Ways To Incorporate Scandinavian Designs Into Your Home
There’s an inherent sense of cheerfulness and well-edited comfort in today’s Scandinavian designs, which is probably why so many are drawn to this particular style. The combination and balance of warmth, simplicity, and contemporary forms is both aesthetic and comforting. The tendency toward minimal ornamentation within Scandinavian designs is also appealing to those of us trying to live more with less.
If you find yourself appreciating Scandinavian style but are looking for ways to bring it into your own home, here are 44 inspiring photos and tips just for you. Enjoy!
1. In an effort to increase the feeling of light in a place where days can be quite short, Scandinavian design incorporates loads of white. White on white on white.
2. Furniture and textiles stay in the realm of neutrality, colorwise, including organic tones of whites/beiges, greys, browns, and black.
3. Scandinavian designs are, at their very core, completely and comfortably livable.
4. Amidst its simplicity, Scandinavian design references natural landscapes, such as lakes, mountains, and forests.
5. Your Scandinavian design will most likely be sparsely decorated but also still complete in form and function.{found on lovethomas}.
6. Keep spaces free of clutter to be both authentically Scandinavian and also easier to navigate. Remember that the best Scandinavian designs are clean-lined and carefully furnished.
7. Fireplaces in a Scandinavian-styled living room tend to be quite simple designs – a column rather than a grand focal point, for example, and often tucked away in the corner.
8. Where possible, incorporate clean lines within the architecture itself. This straightforward wood staircase is an excellent example.
9. Relatively bright accents (think furniture, accessories, and art) enliven and energize a Scandinavian design.
10. With an obvious link to the earth and nature, Scandinavian designs often establish an outdoor-indoor connection, both in feel and function.
11. Light fixtures – whether floor, wall, or ceiling – in Scandinavian designs tend to be simple, minimalistic, and modern with strong silhouettes.
12. Embrace the purity of white space – including completely unadorned white walls, if you desire – by forgoing the wallpaper.
13. Three components at the core of Scandinavian designs are beauty, unity, and simplicity. Keep the essence of these three concepts in mind when designing your own Scandinavian-inspired space.
14. Warm wood tones are as important a component to Scandinavian design as its innate simplicity. The balance of sparse décor and the warmth of natural wood is critical for creating a welcoming, fresh space.
15. In both well-trafficked and more private areas of the home, Scandinavian design bespeaks a pared-backed style that is pure and refreshing.
16. Modern Scandinavian spaces expertly blend contemporary-chic with warmth and comfort. Pair pop art with a white sofa and worn wooden floors, for example.
17. Use natural, organic materials such as leather, metal, plastic, natural textiles (linen, cotton, hemp), and fur, to enhance the authenticity of a Scandinavian space.
18. Although more than one specific Scandinavian style exists, today’s decorators tend to lean toward the use of mid-century accents in Scandinavian spaces.{found on russianforfish}.
19. As you’ve noticed by now, white walls is the go-to choice for authentic Scandinavian design.
20. A Scandinavian space may feel quite sparse and drab without the strategic use of energetic pops of color. Look to wall art, pillows, and rugs.
21. In a place where cold is ubercold and night is uberdark, the importance of warm functionality in Scandinavian design can’t be overstated. Keep (natural) textiles inviting and touchable.
22. Scandinavian style will shine throughout the space with monochromatic wall art pieces.
23. Natural wood floors and other elements provide warmth but are also light enough to keep a space feeling bright and fresh.
24. Minimal wood treatment, or none at all, is preferred so as to showcase the natural texture (and imperfection!) of the wood itself.
25. To further the nature-home connection, don’t forget the wall-mounted head in your Scandinavian design!
26. Not only do white walls provide an open, airy feel to a Scandinavian space, but they also provide a perfect backdrop for showcasing interesting silhouettes in lighting fixtures.
27. A clean Scandinavian design utilizes lighter tones throughout, traditionally to counterbalance the darkness of the early sun’s setting.
28. Authentic Scandinavian style is represented in the kitchen with simple open shelving, white cabinetry, wood elements (e.g., floor, countertops, bowls), and often white appliances.
29. Clean lines, such as open shelving and straightforward furniture, both define and add to the Scandinavian décor scheme.
30. Black and white is a classic color combination for any style, and Scandinavian is no exception. Make sure to incorporate plenty of warm (light) wooden hues into the mix.
31. The use of blonde wood tones, such as these butcher block countertops, keeps the light Scandinavian space feeling simultaneously warm and airy.
32. Contemporary black and white artwork, including paintings, portraits, and photography, provides visual interest while staying true to the minimalist vibe of Scandinavian style.
33. Wood elements are quite pale and/or grey in a Scandinavian space. Grey oils can be used to combat the yellowish tones of woods such as oak or pine.{found on blakeslondon}.
34. Scandinavian style is not afraid of raw, industrial architectural touches, such as an exposed pipe. Incorporate such details into the design itself, such as with these hanging exposed light bulbs.
35. Simple, organic, and/or modern shapes of accents (such as lighting and faucet) add understated yet interesting aesthetic appeal.
36. Floors in an authentic Scandinavian space will be of wood, typically a lighter hue. (One exception might be the bathroom, but not necessarily.){found on myscandinavianhome}.
37. In keeping with its telltale simplicity, Scandinavian design keeps adornments – in any space, whether it’s the kitchen, the bathroom, or the home office – to a minimum.
38. In spaces where color is used sparingly, details and texture reign supreme. Scandinavian designs tend to draw attention to impeccable craftsmanship.
39. Typical Scandinavian simplicity only enhances the naturally restful feel of a bedroom.
40. Wherever possible and appropriate, keep windows unadorned so the maximum amount of natural light comes through. If window treatments are used, they should be plain – free of extra décor such as fringes, valances, or tassels.
41. It’s not a specific requirement, of course, but white bed linens are a component of many Scandinavian-inspired bedrooms. They just look so clean and fresh.
42. Natural light (and, consequently, windows) is extremely important in Scandinavian design. Often, windows become the focal point of a space as a result.
43. Simply designed side tables and/or nightstands add quiet functionality to a Scandinavian design.
44. The use of simple, straightforward, and honest materials lends understated elegance to a Scandinavian space.