DIY Christmas Bottle Decorations with Swedish Decorating Charm

When it comes to simple, meaningful holiday decorating, Christmas bottle decorations are one of my favorite ways to add charm to the season. Inspired by the cozy beauty of Swedish decor, I created my own version using vintage bottles filled with evergreens, pinecones, and glowing candles.

This easy DIY project captures that Scandinavian sense of calm, natural, understated, and effortlessly festive; perfect for displaying on your porch, mantel, or holiday table all winter long.

How to Create Christmas Bottle Decorations Inspired by Swedish Design

I first discovered this beautiful bottle idea on Lavendale’s Blog, where Scandinavian homes transform simple glass jugs into magical Christmas bottle decorations. In Sweden, it’s common to see old wine bottles or demijohns reused as elegant holiday decor, filled with evergreens, pinecones, and twine, then topped with a candle using a classic bottelabra.

It’s a look that’s both rustic and refined, a nod to the Scandinavian love of natural textures and cozy candlelight during the long winter months. What I love most about this project is how easily it blends outdoor charm with indoor warmth. You can display these bottles on a porch, entryway table, or even along your dining table for a soft, glowing centerpiece.

Materials You’ll Need to Make Christmas Bottle Decorations

Gather these simple materials to create your own Christmas bottle decorations with a touch of Swedish holiday charm:

My First Scandinavian Christmas Bottle Decorations

The very first Christmas bottle decoration I made actually started as a Thanksgiving project, a cozy little experiment in a corner of our Vermont home. I used supermarket evergreens and a few simple bottles to test out the idea I’d seen in Swedish homes online.

It was so easy and charming that I couldn’t wait to make more once we arrived at our home in Maine, especially using my mother’s antique wine jugs. These first bottles leaned more autumnal, but they sparked the inspiration for the festive Christmas versions that came next.

How to Make Christmas Bottle Decorations Step-by-Step

These Scandinavian-style Christmas bottle decorations are my kind of DIY: quick, easy, and full of festive charm. In less than ten minutes, you can create a simple, natural centerpiece that looks straight out of a cozy Swedish home. It’s a beautiful way to bring handmade warmth to your porch, table, or mantel this holiday season.

🎥 Watch the short video below to see how I put mine together from start to finish.

Step 1: Wrap the Bottle Neck with Twine or Ribbon

Start your Christmas bottle decorations by wrapping a length of twine snugly around the neck of your glass bottle and tying a secure knot. For a softer or more colorful look, you can swap the twine for velvet ribbon, plaid fabric, or even chunky yarn; each adds a slightly different personality.

Not every bottleneck is the same, so play around until you find what fits best. The goal is to create a sturdy base for the greenery and candle while keeping that relaxed, handmade look that defines Swedish holiday style.

Step 2: Layer the Twine for a Charming, Handcrafted Look

Continue wrapping the twine around the neck of your Christmas bottle decorations several times, about an inch thick, to create a warm, textured band that adds both charm and stability. This simple detail hides the initial knot and gives your bottle that beautifully finished, Scandinavian-inspired touch.

You can keep the wrap neat for a minimal look or let the twine overlap slightly for a more rustic, handmade feel. Either way, it’s this little imperfection that gives the project its cozy, authentic character, perfectly suited for winter and holiday decorating.

Step 3: Add Fresh Evergreens for a Natural Scandinavian Touch

Now it’s time to bring your Christmas bottle decoration to life with fresh evergreens. Choose a few small, flexible branches; you won’t need many, just enough to create a bit of texture and movement around the bottleneck. I used about four sprigs for each bottle.

Trim the greens to size and hold them against the twine wrap, arranging them so they fan out naturally. Once you’re happy with the placement, wrap the twine around the bottleneck again several times to secure the greens in place. Tie a tight final knot and tuck the ends into the wrapped twine for a clean finish.

A few evergreen tips may stick out; that’s part of the charm. The slightly imperfect, organic look is what gives this Scandinavian-inspired bottle project its cozy, handmade appeal.

Step 4: Add Pinecones for Texture and Holiday Charm

Next, give your Christmas bottle decoration that extra bit of rustic charm by adding a few small pinecones. I used two clusters of three, each with a bit of wire attached so they could easily tuck into the twine where the evergreens peek through.

If your pinecones don’t already have wired ends, simply wrap thin floral wire around the base of each one. It only takes a minute and makes them much easier to secure. Gently slide the wired pinecones into the twine wrap, spacing them evenly for balance.

The natural texture and earthy tones of the pinecones complement the greens beautifully, adding that signature Scandinavian warmth that feels timeless through both Christmas and winter decorating.

Step 5: Top Off Your Christmas Bottle Decorations with a Candle Glow

To finish your Christmas bottle decoration, top it off with a Northern Lights Bottelabra Taper Holder and a simple white candle. I love using classic white tapers for the holidays; they add a soft, timeless glow that feels perfectly Scandinavian and serene.

Once lit, the gentle flicker of candlelight reflects beautifully off the glass bottle, evergreens, and pinecones, creating a cozy winter scene that’s equal parts rustic and elegant.

When I traveled back to Maine for the Thanksgiving holiday, I couldn’t wait to recreate this look with a few of my mother’s antique wine jugs, but, as often happens, plans took a fun turn thanks to Thrifting with the Gals…

Vintage Demijohn Bottles for Christmas Bottle Decorations

Over Thanksgiving weekend in Maine, I stumbled upon two vintage Demijohn bottles for just $20 each, a true Thrifting with the Gals moment! I’d been inspired by my friend Kelly from The Tattered Pew, who styled hers so beautifully in her Vintage Wicker Demijohn Decor Ideas post.

I had admired these bottles for years but rarely came across them at an affordable price, so finding two on the same day felt like a Christmas miracle. Usually, they’re well over $100, especially the wicker-wrapped ones.

These oversized, character-filled bottles are perfect for Christmas bottle decorations, especially if you love adding vintage Scandinavian or Swedish charm to your holiday style. Their organic shape and subtle imperfections make each piece feel like a story from the past, now glowing with new life on our porch this winter.

Christmas Bottle Decorations with Vintage Demijohn Bottles

Although French in origin, vintage Demijohn bottles fit perfectly into this Scandinavian-inspired Christmas bottle decoration project. Their rounded shapes, thick glass, and rustic personalities make them ideal for adding natural greenery and candlelight to your winter porch or entryway.

Styling Vintage Demijohns for Christmas Bottle Decorations

To create this look, I started with a single winterberry branch and two small evergreen sprigs tucked neatly inside each Demijohn. Instead of twine, I wrapped thick rope around the bottle necks; it felt truer to the Demijohn’s rustic character and added a bit more texture.

I nestled the finished bottles onto an old sheepskin-covered side table, a little nod to our Nordic friends who always seem to master the art of warm minimalism. The end result? A charming blend of Swedish decor and vintage French character that feels both timeless and wonderfully personal.

Looking for more ways to decorate with vintage Demijohn bottles? You’ll love these inspiring ideas for styling them year-round, from cozy winter porches to summer tablescapes. Explore more of my favorite Demijohn decorating ideas in the posts below for timeless, thrifty inspiration you can easily recreate at home.

Bringing Christmas Bottle Decorations Indoors and Out

As the sun rose over the mountains, I couldn’t resist capturing how the vintage Demijohn bottles glowed in the early morning light. Their simple glass shapes, filled with evergreens and winterberries, shimmered beautifully against the snow, proof that the charm of Christmas bottle decorations shines just as brightly outdoors as it does inside.

Later, I brought a few bottles indoors to create a cozy nook display on a small round table. Layered with fresh greenery, pinecones, and candlelight, the Demijohns instantly transformed the space into a warm and inviting corner, a reminder that the Swedish-inspired magic of this project fits seamlessly anywhere in the home.

And while I wait for another Vermont snowfall to dust the porch in white, these softly glowing bottles bring all the cozy Scandinavian winter feels I could wish for, both inside and out.

If you loved these Scandinavian Christmas bottle decorations, browse more Nordic cottage inspiration and hygge-ready ideas below.

A Simple Holiday DIY with Swedish Charm

There’s something timeless about Christmas bottle decorations, especially when inspired by the cozy, nature-filled homes of Sweden. With just a few evergreens, pinecones, and a vintage bottle or two, you can create a festive glow that feels both effortless and elegant. Whether displayed outdoors on a snowy porch or brought inside to brighten a quiet corner, these little touches of Scandinavian charm remind us that the best holiday decor is often the simplest.

Love this look? Try making your own Christmas bottle decorations this season and tag me on Instagram — I’d love to see how you style yours!
And if you enjoy this cozy Nordic-inspired project, explore more of my vintage Christmas decorating ideas for even more holiday inspiration →

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