What defines a homely environment? Is it the aesthetics of the spaces or the relaxation it provides? A home is a place that offers balanced quotients of design and comfort. And this is what exactly Scandinavian interior design ideas incorporate.
The dark and long periods of winters in Scandinavia lock most of the people inside their homes and demand a comfy place for them to spend time in. The Scandinavian interior design characteristics are all about warm and welcoming environments loaded with clean aesthetics.
“Scandinavian design is simple and intentional. Everything has a purpose, and overall, it is a very clean look,” says Jennifer Davis, the founder and principal designer of Davis Interiors.
Well known and appreciated for their simplicity and elegance, Scandinavian design ideas have established their dominance in the design industry. Higher functionality, subtle aesthetics, and the use of natural materials form a deep connection with nature that in return offers peace and tranquility in the space.
Origins of Scandinavian Design and it’s Global Journey
“The next time you see an interior that elevates your soul and warms your heart, you’ll know you’ve spotted the hallmarks of what makes Nordic design so enticing,” mentioned Emily Eates, owner and principal designer at Urban Revival.
The elements of Scandinavian interior design are taken from the minimalism of Nordic style with plain white walls, modern furnishing, and wooden floors. Though this design language has been persistent since the 1950s, it’s ruling the interior design industry even in 2022.
The simplistic and thoughtful approach towards the design of space makes it admirable and desired by most homeowners. Various Scandinavian interior design characteristics excite the eye and at the same time, soothe your soul offering you a beautiful safe haven to live in.
6 Style Ideas with a Scandinavian Aesthetic
Are you onboard to incorporate the Scandinavian interior design ideas in your home? With the natural materials marrying modern aesthetics, let’s look at 6 styling ideas exuding beauty and filled with comfort.
1. Warm and Rich on Textiles
One of the most common elements of Scandinavian interior design is warm textiles. The homes in the Scandinavian region, being the witnesses of extremely chilly weather make use of plush throws and rugs to keep the spaces warm. Let us offer you ideas to add these rich textiles to different spaces of your home.
| Space | Scandinavian Design Ideas |
| Living Room | Place faux fur items like throw blankets or shag rugs to balance the ambiance of the space. |
| Bedrooms | Add a rich comforter with a furry blanket. |
| Kitchen and Dining Space | Choose the material for the seats that radiate warmth. |
| Outdoors | Place sleek cushions on the seating for added elegance. |
Pro-tip: For added warmth and comfort, sprinkle an essence of a cozy finish with scented candles and rich textures introduced in the space.
2. Lighting and Nature: The Feature Elements
Scandinavian design ideas welcome all things natural to the interior spaces. Let in natural light and add your little green friends to the interiors to accentuate the whole aesthetics of the space. Fresh flowers and plants can introduce a pop of color in contrast to the clean white aesthetics to add liveliness in rooms.
| Space | Scandinavian Design Ideas |
| Living Room | Welcome an abundance of natural light to this social space. |
| Bedrooms | Dedicate a nook to your favorite indoor plant and witness how it brightens up the space. |
| Kitchen and Dining Space | Bring the exteriors to interiors by placing tiny indoor plants as decorative elements. |
| Outdoors | One can never have enough plants in their outdoor spaces. Load the patio or deck with all the variety of plants and transform a bland patio into an outdoor retreat. |
Pro-tip: Lighting will offer life to any space, so orient the layout in a way that most of the areas receive natural light. This will also aid in keeping the interior green elements happy.
3. Catching the Eye: Ethereal and Light Colored Flooring
Contrary to what the name suggests, the light-colored flooring in Scandinavian interior design ideas is one of the most eye-catching elements. A laminated floor in light tones makes the interior spaces look spacious and airy. Let’s see the essence it brings out in each space that composes a home.
| Space | Scandinavian Design Ideas |
| Living Room | The sublime mood board of the living room will serve as a canvas to place eclectic furniture on. |
| Bedrooms | Adding white or grey colors to the palette can make the space cozier. |
| Kitchen and Dining Space | A Herringbone floor in light tones can serve as a striking element in the space. |
| Outdoors | The lush greenery in contrast to the light flooring will compose and visually balance the design. |
4. Casually Contrasting Spaces with Accents
Introduce a subtle contrast with decorative accents. Feature the wooden and metallic accents in form of ornamentation or lighting features. A casual contrast will strike an interest and make the room feel shinier and more vibrant.
| Space | Scandinavian Design Ideas |
| Living Room | Add metallic accents in terms of accessorizing to jazz up the living room decor. |
| Bedrooms | Let an attention-seeking artwork informally bring in contrast to the bedroom. |
| Kitchen and Dining Space | Add contrast through textures acting as a backsplash for the counters. |
| Outdoors | The visual contrast in outdoor spaces as per Scandinavian design ideas is added with the simple wooden furniture and lovely plantations. |
Pro-tip: A mismatch of contrasting materials is easiest to bring by adding metallic-finished lights in the living room contrasting with the classic wooden accents.
Minimalism is among the core Scandinavian interior design characteristics. The belief of less is more keeps the whole decor feel organized and clutter-free. This interior design approach ensures that the spaces are filled with the essentials and extras aren’t much welcomed to the home.
| Space | Scandinavian Design Ideas |
| Living Room | Play with straight lines to impart clean aesthetics to the space. |
| Bedrooms | Don’t go overboard while accessorizing the bedroom. A subtle ornamental piece is all it takes to keep the room inviting. |
| Kitchen and Dining Space | The kitchen countertops have to be clean and free of all the extra items. Make the decor organized to bring out the true essence of the Scandinavian interior design. |
| Outdoors | The lush greenery in contrast to the light flooring will compose and visually balance the design. |
6. Form and Functions go hand-in-hand
Avoiding the conflict of whether form follows function or function follows form, the Scandinavian interior design tips are all about keeping both together. The organic shapes and sleek modern lines when added as statement-making furniture pieces, bring great functionality and offer unique aesthetics to the room.
7 Elements of Scandinavian Interior Design
With all the styling options and basics of the Scandinavian design ideas, let us understand what all elements compose the mood board of these soothing Scandinavian interior designs.
The color palette must be composed of earthy tones that serve as eye candy. These shades are soft on the eyes and make the interior environment calming and refreshing.
Drift away from adding window treatment and let the natural light flow into the interiors. With a bright interior color palette and light flooring, the room will be brightened up and it will appear more cheerful.
Though throwing in lots of pillows and blankets seems like an idea to warm up the space, the Scandinavian interior design characteristics are based on having highly organized spaces. The notion of uncluttered simplicity helps in curating an ambiance that offers a breathing space in terms of design than the typically overwhelmed decor languages.
Wood offers unmatched aesthetics when added to interior spaces. Natural materials being of the elements of Scandinavian interior design dominate most of the interior spaces. Let the wooden accents do their magic through the means of modern furniture or accessories.
Explore the realm of organic shapes and incorporate these as feature furniture items. The sleek and modern furniture when added to a Scandinavian design idea can spruce up the room and compose it in a more interesting way.
Take a green route and welcome nature inside the rooms. Add plants and fresh flowers in the interiors to form a zone for relaxation.
Invest in items that help in maintaining a simple and practical design. The Scandinavian design ideas being based on minimalism, also believe in minimal clutter and better organization of the elements.
8 Scandinavian Interior Design Tips
With the perfect proportions of beauty, practicality, and charm, we’ve curated a list of 9 Scandinavian interior design tips to transform your home into a calming oasis.
1. First, the Function!
Every item in the Scandinavian design ideas has a meaning. The Scandinavian interior design characteristics focus on the utilitarian purposes of each element that will be added to the space. Thus, making the rooms meaningful and highly functional.
2. The Realm of Organic Shapes
Though the elements of Scandinavian interior design focus on clean aesthetics, that doesn’t mean you should restrict yourselves to sharp angles or sleek touches. Make the interiors interesting and interactive by exploring the realm of organic shapes in terms of furnishings.
3. Go for lots of Layering with a Minimal Backdrop
The guiding principle of minimalism doesn’t limit you to one layer. You can add layers on the top of another to rule out the boring factor from the interiors. Throw in rustic patterns and textures and let these offer you serenity.
4. Only the Smartest will invest in Built-in Storage!
Do you hate messy spaces? Does an urge strike within you to keep everything tidy and organized?
To cater to this, one of the smartest Scandinavian interior design tips is to add built-in storage. Enhancing the verticality, these storages will also keep your spaces clutter-free and make a minimalist statement.
5. Make Wood finishes your Friend
Put all the glitz and glam behind and opt for a nature-friendly path. Add wooden accents for a classic interior look and to compose a home that feels earthier.
6. Be an Art Connoisseurs and Wisely pick one
Pick an art theme and fill your walls with the works following them. Flaunt your artistic sensibilities by displaying your favorite artworks.
7. Add a little Drama with Vibrant hues
The Scandinavian interior design ideas are way ahead of their time. While adding an accent color in the space has become common now, it has been a part of the design characteristics for a long time. So stay up-to-date and bring a pop color to your home for a little jazz factor.
8. Keep Clean Lines with Warmer Palettes
A Scandinavian mood board is composed of elements that impart serenity to the space. So, rather than going wild on the color palette and patterns, keep it simple and soothing to your eyes. A warm color palette with clean lines will amp up the friendliness of the home interiors.
The Simply Admirable Scandinavian Design Ideas!
We’re sure by now you’ve become a pro in the Scandinavian interior design ideas. Though based on the core theme of minimalism, these Scandinavian interior design tips offer you the flexibility to play around with different elements.
Pick the ideas that match your definition of comfort and prove to be highly practical in your home. Let this beautiful hygge decor offer you a retreat within your safe place.
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