Minimal flair, maximum cheer

A single string of lights: a minimalist’s Christmas with a twist

In Julia’s modern, minimalist home, there aren’t many decorations—but that’s exactly why they stand out. The holiday season starts with the Christmas window and Grandma’s Christmas stockings.

Author Jonna Kivilahti

Images Krista Keltanen

November 6, 2025Lue suomeksi

black single-family house, snow, a mother, and children wearing elf hats outside — When Julia and Jarkko were searching for a new family home a few years ago, they found a black, modern house by Dekotalo that was still under construction. It turned out to be everything they’d hoped for.

Snow covers the yard of this sleek, black house, and more snowflakes fall from the sky. Lights sparkle in its spacious windows, and paper stars glow against the glass.

Julia and Jarkko Pärssinen moved into their home three years ago, settling on a housing fair site. They were able to pick some of the surface materials while the house was still being built. This modern house by Dekotalo suits the family’s needs, and its style resonates perfectly with the couple’s love of minimalism.

The house combined both of their visions for a new place. They had been living in Helsinki, and moving farther from the city felt natural when they needed more room.

Who lives here: Creative entrepreneurs Julia Pärssinen, 32 and Jarkko Pärssinen, 40, and their sons Oliver, 6, and Noel, 5.

Home: A single-family house completed in 2020 in Tuusula, southern Finland. There are 146 square meters (approx. 1,570 sq ft).

black single-family house, snow, and yard spruces — One side of the lot borders peaceful forest.

lanterns and a wreath on the terrace in front of the house’s entrance in winter

Julia, how does Christmas start showing up in your home?

With children, our Christmas preparations happen earlier, and we start putting up the most important decorations in November. The kids’ Christmas window and their grandmother’s crocheted stockings always come first. The Christmas window was a bit of an accident when the children were really small and decorations couldn’t be left unattended. That’s when I thought of putting decorations between the window panes—using cotton fluff for snow, and adding pinecones and other little ornaments. Each year we add a bit more, and now there’s lighting in there too. The Christmas window is in the children’s room, which has a large floor-to-ceiling window.

children wearing elf hats seen through a window in a black house

two red Christmas stockings hanging and a plush fox — Grandma crocheted the stockings for Noel and Oliver, and an elf leaves surprises in them.

black armchair and shelving under the staircase — It looks like the elf dropped off surprises—and its hat—in the Christmas stockings. Julia set up a reading nook under the stairs, featuring a pine branch in a vase and a candle chandelier for a festive look. The shelving is by String System, and the K-chair is from Woodnotes. The lamp is by House Doctor.

Julia sits at the table, with a Christmas tree and paper stars — The dining area carries through the kitchen’s matte black tones. The melamine-topped table was custom-made at Tälli.

The area under the stairs is nicely sheltered for a reading nook. With a modular shelving system, you can pick the exact parts that fit your space.

How do you finish preparations for Christmas?

Conifer branches, flowers, and candles fill our home at the start of December. Normally, it’s pretty minimalist, but Christmas is a time to indulge. Decorations are everywhere. I create small, atmospheric arrangements on shelves and surfaces.

a string of Christmas lights on the table among objects, a houseplant — The Christmas spirit flows through the house when even the smallest nooks and crannies are decorated.

gift ribbon, a present, and scissors with a string of Christmas lights

a small Christmas tree on a nightstand and a bed

What is your Christmas color scheme?

Our home is very black and white, making it easy to introduce any color. The Christmas colors change year by year, depending on how the decorations and flowers come together. I like harmony, so this year I chose deep red and dark green. In the kids’ rooms, the colors are brighter than in the rest of the house.

Christmas tree, sofa, and coffee table in the living room, and a conifer decoration on the wall — The tall living room wall is covered in Cent’s Dyyni interior paneling, finished in white lacquer. A conifer branch strung with lights makes a simple yet stunning accent.

dining set decorated for Christmas and a black-brown kitchen with an island — In the dining area, Julia and Jarkko chose Lavitta chairs by Poiat. The light fixture is Mantunalle by Eglo. They always use Tsaikka glasses by Iittala, inherited from Julia’s grandmother, for mulled wine.

Tell us about your Christmas traditions!

Growing up, we only brought the tree in on December 23rd and decorated it together. It was a calming ritual that marked the start of a peaceful Christmas. We now have two trees—one indoors and one on the terrace. As a minimalist, I’ve kept the indoor tree to just strings of lights, while the terrace tree is loaded with ornaments.

family members decorating the terrace Christmas tree and a hanging chair — The terrace tree is more lavishly decorated than the one in the living room. Julia tackles many Christmas crafts with Oliver and Noel.

a glass star ornament on a Christmas tree branch — A minimalist still chooses decorations with care.

a Christmas tree and a hanging chair as well as lanterns on the balcony — When the interior design is already harmonious, it doesn’t take much to create a festive feel: add conifer branches, candles, and some soft textiles.

little boys in Christmas outfits on a round rug

What kind of Christmas activities do you have?

I do all kinds of crafts: I arrange flowers, and we bake and decorate a gingerbread house with the kids. We make Christmas cards together, too. This year, we made a Christmas-themed artwork from one of their paintings by cutting it into a snowflake shape and framing it.

What are the most important Christmas decorations for you?

Candles and paper stars in the windows. Flowers and conifer branches add atmosphere. A small card house that my grandmother made in my childhood is special. The children have their Christmas window and Grandma’s stockings. My mother had a tradition of buying one new decoration each year, so the tree slowly changed over time.

a table set decorated for Christmas and mulled wine in glasses — Paper stars are the first sign that Christmas is near.

little boys playing on the floor in front of the balcony, snowy forest in the background

sofa, a red Christmas star in the window, and a mirror

Ultima Thule candle holders in a row with candles lit

a festive bundt cake, conifer decoration, and mulled wine glasses in the background

a black metal shelf, a Christmas light string, a plush toy, and a rice paper lampshade in the children’s room

Ultima Thule candle holders, a metal tray, a black table, candles, and a snowy view

What are your favorite flowers?

White or dark red amaryllis is my top pick. Second would be the Christmas rose. When I make my own floral designs, I combine conifer branches from the forest with cut flowers from the shop.

Is your Christmas traditional or modern?

I’d say our Christmas blends both. We hold on to traditional elements but give them a fresh twist.

gift packages under the Christmas tree, a view of the living room — Julia decorated the real Christmas tree with strings of lights.

children reading a Christmas book on the sofa, Christmas tree, and conifer decoration — A large conifer arrangement on the wall sets a Christmassy tone. Oliver and Noel have adorable animal jumpsuits and holiday-themed books that they read every day.

bedroom, bed, wall lamp, pictures, and a ceiling lamp — The bedroom walls are painted in Cover Story’s shade 009 Pablo. The linen sheets by Heaven Linen are from the local Somia Living store. The poster is by Artek, the wall lamp is Jordan from Ellos, and the ceiling lamp is Matin by Hay.

in the bathroom, a vessel sink, faucet, tealight candle, lighted mirror, and conifer decoration — Just a couple of conifer branches and a candle instantly warm up the bathroom. The wall has a Dekofloor coating, the sink is by Woodio, and the faucet is by Tapwell.

in the bathroom: washing machines, bathrobes, towels, and a lantern

What is most important to you at Christmas?

The atmosphere is number one. I also love the Christmas scent of conifer branches, a freshly cleaned home, and holiday cooking.

What kind of group do you spend the holidays with?

On Christmas Eve, we gather at my parents’ place with my dad, mom, brother, and grandparents. We used to stay overnight, but now that we live close by, we head home for the night. I’m already anticipating the peaceful moment we have after the boys go to bed on Christmas Eve, when Jarkko and I can relax with some mulled wine.