Top hat on the Christmas tree: blogger Maria Meder’s whimsical holiday home
Interior design blogger Maria Meder always decorates her home with genuine care for her family. The same philosophy also guides the way she creates the holiday ambiance.
Finnish blogger Maria Meder goes into holiday mode in November. As the celebration draws closer, her home fills up with clever DIY decorations and glowing warm-toned lights.
How did Christmas become the most important holiday to you?
I was already decorating the home for Christmas when I was young. Over time, I added a few more traditions, but the core idea remains: it’s a time to relax, cook good food for loved ones, and enjoy each other’s company.
The Meder home is a 1946 house in Järvenpää, Southern Finland. It has four rooms plus a kitchen, totaling 95 square meters (1,020 sq ft). Maria lives there with her partner, Harri Martin, and her adult son, Michael Meder.
The floor pattern in the entryway was painted using a template made from painter’s tape. Maria sanded the chest of drawers for a matte finish and replaced the heavy base with tall legs. The conifer wreaths are fashioned from pine branches attached to a thin metal ring with wire. The door curtain is an Indian cotton bedspread.
Maria believes nothing beats a real spruce and its scent. The light-colored cabinet once served the Finnish armed forces. Back then, it was called the “poison cabinet” because it was used to store pesticides. The dried wreath was tied from fresh willow branches.
Maria curls up on the sofa under a blanket to watch Christmas movies. Her favorite is the now-classic The Holiday. Previously used in a blacksmith’s workshop, the wooden chest of drawers had a thick layer of black grease that had to be scrubbed off with pine soap.
“I make decorations myself and use recycled materials in my décor.”
A top hat on the Christmas tree! Where did you get the fun idea?
On a whim, I placed a thrifted top hat in the tree for a steampunk feel. The Christmas tree is the guest of honor, so a hat on the treetop suits it perfectly.
Maria decided to put a top hat on this esteemed holiday guest. Pocket watches, keys, tiny glass bottles, dried orange slices, and sleigh bells hang from its branches.
Tell us about your decorating philosophy.
I definitely think outside the box. Although my décor includes a number of traditions, I’m always thinking of new ideas. I make my own decorations and use recycled materials.
It’s unfortunate how often we see overly cautious, calculated interiors. White walls or arrangements styled just for photos don’t excite me. I adore muted colors, but I don’t dwell on what particular style our home represents.
How do you decorate your home for Christmas?
In my opinion, American Christmas movies have a wonderful, all-encompassing atmosphere. I browse Pinterest and Swedish interior design blogs for ideas I can bring into my own Christmas.
Whether I’m decorating for Christmas or just decorating in general, I like making bold, personal choices. Trying to be perfect isn’t worth it. For me, hanging red curtains doesn’t instantly create a Christmas vibe. I love Christmas ornaments, but I’m not a fan of throwaway culture.
When do you start your holiday season?
I’m not fond of Christmas fuss in stores as early as October. I prefer to ease into the holiday spirit in November. We always bring the tree into our living room about a week before Christmas Eve.
In Maria’s kitchen, the dishes are washed by hand. The kitchen table was a lucky thrift-shop find for 30 euros. The hanging lamp was made from jute rope.
This 1950s Strömberg stove is still used daily. It was bought fifteen years ago, even before they purchased the house. Maria loves wooden cutting boards, and the prettiest ones are used for table settings. The range hood is from Ikea.
“When decorating for Christmas, you can make bold choices.”
Brass candleholders are brought out for Christmas.
This corner cabinet was built by Maria and now doubles as a mini laundry. The washing machine is hidden behind its doors. The advent calendar was made by painting the bottom of an old wooden tray black and hammering in small nails to hang gingerbread cookies.
The checkered pattern was painted on the wood floor using a stencil. The kitchen wallpaper is Morris & Co’s Pure Honeysuckle & Tulip. It harmonizes beautifully with the black-and-white floor and the dark brown furniture.
What about Christmas lights? When do you switch them on?
We keep a few mood lights outdoors year-round, but for the holidays, we add at least eighteen more strings. The light must be warm and gentle, that old-fashioned soft glow, not cold-bright LEDs.
What is your dream Christmas Eve like?
Loved ones come over to eat at a beautifully set table. Candles glow everywhere. We don’t serve traditional Finnish Christmas foods—instead, we might have pasta and ham salads, fish, and borscht.
I take after my grandmother and enjoy bustling around the kitchen to make sure everyone has plenty. When the guests leave and the chatter fades, the house settles into a peaceful calm. That’s when I do the dishes by candlelight, Christmas music playing softly in the background, and—hopefully—snow drifting down outside.
The tiled stove offers warmth, a cozy ambiance, and a pleasant aroma. A large metal basket holds the firewood. Maria inherited the step stool from her grandparents. The train conductor’s lantern glows with an LED candle. The rusted old advertisement letter above the stove was found on an online second-hand marketplace.
“I prefer soft, harmonious lighting.”
The stool in the workroom is a cherished heirloom from Maria’s father and grandfather’s printing shop. Tools and supplies stay neatly organized in the solid wood drawer unit. Maria shaped the window star from thick wire and wrapped it with jute twine. The old Tateka accordion lamp makes a perfect task light.
Maria is enthusiastic about gift wrapping. Recently, she has styled gifts to look like wartime mail, complete with stamps. She collects packing paper and bits of string throughout the year. A train lantern adds charm during the darkest time of year.
“Striving for perfection isn’t worth it.”
Maria’s grandmother also kept candy in a beautiful tin. This lovely piece, discovered at a thrift store, is filled with sweets at Christmas.
The ivy sits in a rusty flower pot from Kukkatalo. Maria covered a Styrofoam cone with pine cone scales and a Styrofoam ball with seashells. Gluing each scale and shell by hand took time, but the result is delightful.
“I love Christmas ornaments, but I don’t like throwaway culture.”
In their compact bedroom, storage is cleverly arranged with old and handmade cabinets and dressers.
The wreath and paper stars are Maria’s own creations. She also gives them as Christmas gifts, along with her handmade soaps.
“I do the dishes by candlelight, Christmas music playing in the background, and snow drifting outside.”
Seasonal lights create a magical atmosphere in the yard. Sometimes joggers and dog walkers stop to admire them. “When evening falls, I switch on the outdoor lights and love how the mood changes. The greenhouse glows like a lighthouse in the dark, and small strings of lights encircle it with a soft glow,” Maria writes in her blog.
