elves and a candleholder shaped like Santa’s boot add winter details to a bedroom or living room. These small pieces introduce a playful note to more traditional decorations.
‘When designing products for the VINTERFINT and STRÅLA collections, I wanted to make people smile and give Christmas a more relaxed feel. The forms are geometric and simple, but playful, and the colours catch the eye. I hope they bring joy and help people take Christmas a little less seriously, without unnecessary stress,’ says IKEA designer Marta Krupińska.
After dark, lighting changes the atmosphere. A star-shaped paper lampshade casts a glow across the ceiling, while tabletop decorations and curtain lights make different corners of the home feel cosy. Colour can also turn an ordinary winter evening into something more festive.
Some decorations stay with a household for years. A bauble, figurine or family keepsake can become part of its shared history. According to IKEA’s Store & Organise report, 80 per cent of Polish people keep objects for their sentimental value. The boxes brought out before Christmas therefore hold memories as well as decorations.
Gathering around the table
Family meals, favourite dishes and the smell of gingerbread are central to Christmas for many people. The winter collection includes a red-and-white striped tablecloth and patterned napkins for dressing the table. Before the Christmas Eve meal begins, families can assemble a gingerbread house together, making the preparations part of the occasion.
Gift-giving follows dinner, but some of the enjoyment begins with wrapping. Double-sided paper offers a way to experiment with patterns and colours, while gift bags add a personal touch. The care taken over the presentation matters alongside the gift itself.
‘I experimented with simple geometric shapes to create interesting patterns for wrapping paper. It warms my heart to think of families getting together to wrap their presents in it,’ says IKEA designer Mia Lehtonen Madsen.
Some people return to familiar Christmas traditions, while others look for different ways to celebrate each year. IKEA’s winter collections accommodate both under one roof, from classic decorations to colourful, unexpected ornaments. The aim is to make a place for the people sharing the occasion, with celebrations as varied as the homes that host them.
Products used in the project
- Hot-dog-shaped tree ornament: IKEA
- Paper Christmas trees: IKEA
- Wall decoration: IKEA
- Light-up Christmas tree: IKEA, STRÅLA
- Reindeer-shaped bowl with a lid: IKEA, VINTERFINT
- Christmas elf accessories: IKEA, VINTERFINT
- Santa’s boot candleholder: IKEA, VINTERFINT
- Star-shaped paper lampshade: IKEA
- Tabletop decorations and curtain lights: IKEA
- Red-and-white striped tablecloth: IKEA
- Patterned napkins: IKEA
- Gingerbread house: IKEA
- Double-sided wrapping paper: IKEA
- Gift bags: IKEA
Christmas decorations can change how a room feels without major changes to its layout. Find architects, interior designers and interior photographers in the PLNDesign directory.
See also:
- IKEA takes inspiration from Himalayan wildlife for ALPTALL
- Giulio Cappellini reinterprets terrazzo in HPL for Abet Laminati
