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In a quiet corner of Bandhagen, a small neighbourhood on the outskirts of Stockholm, Cissi Åhlén lives with her partner and their nine-year-old son in a home bursting with vibrant colour. The house, a 1957 villa, is a testament to the unspoken connection that can exist between a space and the people who inhabit it.
“We had seen the house for sale online, but weren’t that impressed,” Åhlén admits. “It wasn’t until one morning, on a walk to the park, that we passed by it and we saw the potential. That’s when it clicked.”
What they discovered was a house with history and character in a promising location: perched on a hill, it offered a peaceful view over the surrounding area. Partly renovated in the 1970s, it had a lived-in feel and reminded Åhlén and her partner of their grandparents’ homes. “The first time we entered, it had that older vibe,” she recalls. “But we knew with a little love and imagination, we could turn it into something that was uniquely ours.” And so began their journey of redesigning the space.
The villa, with its large living space and additional garage and storage area, is partly built into the hill, creating an intriguing layout. The lower floor contains the garage, cold storage, a study, laundry room and a bedroom with an attached bathroom. However, the upper floor is where the magic happens: a spacious open-plan area with a living room, dining room, kitchen and a balcony that soaks up the southern sun.
“I love that the house is on a hill. It gives us a lovely overview of the area and the open spaces make it feel even larger than it is,” says Åhlén. “But it was the wrought iron railings and fireplace that really captured my heart.”
These architectural details became the foundation for her design vision, which is infused with an explosion of colour, texture and history. Åhlén’s approach to decorating is about creating spaces that are both functional and stimulating. “We’ve done a lot of renovations: new roof, ceilings, kitchen, bathroom, electricity, ventilation, flooring, drainage, painting and wallpapering,” she explains. “It was a labour of love, but it’s all come together so beautifully.”
The house now reflects the family’s tastes and interests, with a careful selection of vintage finds, bespoke pieces and new purchases. For Åhlén, colour is key. Her Instagram account, My Life in Multicolor, is an endless celebration of hues and tones, where each room in the house becomes a canvas.
“I try to stick to a theme, not by room, but by direction,” she says, explaining how she balances colours across spaces to create continuity. While she has a fondness for bold, optimistic shades, yellow is her favourite. “It’s so cheerful,” she says, “But I also love the contrast of materials. Ceramics, plastic, wool, fabric, metal… everything finds its place.”
Åhlén has accentuated the clean lines of the house’s midcentury modern design with bright, eclectic touches, filling the family home with teak wood pieces, which complement both the house’s vintage roots and the lively colours she enjoys.
Plants add another layer of life to the space, bringing the outdoors inside. “The plants make it feel alive,” she says. “I love the way they soften the sharper lines of the furniture.”
But what makes this house so special is the heart behind it, the way Åhlén and her family have made it their own. “I’m always coming up with new decorating ideas and I love inspiring others to embrace colour,” she says. “But it’s not just about decoration for me, it’s about creating a space that tells a story, that reflects who we are.”
The garden is another crucial part of their home. “During the summer, you’ll usually find me outside, working in the garden,” Åhlén says, “It’s a creative outlet for me and it’s so satisfying to see things grow.”
