“More is more”—for Kirsi, green is the undisputed color of Christmas, and an enchanting atmosphere stretches from the entryway to the greenhouse

Inside a yellow mansard-roofed wooden house, the scent of mulled wine drifts in the air while candles flicker. The aroma of cinnamon and orange also lingers, as the mossy arrangements are embellished with cinnamon sticks and dried citrus slices. Green hues appear throughout the home in the wallpaper, houseplants, furniture, and textiles. Kirsi Välimaa and her daughter Oona build their Christmas around a green color theme.

“We’ve lived here since 2002, when I built the house with my then-husband. After the divorce, my daughter and I stayed. I enjoy being at home, and we rarely travel. Instead, we spend our free time at home and in the garden,” Kirsi says.

After Kirsi was left alone in the house with Oona, she gradually renewed every surface over the years. Even the home’s original kitchen was updated with new paint.

Downstairs, in addition to a large foyer, there’s a kitchen, dining area, and living room, leading to another lounge at one end, which Kirsi calls the back room. Upstairs, tucked under the sloping roof, is a cozy workspace for Kirsi’s job as a content creator and set stylist.

“My home is like a laboratory, where I try out all kinds of interior solutions. Christmas decor spreads throughout every room here. I also want to delight passersby with something fun outside, so every year I add a new twist to the outdoor lighting.”

The decor is abundant and colorful. Kirsi loves decorating with muted shades, and has painted all the walls with them. For her interior palette, she favors the brown hues of cinnamon and cardamom, mossy greens, ocher, and forest green.

Her style is inspired by the early 1900s Jugend style and 1920s Art Deco. She adds home-made items to spice up the furnishings.

“More is more, and I find the best items at flea markets. Some of my greatest Christmas finds include a tree topper and string lights,” Kirsi says.

Christmas arises from the synergy of three things: visuals, sounds, and scents. The atmosphere and enjoying it are more important to Kirsi than gifts. A warm interior is complemented by a soft soundscape of timeless Christmas music favorites, such as Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole.

“My favorite Christmas scents are gingerbread and hyacinth, with cinnamon as a close third. During the holiday season, I always sprinkle some cinnamon into the coffee grounds and enjoy cinnamon coffee. I also love the smell of the fireplace and burning wood,” Kirsi muses.

Kirsi puts out the first signs of Christmas at the beginning of November. She places candle holders on tables, lights seasonal lights in the yard, and string ball lights indoors. She fires up the fireplace daily for cozy ambiance and extra warmth, and candles glow whenever she’s at home.

“I’ve collected brass candle holders for years. Elves and angel decorations aren’t my thing. I prefer traditional glass Christmas ornaments and baubles, which I also hunt for at flea markets. Every year, I buy one new ornament for myself and one for Oona. Fortunately, I realized from the start to mark each Oona ornament with the year; it’s wonderful to recall them as we hang them up,” Kirsi says.

Kirsi retrieves the Christmas tree from storage at the start of December. It’s a synthetic tree from her childhood home that’s endured for decades. Kirsi and Oona adorn it with showy glass balls.

“I remember our Christmas tree as far back as the early 1990s. Setting it up was always the most thrilling part of getting ready for Christmas.”

As Christmas approaches family traditions become more prominent. Ever since Oona was little, Kirsi has been preparing an “elf trail” for Christmas morning. This year is no exception. The elf trail takes shape through little rhymes, with a house elf hiding the first rhyme-like clue in the tree. The notes lead to a path, and at the end of it is a present.

“I wrap the gifts nicely. I use brown paper and orange or copper-colored ribbons. We focus on gifts we actually need, and everyone gets one ‘main gift.’ Last Christmas, I bought a robot vacuum cleaner, and the previous year, a gramophone I’d dreamed of.”

Although big extended-family Christmases are wonderful, they are surprisingly time-consuming to host, Kirsi says.

“When there’s a large crowd, Christmas Eve can be such a whirlwind that I don’t even get to settle into the holiday. Even though my wonderful mother-in-law has always handled the cooking, by Christmas Day I’m absolutely exhausted.”

Nowadays, Kirsi celebrates Christmas either with Oona or a few other people, because Oona spends every other Christmas at her father’s. The “third wheel” is Kirsi’s boyfriend. The holidays are now much calmer, following their own schedule and mood.

“These days, we only prepare the Christmas dishes we’ll actually eat, and we’ve scaled back the variety and quantity. Last Christmas Eve morning, I skipped making rice porridge. Sparkling wine and chocolate are enough of a dessert. Oona and I both love a cheese platter with crackers and fruit.”

“Now there is more time for myself and real relaxation at Christmas. I can settle in with a book or magazine, or we might watch a couple of Christmas movies. When we’re not having guests, I can even take a nap if I want.”