A trend in Scandinavian home design that has been on the rise for years is the creation of a minimalist and pleasant living space atmosphere for an authentic Scandi style. This interior design concept creates a calm and relaxed environment by combining a simple exterior with harmonious design.
To create harmony, value is placed on natural materials and a gentle color palette.
The interior design of a living space should, above all, mirrors . Scandinavian interior design could be the ideal mix for those who are looking for quiet spaces where they can meet comfortably.
Often heard and spoken. But what exactly are the fundamental ideas of this approach and how can they be skillfully implemented?
We tapped professionals and their interior design expertise, including Lindye Galloway of Lindye Galloway Studio ; Rob Blood , Director at Elder & Ash and founder of Lark Hotels; and Megan Kennedy , Director at Elder & Ash and Creative Director of Lark Hotels, to help us with Scandi style. Each of the three professionals has worked on projects that emphasized Scandinavian style principles.
What is meant by Scandinavian residential design?
The Scandinavian interior design movement has its origin in Scandinavia . This region includes Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Since these are part of a larger group of countries known Nordic countries
The geography, history, and culture of these nations connect them. While contemporary Scandinavian interior design is similar, each country has a distinct, unique style.
Originally developed in the 20th century, the Scandinavian interior design is now one of the most commonly used furnishing styles in interior design. Two of the many aspects that homeowners still inspire today are his emphasis on comfort and simplicity.
What is Scandinavian residential design? What are the core principles of this harmonious and minimalist furnishing style? We get to the bottom of these questions in this article. Photo by Minh Pham @minhphamdesign, via Unsplash
Definition in one sentence:
Scandinavian home design is a concept that aims to create harmonious atmosphere through minimalism
The combination of natural wood textures, soft textiles, and trendy colors conveys a feeling of comfort and lightness. The Scandinavian design philosophy is simple and functional, meaning every piece has a clear function and form.
This approach focuses on the essentials to create a clear, organized, and calming atmosphere. A well-considered color palette creates a unified aesthetic that helps people feel comfortable in a space. Scandi style is intended to create an atmosphere of harmony and well-being.
It's a charming blend of styles. People often think it's a mix of a little mid-century and a little modern, but then there's this warmth. It's a very accessible design.
The simple, not entirely thought-out, but not careless Scandinavian interior design has become a fundamental feature for interior designers all over the world over the last ten years.
Scandi-style furnishings – a selection from our online shop
The Scandinavian design movement in its current form was created in the early 20th century and flourished in all five Nordic countries from the 1930s.
The history of Scandinavian design is intertwined with the culture and lifestyle of the Nordic countries , namely Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway. The region's art and culture are naturally as diverse as those found in North America or Europe, for example. However, its connection to local materials and the natural environment stands in stark contrast to many indigenous home design traditions.
Originating from the Danish Selskabet for Decorative Arts , which launched its magazine Skønvirke (literally "graceful work" ) in 1914, the title later became the name of a new Danish arts and crafts style that competed with contemporary trends such as Art Nouveau – often reserved for the social elite – while promoting local craftsmanship and accessible, democratic design.
Stockholm Design and Architecture Exhibition must also be seen as the birthplace of the Scandinavian interior design style as we know it today . This exhibition presented innovative design ideas that were strongly influenced by the Bauhaus, a movement that emerged in Germany in 1919. The Bauhaus style emphasized functional and everyday design, thus representing a counterpoint to the elegance prevailing at the time. Today, the Bauhaus movement considered the starting point of both functionalism and the popular Scandi-chic interior design style.
What we – outside the Nordic countries – call Scandi Design,
In the 1950s, in addition to the modernist movement in Europe and America, the Scandinavian modern style prioritized democratic, affordable and elegant furniture and interiors. Clear lines, functional furniture and a neutral color palette were characteristics of the modernist style everywhere ",
But the Scandinavian design of this era was also strongly influenced by the cold, short winter of the Nordic region and the desire for cozy and bright interior. ”
Scandi design first achieved international recognition and outstanding popularity in the 1950s to 1970s, when the Lunning Prize was awarded to outstanding Scandinavian designers between 1951 and 1970.
The Scandinavian design story and its concept have been the subject of scientific debates, exhibitions and marketing agents since then. Many emphasize the democratic design ideals, which were a central topic of movement and in rhetoric about contemporary Scandinavian and international design against mirrors n.
Although the design style emerged in the 20th century, a sharp rise in interest since the 2010s has given it lasting significance in Western interior design. A fascination with "hygge" —the concept of spaces and lifestyles that prioritize quiet, convivial comfort—showed almost the hallmarks of a media obsession.
As a result of America and shortly afterwards, the minimalist furnishing style conquered Europe in the form of essays, reports, TV contributions and book bestsellers. While the word "hygge" may no longer be mentioned in the media so often, it is undeniable that the wave of appreciation in the 2010s had a lasting influence on our interiors.
Famous Nordic designer
The designers who embodied Scandinavian style wanted it to be available to everyone, not just the rich and powerful.
Therefore, they used mechanisms that made the style available at lower costs.
These designers have created a unique mix of industrialization and craftsmanship . Some of the most famous Nordic designers were Hans Wegner , Arne Jacobsen (Denmark) , Verner Panton , Eero Aarnio, Alvar Aalto (Finland), Josef Frank (Sweden), Maija Isola (Finland) and Eero Saarenin .
Basics & characteristics of Scandinavian residential design
Simplicity – interior design is known for its simple and uncluttered aesthetic. This mindset and lifestyle allow the people in the home to lead a stress-free life, free from physical and mental distractions.
Nature – Scandinavians value their deep connection to nature, so you'll see an abundance of natural materials in their interior designs . This keeps the connection to nature strong even indoors and promotes a profound sense of calm and beauty.
Neutral colors – One of the most significant features of Scandinavian interior design is the use of a neutral and light color palette. In traditional Scandinavian interior design, this was a way to brighten up the interiors during the long, gray winter days and dark nights.
Form follows function – Scandi furniture and furnishings have clean, simple lines and avoid unnecessary decoration. These interior design styles embrace open-plan spaces and don't clutter every room with extraneous items.
Neutral light
Quality in processing and craftsmanship
Distinctive structural elements (sheepskins, mohair blankets, etc.)
The importance of minimalism in the Scandinavian design
Scandinavian design is a form of facility based on a minimalist approach and creates a harmonious atmosphere. It combines modern design with natural materials, clean lines and a focus on functionality.
It's an expression of simplicity and clarity without being uninspired. Minimalism is the key to a Scandi-style living space and is achieved through the use of neutral colors, minimalist decor, and simple shapes.
Scandinavian design is a flawless blend of functionality, aesthetics, and harmony. It's a way to transform your living space into one filled with comfort and tranquility.
Minimalism and simplicity are a crucial component of Scandi-chic. With its clean lines, a reduced color palette, and simple furniture style, it creates an atmosphere of harmony and calm .
If you look for Scandi charm in your home design, you'll find stylish furniture, accessories, and colors that combine to create a sense of simplicity and earthiness. Scandinavian design is very understated and focuses on the essentials—natural materials, clean lines, and a simple yet stylish color palette.
It combines functionality and aesthetics to create a harmonious and relaxing atmosphere. This allows you to decorate your rooms with appealing and practical elements that perfectly match your minimalist style.
The influence of nature on the Scandinavian design
Scandinavian design often uses natural materials such as wood and natural colors to create a feeling of warmth and cosiness. The pieces of furniture are usually simple and modern, often without superfluous details.
This approach is especially significant considering that Scandinavians experience some of the longest days of the year, leading to an increased desire for a calm and stress-free environment. Scandi design is a perfect combination of modernity and nature, creating a calming and relaxing atmosphere.
A perfect example of modern Scandinavian interior design | House tour
Why is Scandinavian design so universally important?
A guiding principle of Scandinavian design is harmony with one's surroundings and to create things that are made to last. It seeks to complement the art of living well by promoting a simple living environment filled with high-quality items, fostering a carefree lifestyle without excessive consumption.
In this way, it is important both for the individual, as a home environment that promotes engaging living is an increasingly essential counterbalance to the pressures of modern life, and for the planet, as it challenges rampant consumerism and deepens our connection with nature.
Scandinavian home design in practice - this is how the Nordic living style succeeds in your own four walls
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This unique look promises to create a relaxed, comfortable space where you'll feel completely at home. Scandinavian design is an ideal choice if you want to create a home with a modern yet warm and inviting look.
With a Scandinavian interior design, you can create a room that is tidy and tidy but is cozy at the same time. It is a wonderful way to personalize your home and underline your personal style.
Basic tips for a Scandi-chic interior
The Scandinavian living style is much more than just minimalism and bright colors. He lives from a loving composition of many small details. "
What distinguishes a Scandinavian home are lovingly selected details such as access to personal memorial pieces and cozy design products. Room design follows the principle "less is more" , whereby each element fulfills a functional purpose and at the same time creates an inviting atmosphere. Stylish lighting and fresh flowers ensure light and natural accents, while textiles such as blankets and pillows offer additional cosiness.
Here we have compiled the most valuable tips on Scandinavian furniture, lighting and home decoration in the Nordic style:
Scandinavian design is minimalistic, so the few pieces in the room have to count, which is why objects such as the modest chair are given so much importance. Craftsmanship and timeless design can probably be found in a Scandinavian area in every piece.
In Scandinavia - as already mentioned one or the other time in this article 😉 - the motto "less is more" applies. But that doesn't mean that you should dispose of everything in your home. Instead, you should consider which things are important to you and then remove the objects that you rarely use and that you can easily do without.
Simply complement your surfaces with a few select decorative elements, such as candle holders or vases. The selective and restrained use of decorations will give your home a clean and uncluttered appearance. Focus on the home accessories that truly matter most to you.
02 get space
Use the room in your home optimal. Design your home to a retreat where you can relax and relax from the steadily growing hustle and bustle of life. Arrange your furniture , depending on how you want to use the room.
Try unexpected combinations. A sofa positioned slightly away from the wall and closer to the center of the room can create a pleasant break and contribute to an airy, modern Scandinavian atmosphere.
03 make it really hyggelig
In Scandinavia, the term “hygge” a particularly pronounced, pleasant and relaxed attitude to life that penetrates everyday life. It is about creating a pleasant environment that promotes well -being and enables moments of reflection and relaxation. If you rely on simple but exquisite household items, which are both aesthetically appealing and functional, give your home a hygelized atmosphere.
Imagine how candlelight the surroundings gently illuminate, while the fragrance of freshly brewed tea or coffee exudes a welcome warmth. Apart from the fact that candles are a wonderful decoration, they also help create a private and peaceful environment in which you can leave everyday life behind.
Soft, cuddly woolen blankets on which you can roll together reinforce the calming effect. These ceilings offer comfort and security and at the same time are practically on cool evenings.
A particularly beautiful designer cup for your favorite drink rounds off the experience and makes every cup of tea or coffee a small moment of pleasure.
Create an environment with carefully selected accessories that invites you to linger and relax. With hyggge you leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind and treat yourself to joys of small rituals, for example when reading a good book in a cozy armchair or when I spend a nice evening with friends.
04 bright walls
Scandinavian design goes stylistically in the middle. If you are not sure which end of the spectrum you prefer, whether really minimalist design or really crazy design, this is a tasty middle ground.
One of the simplest ways to bring Scandi design principles into your room is to lighten your walls with a gentle cream of cream. Regardless of which budget you work on whether it is a small or large house, go inside and when the walls are dark, brighten these walls.
05 Add textiles
A room inspired by the Nordic design is incomplete without textiles, whether in the form of a roughly knitted blanket or a carpet. It is astonishing what only a few accessories can do in relatively small space so that it feels warm and cozy.
Like a union ceiling, a few spout on the couch or maybe a few layers of carpets, a carpet over the carpet, really helps to warm up a room. Pieces that are handmade or at least look like this best go with the characteristic Scandi style.
06 natural light sources
Ultimately, Scandinavian design focuses on lifestyle. This part of the world has very cool, dark winters, so they focus heavily on natural light, which is a very easy thing for people to recognize. Which rooms in your home get the most light? How can you emphasize that?
Although you can do little to bring in additional natural light, it is important to understand and emphasize the natural light that your space receives. In a living room that doesn't get much natural light, center the natural light that it receives and hold the colors otherwise.
07 lighting & lamps
Lighting is a large part of the Scandinavian design because the Nordic countries get so little of it in winter. In addition to maximizing natural light on every opportunity - with white walls or large windows - lamps and lighting solutions of crucial importance.
Every room should multiple light sources , ranging from the warm, subdued glow of a candle to the bright illumination of a ceiling light. Scandinavian design strives to distribute light as effectively as possible without creating a harsh atmosphere. Poul Henningsen are a prime example.
Nordic designers are always looking for a solution to sprinkle the light of a light bulb as far as possible without the blind visible. This leads to elegant forms of lamps .
Suitable household goods create a perfect balance between minimalism and relaxation .
08 Sustainability as a non -negotiable credo
When deciding on design investments, always consider that furniture should be used for as long as possible. Consider which items will not only bring you joy but will also be invaluable in your life for many years to come. It's important great design objects that not only capture the essence of the era but also have an evergreen appeal that transcends short-term fads. Excellent craftsmanship and robust materials characterize such pieces, ensuring they remain contemporary and appealing even decades later.
Imagine how striking and stylish a comfortable armchair in the mid-century style would look in your living room. Not just as a seat, but as an eye -catcher.
Why should you be satisfied with fleeting trends if you can enjoy the luxury and consistency of a timeless design? By relying on quality instead of mass, they not only make a valuable contribution to reducing waste and short -livedness, but also surround themselves with objects that significantly increase their quality of life. ”
Invest in products that survive generations and ensure a feeling of durability and class in your apartment.
09 Last but not least: take the necessary time
Your home may not be completely furnished tomorrow, next week or maybe even next year. Instead, you should enjoy the process and take your time. This is the only way to discover what you like about your home and why you feel more comfortable in certain rooms than in others.
Don't try to make your home perfectly - a successful furnishings need your time.
Examples, show cases and inspiration for implementation in your home
How do you put these Scandinavian interior design principles into practice for an authentic Scandi style in your own home? We've compiled some examples of successful Nordic-style interior design to help you put these ideas into practice with Scandinavian products.
Using these examples, we can help you understand how to apply these principles in your own living spaces.
Most Scandinavian interiors have a neutral basis, but there are also decorative accents with lively earth tones. This means colors that nature against mirrors , including sky blue, burned Siena, evergreen, deep ocher, midnight navy, sage green and muddy brown.
Set accents with these colors on walls, but also in accents such as pillows, wall art, carpets and furniture.
The Scandinavian countries are known for their gray sky and the long dark winter. This geographical influence has led to the development of brighter but quiet interiors. These bright interiors are the basis for a cozy Scandinavian interior design. This means that bright and neutral colored walls and basic furniture are the norm - think of white, cream, beige and gray.
If you don't know where to start, take a look at the Hygge Paint Colors from Benjamin Moore . This palette focuses on warm and nuanced neutral tones, which mix into a seamless whole.
A deep connection to the natural world is one of the most fundamental features of Scandinavian design interior. Add elements into your designs that use materials such as stone, wood, glass, wool and cotton.
In this living space, stone cladding is used for the walls and a light curtain made of a linen fabric to keep a natural look. The rocking chair made of wood and leather as well as the subtle greening also emphasize the deep connection with nature.
Due to the long and dark winter season, the interiors of Scandinavian houses are built in such a way that they reflect as much light as possible. Keep the windows open as far as possible. If you have to add winds for privacy, use curtains or roller blinds that are bright and natural in texture and color.
It's also crucial to add layers of warm artificial light to your design. Consider this modern rustic Scandinavian interior design. In the example above, the windows were left unadorned and both task and ambient light sources were placed, allowing the owners to adjust the light as needed during the day and evening.
The classic tablet table foldable tray table Ø 45 cm of the FRITZ Hansen brand was designed Willumsen & Engholm1958
This may be an obvious guideline, but you can create the most authentic furnishing style in Scandinavian design by authentic furniture in Scandinavian style . Concentrate on both style and high -quality pieces because both are important.
Much of the Scandi furniture style is simple and mid-century modern, like the classic tray table by Willumsen & Engholm used in this Scandinavian modern interior design. If you buy good quality, classic-style furniture, you won't have to replace it often.
The most popular soil choice in the Scandinavian interior design is wood . Wooden floors are appreciated because of their earthy texture, warmth and color.
If you prefer a softer surface, do not consider carpet from wall to wall. Instead, think of large carpets to define the room in your home. Carpets are helpful to define the different areas in an open living space and to give the design a splash of color.
Scandinavian interior design contains no unnecessary objects that sit around and dust around. Instead, only add the articles you use or love. This does not mean that you rely on a minimalist Scandinavian interior design.
Lagom is a Swedish word "just right ." In other words, strive for a balance in your space between the things you want and need and the things you don't.
This is not just a unique undertaking, but a lifestyle that you accept and strive for every purchase you make for your residential culture.
The world of the ScandinavianMirrorsunfolds against the background of the impressive clarity of the Nordic sky and the timeless beauty of simple, clearer forms. Correctlyselected and placed, they bring light and vastness to every room, while they at the same time embody an elegant grace and sophistication.
A room equipped with a Mirrors instantly appears more vibrant. The light is reflected and distributed harmoniously throughout the room, creating an inviting and inspiring environment.
Harmony through minimalism - that's what Scandinavian residential design distinguishes. It is a design that is characterized by a reduced design language, clear lines and a sober color scheme. By avoiding unnecessary decorations and the use of natural materials such as wood and stone, it is possible to create a warm and inviting atmosphere without the rooms overloading.
Scandinavian home design is a concept that allows for harmony between people and space. It's a very personal and individual way of living that conveys a feeling of comfort.
With Scandinavian residential design and the tips, suggestions and ideas listed here, you can skillfully emphasize the charm and presence of your home and create a feel -good atmosphere.
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Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza. Journalist, editor, and passionate blogger in the field of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Successful completion of a degree in web design as part of a university study (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
Category for interior design,residential design , object furnishings, product and material innovation.
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