Scandinavian Design: How to Make the Most of It

Scandinavian interior design is one of the top trends among contemporary interior design styles. It displays the typical for the Nordic interiors style features, such as chic simplicity, clean lines, light pastel color palettes, and use of materials in harmony with natural environment, complemented by highly efficient functionality and practical solutions. Based on such values, Scandinavian design promotes a unique concept of interior and a daily life philosophy that have won the hearts of millions of people all over the world.

The Scandinavian design emerged in 1930-s within the territory of five Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. It displayed the minimalistic philosophy of life characteristic for the people of the North and the simplicity in the interior design of their homes inspired by the Nordic natural environment.

It was however only in the 1950-s that a few outstanding Nordic designers introduced the Scandi style at top world exhibitions, showcasing beautiful designs of simplified forms and soothing colors, and promoting the application of natural sustainable materials used for the manufacture of unique interior objects accessible to people at reasonable prices. It was due to this powerful combination of aesthetic looks, functionality and reliability that the Nordic design gained unprecedented popularity and quickly spread in Europe and North America.

Dedicated to providing trendy design aesthetics while maintaining practical functionality at affordable conditions, the Scandinavian design style is witnessing an ever growing interest. It strongly benefits from the increased and simplified online access to design products, offered on the market within a large price range, which allows people to acquire modern design items with price tags matching their personal financial abilities and budgets.

Thousands of glossy magazines and websites showcase amazing interiors stylishly designed in the highly popular modern Scandinavian style. With its attractive simplicity, versatility and functionality, it can easily capture your interest.

One of the many advantages of this unique style is that it can be introduced in the entire residence, applied in separate rooms, or featured through only certain interior accents. Nordic interiors are always about building a strong bond between, but also contrasting, design elements and natural environment. Therefore, designers would advise on introducing materials, objects, textiles, colors and lighting to ensure and improve the natural functionality of the interior items in the routine daily life, but also to please the eye with unique, sometimes even abstract, designs.

Due to its particular features, the Scandi style can also be successfully combined with some other interior styles of similar concepts, such as modernism, minimalism, and even the industrial interior design.

Here are a few tips from us on how to introduce a bit of Scandinavian vibe in your home:

Materials

Nordic interiors feature materials inspired by Nature. Exposed wooden beams, brick or stone walls, as well as floors of natural wood or stone beautifully contrast the predominantly bright color palette of the interior. Teak and oak in warm tones and natural textures are often used on floors, walls, ceilings and various furniture items, bringing rustic charm and cozy feel.

The interior showcases various items made of wood, leather, ceramic, copper or painted metal. The unique bond with Nature is also introduced through the use of natural fabrics like cotton, wool and linen.

Furniture

‘Less is more’ is one of the most characteristic features of a Scandinavian décor. This iconic minimalist style suggests a limited number of furniture items in a room, designed with clean lines and simplicity in design. This helps for a visually larger and more spacious interior, free of clutter or visual distractions.

Furniture items are made mostly of natural materials, within the typical color palette, and in-line with the key principles of the design philosophy – simplicity, functionality, and affordability. Things are made to last and to bring harmony and peace in a simple home environment.

Lighting

Natural light is essential for optimal ambiance in any home interior, but it is a key element of the modern Scandinavian style. To keep away the low light and gloom of the long winter days, Scandinavian interior features various and multiple lighting options to ensure as much light as possible.

It promotes oversized windows, sometimes occupying entire walls, where window panes are often specially treated to keep them sheer or translucent and let plenty of natural light in. Mirrors are strategically placed to additionally enhance interior light and visually enlarge interior space. The iconic white color palette, featured in the Scandinavian interior, reflects and spreads even more light. Lighting fixtures feature minimalism and often industrial design.

Colors

Light, muted colors predominantly in the white-to-grey palette, are typical for the Scandinavian interior style. These colors are featured in various details, objects, textiles, accessories and even on furniture. The white-chalk painted and whitewashed cupboards and other furniture items are among the most popular trends in furniture design and production these days. Walls and ceilings are also snow-white, and white floors are not a rare sight, either. Designers explain it with the long and dark winter days in the North, where light colors in the home interior provide cozy homey comfort and help in keeping a cohesive, uniform and bright ambiance in the interior space.

On the other hand, this color palette provides a beautiful and contrasting backdrop for interior items made of natural materials, such as wood, stone, leather and hemp that are usually present in any Nordic home, as well as for various colorful accents like carpets, rugs, throw pillows and decoration items.

Prints and patterns

Scandinavian décor involves various items showcasing clean geometric patterns, and floral and botanical prints strongly inspired by Nature and the Nordic ethno culture and folklore. These compensate the characteristic simplicity of the overall design, and are often introduced in bold colors and graphics to contrast the uniform color palette dominating the interior space. Prints and patterns of flowers, fish, and animals are featured mostly on decorative and textiles items.

Wall art

The walls in a typical Scandinavian home, painted in bright uniform colors, provide excellent exhibition surface for displaying wall art. Single wood slabs or large prints or photos featuring natural or abstract patterns and objects beautifully complement the prints and patterns featured in the décor on various interior items. To bring more color, single walls may be intentionally painted in a contrasting, but still soft pastel, color or covered by wallpaper of chosen decorative pattern.

Soft decoration

The typical for the Scandi style simplicity might be seen as too cold and even grim. Therefore, the interior décor is stylishly softened with a few cushions, throws and knitted blankets in neutral muted colors, peppered by pops of color seen on ethno rugs and throw pillows.

Greenery

Live plants are always a great solution for introducing freshness and natural beauty in the home interior. And it is not for aesthetic reasons only! Live plants purify the air and increase humidity, which can be very useful especially in winter.

Designed in moderate minimalism and uniform colors, Scandinavian homes never miss the opportunity of including potted plants and even small interior gardens, to celebrate the close connection with Nature and bring some color and brighten up the interior space. Some of the most popular plants that match the Scandi interiors are such as philodendron, ficus, and various cactuses. These need moderate light and stay green and fresh in even darker environments.

Published in: Scandinavian | Author: Rossitsa