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My minimalist Christmas decor – the first few touches

November 29, 2021

Minimalist Christmas fireplace display in a neutral grey living room | These Four Walls blog

I don’t normally start decorating the house for Christmas until December, but with the weekends falling the way they do – and with the days getting increasingly gloomy – I couldn’t resist adding some festive cheer a little earlier this year. So, here’s a look at the touches I’ve incorporated so far. As always I’ve opted to keep things simple and minimalist, with neutral colours and natural greenery, and I’ve focused on timeless pieces that can be used again and again rather than anything trend-led.

In the living room, I’ve taken inspiration from my autumn pumpkin display and created an asymmetrical arrangement with a cluster of plain white pillar candles. It includes some of the same foliage, which has dried out nicely over the last few weeks, and I’ve also added sprigs of fir and some preserved eucalyptus left over from last year. I’ve secured everything with a twist of floristry wire so it should stay put for a month or so, and I’ve positioned things carefully so that there’s no risk of anything catching fire from the candle flames.

Minimalist Christmas fireplace decorations using white pillar candles, fir, eucalyptus and a white paper star | These Four Walls blog

Neutral grey living room with minimalist Christmas fireplace display using candles and foliage | These Four Walls blog

Minimalist asymmetric Christmas fireplace display with candles, fir and eucalyptus | These Four Walls blog

Asymmetric Christmas fireplace display with white pillar candles and evergreen foliage | These Four Walls blog

On the other side of the mantlepiece I’ve placed one of the paper stars that I reuse in different ways around the house year after year, and there’s some more festive greenery – fresh, this time – in a small glass vase on the coffee table.

Minimalist Christmas fireplace display and Scandinavian paper star in a neutral grey living room | These Four Walls blog

Minimalist fireplace display with a Scandinavian paper star in a neutral grey living room | These Four Walls blog

Minimalist Christmas decorations with evergreen foliage and white candles in a neutral grey living room | These Four Walls blog

Another of the paper stars has appeared on the sideboard in my little office, where I’ve created a simple yet striking display using LIND DNA’s new ‘Curve’ modular candleholder collection. Designed by the Danish company’s founder, Preben Lind, it showcases beautiful organic curves and comes in chrome and gold-plated versions. There are three different base elements (triple, double and single) plus various add-ons, and you can arrange them in whatever combination you want: big, small, minimalist, ornate… I’m planning to use mine in various ways over the festive period and they may even put in an appearance on the Christmas table, but for the moment they look great here with a few foraged pine cones.

Oak sideboard with minimalist Christmas decor using pine cones, a paper star and the Lind DNA Curve modular candleholder | These Four Walls blog

Lind DNA's Curve modular candleholder | These Four Walls blog

We’ll be adding more decorations next weekend, so I’ll share photos when I can. In the meantime, here are some Christmas posts from years past that might give you a bit of inspiration for your own home:

How to make an asymmetrical Christmas wreath

Christmas inspiration with paper baubles

Simple Christmas decorating ideas using paper stars

How to have a minimalist Christmas

How to make a seasonal garland

You can also see three ideas for nature-inspired festive colour schemes here, and my round-up of the best scented candles for Christmas and winter here.

Minimalist grey living room with simple Christmas decor using evergreen foliage and candles | These Four Walls blog

Minimalist grey living room with simple Christmas fireplace decor using evergreen foliage, a paper star and candles | These Four Walls blog

Minimalist grey living room with simple Christmas fireplace decor using evergreen foliage and candles | These Four Walls blog

Please note I was given various items from the LIND DNA ‘Curve’ collection as part of an Instagram collaboration, however I wasn’t obliged or paid to include them in this post. 

All photography by Abi Dare

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HELLO

Abi Dare | These Four Walls blog

I’m Abi Dare – a stylist, photographer and writer based in Bristol (UK). I set up this blog to share interior design, travel and lifestyle inspiration for simple, relaxed living at home and beyond. You’ll find home tours, advice and tips, interviews, reviews, postcards from places I love and more – always with a focus on soft minimalism, muted colours and timeless, considered design.

‘Top 10 UK interior design blogs’ 2025, 2024, 2023 & 2022, Vuelio

‘Best Interior Design Blog’, uFurnish Home Awards 2024

Winner of the ‘Blogger’ category in the Sweetpea & Willow Home Influencer Awards 2023

‘Best Design & Architecture Blog’, UK Blog Awards 2019

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Back on the grid after more than two weeks. Thanks Back on the grid after more than two weeks. Thanks to everyone who sent messages checking I was OK - I just lost my Instagram mojo and needed a bit of a break. Anyway, here are some phone-camera snippets of life lately...

1.  Guard cat on duty while I work
2.  Evening light hitting the last of the Japanese quince blossom in the garden 
3.  Country drives
4.  Coming across 17th-century graffiti while house-hunting
5 & 6.  A lazy Sunday stroll on Clevedon Pier, on one of those hazy days where the sea and sky seem to merge into one
7.  Keeping drooping spring blooms going for as long as possible 
8 & 9.  Wisteria at @ntbarringtoncourt in Somerset 
10.  Brunch at the always-wonderful @lunitapasteleria 
11.  Enjoying the balmy spring breeze 
12.  Stunning mosaic floors at Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire 
13.  Bluebell season
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#springhassprung #slowsimpleseasonal #cornersofmyworld #lifelately #blossomseverywhere #thisprettyengland #thelocalwayfarer #westcountry #littlestoriesofmylife #poetryofsimplethings #seeingthepretty #tinytinymoments
[AD - PR product] I've always loved marble as a ma [AD - PR product] I've always loved marble as a material, and the beige Kunis Breccia version of the @newworksdk 'Kizu' table lamp caught my eye immediately. I now have this design in three different colourways around the house, and this is definitely my favourite to date! 

#softminimalisthome #softminimalstyle #neutralhomedecor #simplehomestyle #minimalistdecor #simpleinterior #mycosyhome #neutrallivingroom #minimalistlighting #scandiinterior
A few weeks ago I travelled to Drammen in Norway f A few weeks ago I travelled to Drammen in Norway for the big project I'm working on (more on that soon), and while I was there I had a look around @askogeng's workshop. I've been a fan of their sustainable bamboo kitchens and furniture for a long time, so this was a real treat. And the space itself is full of the time-worn textures and beautiful details that always catch my eye.

#texturesandtones #warehousestyle #kitchendesign #scandinavianinteriors #scandinaviandesign #bitsofbuildings #ihavethisthingwithwindows #perfectlyimperfect
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#springflowers #springhomedecor #simplehomestyle #softminimalhome #springdecor #simpleinterior #neutrallivingroom #victorianterracerenovation #myminimalhome #springhomestyle

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