Scandinavian style: philosophy, stylistic foundations, design techniques

Scandi style philosophy

Scandinavian style is, in fact, a philosophy of life and interior design in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Finland. People in these countries love nature, walk a lot, travel, value simplicity and comfort, understand art, and make things with their own hands.

Scandinavian interiors love a lot of natural light, which is why houses have large panoramic windows, often without curtains. The house is warm and spacious. There is little furniture here, but everything is in its place and provides maximum functionality and practicality to the owners. There are a lot of natural materials here - stone, wood, clay, cork. There are plants here, a lot of them, they are in different pots, different sizes. Plants with lush green leaves can even be found in the bathroom - they add coziness and fill the room with freshness.

There is nothing here that hurts the eye in terms of color scheme. The walls, ceiling, and floor are decorated in pastel colors, as close as possible to natural colors. Bright spots can be decorative elements - a floor lamp with a bright lampshade, multi-colored rugs, pillows with geometric prints, bright pots - a kind of Scandinavian modernism in the interior. Scandinavians love designer art objects and skillfully “fit” them into their home, but without fanaticism. This could be a huge plaster skull with growing greenery, an oddly shaped wooden chair, or a regular wooden ladder that doubles as a coat rack in the bathroom.

In general, the Scandinavians even have a name for their measured and calm life - hygge. This is life without fuss, haste, nerves and unnecessary movements. This is how the interior should be - as comfortable as possible, soft, warm, inducing relaxation and tranquility, without clutter, old things and unnecessary storage rooms. Scandinavians do not overload their home and their lives with unnecessary objects, thoughts, and actions. They are content with only those items that are really necessary, but this does not mean that their interior is meager, boring and unremarkable.

Combination of styles in the interior: Scandinavian minimalism, loft and country

Scandinavian style can be presented both in its classic version and in combination with elements of other styles. The closest and most common combination is the combination of Scandi and minimalism, where restraint, tranquility, closeness to nature and Scandinavian coldness are combined with such features as:

• clarity of geometric shapes;

Related article:

Loft style in the interior: maximum open space in the apartment

Organization of design in small apartments. Selection of accessories to complement the interior.

• restraint of colors;
• simplicity of materials;
• large windows;
• free space;
• built-in functional furniture;
• hidden lamps;
• using blinds instead of curtains;
• minimum or complete absence of decor.

Scandinavian style can be presented both in its classic version and in combination with elements of other styles.

Scandinavian loft in the interior is a special direction, where a thoughtful northern interior includes loft elements in the form of high ceilings and baseboards, finishing with ceiling beams, rough plaster and boards. Such apartments involve combining a kitchen with a living room. The predominance of white color and wide windows corresponds to the interior design in the style of Northern European countries.

Scandinavian country is a combination of a gentle rustic style with the cold restraint inherent in a northern interior. This design is characterized by a modest color scheme and wood elements not only on the floor, but also on the walls. Formwork, as a rule, performs not only a decorative role, but also creates additional warmth in the room. Mandatory interior items include a fireplace, furniture decorated with carvings, and decor from local folklore. Common features of both styles: cool palette, light textiles and large space.

Finishing according to the rules: light walls and natural materials

The future interior of your home can be called Scandinavian eco style. It is distinguished by the use of natural materials, light shades and colors that occur naturally in nature, plant and animal motifs. We will build on these characteristic features of the style:

• walls - mostly white paint is used to decorate the walls; you can also buy paintable wallpaper or washable wallpaper. The Scandinavian style is somewhat similar to the design of a loft - here, too, you can leave brick, unplastered walls, and use rough textured plaster. For zoning, use a slate board, cork wallpaper, relief patterns of plaster, wallpaper with a floral print. Don't limit yourself to just white - choose a color from a ton of grays, light browns, and blues. The main thing is that it should be as close to naturalness as possible, so that the color does not catch the eye, but sets the mood for relaxation and positivity;
• ceiling - plank panels, suspended ceiling, whitewash, use of decorative wooden beams. With a ceiling in a modern Scandinavian style, you don’t need to be too fancy; don’t overload the interior with additional design techniques;
• the floor is parquet, you can have wood-look laminate, tiles with a floral pattern or monochrome tiles. Ideally, in the Scandi style, a plank floor is used, which is deliberately aged, giving it a slightly vintage look. Ceramic tiles and a few rough handmade rugs would be appropriate in the kitchen.

The Scandinavian style is, in fact, very profitable, because you don’t need to come up with some kind of silk or textured wallpaper, a multi-tiered ceiling, or search for or invent an original color. Everything is very, very simple, like the Scandi philosophy itself - light shades, natural materials, no frills.

Scandi furniture

When choosing furniture for interior design in a Scandinavian style, you should focus on:

• the presence of straight lines and simplicity of shapes ;
• wooden and glass surfaces;
• maximum capacity and practical functionality

A Scandinavian-style living room includes furniture made exclusively from light wood

(beech, birch or spruce), emphasizing its naturalness. Wooden furniture softens the cold snow-whiteness of the room, introducing notes of warmth and homeliness. Perhaps the main attribute of such a room will be a soft sofa, which can confidently be called the king of Scandi. It can be a creamy shade or brown, emphasizing the overall dazzling whiteness of the living room interior.

A Scandinavian-style living room features mirrors that reflect light and create the illusion of more space. A large mirror with an elegant silver frame will look most advantageous. Wardrobes are the least suitable furniture for this Nordic minimalism. Therefore, it is advisable to give preference to laconic shelves, and even better, transformable racks. A corner fireplace will create a special emphasis on home comfort.

Furniture in a Scandinavian interior: nothing superfluous and personal

This means that the less clutter, personal belongings, extra furniture and additional items there are in the interior, the less the room will look like a Scandinavian one. What kind of furniture is acceptable in the Scandinavian style:

• simple, made from natural materials: wood, textiles, forging;
• multifunctional;
• mobile - you will always have the opportunity to rearrange;
• good-quality furniture, which, as they say, is made to last;
• furniture in pastel shades, without additional decorations or bright inserts.

...A feature of the Scandi style is extreme simplicity and spaciousness, so there should not be too much furniture and that is why it should be multifunctional. Choose only the essentials: a sofa, a wardrobe, a table, chairs, several shelves and modules. To make the room seem lighter and more spacious, use furniture with glass inserts. Let's walk through the rooms a little:

• bedroom - a bed, a simple bedside table and a wardrobe or bed, one spacious wardrobe and a floor lamp or bed, a bedside ottoman and several wooden chairs. In general, there should not be too many objects in the bedroom, and if we are also talking about the Scandinavian style, then unnecessary objects will spoil it. Choose wood, light shades, handmade carpets and bedspreads;
• kitchen - table, chairs matching the style, modular furniture for storing dishes, built-in appliances. In this room, the Scandinavian style is appropriate in small details - you can buy additional frameless chairs, several decorative wooden cabinets, shelves, tables;
• living room - sofa, coffee table, grandfather's old easy chair or sofa, rocking chair, wooden nightstand, or wide sofa, soft poufs, eclectic wooden wall. Don't get carried away with furniture here, leave room for spaciousness;
• bathroom - the furniture here can accommodate a compact wooden cabinet, shelves, a wooden bench, maximum, if the footage allows - a small wicker sofa;
• children's room - necessarily a table, bed, chair, cabinet or wardrobe. All other items are at your discretion within the framework of reason, or rather, within the framework of a Scandinavian interior;
• hallway - here, apart from a hanger and a bedside table for shoes, nothing is needed. Use the entryway to create a living (plant) panel, showcasing your creative talents or the talents of little-known artists. Typically, the living room is a very small space, so don't overload it with decor.

Twist, play with the furniture like Tetris, choose mobile items so that you can change the decor at any time, update the interior, or, at worst, throw away something unnecessary. Furniture can move from the kitchen to the bedroom or from the bedroom to the nursery. It's very convenient, economical and fun.

Kitchen interior in Scandinavian style

Recipe for creating a Scandinavian interior in the kitchen:

We take the dominant color as a basis (it can be white or beige), add bright accents in the form of paintings or an “apron”, hang an original chandelier, find comfortable chairs of an unusual design (possibly with bright upholstery) and add a variety of accessories: jars for storing spices, storage baskets. The main thing is not to overdo it. Basic rule: nothing superfluous. We don't just want decorations; everything should be used, not just gathering dust on a shelf. When choosing furniture, we give preference to smooth lines and light colors. Ready.

Let's summarize.

Scandi style lighting

Scandinavian style in the interior involves using as much natural light as possible, which means it’s a good idea to have large panoramic windows. But this is not always possible, so you can use design techniques:

• a large chandelier with several scrolls and bulbs;
• wall sconces to enhance lighting in a specific area, such as a dining or reading area;
• the use of a chrome-plated curved floor lamp, the position of which can be changed;
• using garlands with cold light;
• candelabra and candlesticks for several candles or just large candles.

The peculiarities of the Scandinavian style are such that lamps here perform a practical function, first of all, and only then a decorative one. But more on that a little later.

Choose not too pretentious models for your future interior, let them be high-tech style lamps, without unnecessary decor and a riot of colors. It could also be a garland of several lamps attached to a red wire, it could be one large clay lamp bought somewhere in a craft village, a simple table lamp or a floor lamp with a glass table so that you can put a mug of cocoa or put a book . Some Scandi lamps can be found in the department with country-style lamps.

Scandinavian style in the interior: history of appearance and development

Scandinavian style is considered one of the most popular styles of our time. Moreover, it is used not only by residents of northern European countries - in Iceland, Finland, Norway, Denmark or Sweden. Scandi adherents are residents of countries all over the world: from Australia to Great Britain. He gained particular popularity in Russia. Primarily due to its brevity, lack of pomp and wealth.

The versatility, simplicity, practicality and beauty of the Scandinavian style also attracts attention due to its accessibility in terms of design solutions

In the Scandinavian style, interior design brilliantly combines national traditions with international elements. The style itself originates not from the culture of the northern countries, but from special climatic conditions and geographical location. Despite its modernity, the formation of the style began three centuries ago.

Interesting to know! The style was significantly influenced by the long dark winters, which was manifested in the predominance of white color and the presence of crystal objects. Thus, a tribute to winter is paid in combination with the enjoyment of bright days.

Scandi first appeared during the reign of King Gustav III of Sweden in the 18th century. Before this, the northerners took their example in home improvement from the French, Italians, and English, where at that time classicism, baroque and rococo dominated. The Gustavian movement made a real revolution in the design of houses and became the predecessor of the Scandinavian style, which began to actively develop in the 19th century. The key tasks of designers of those times were functionality and conciseness in interior design.

The creation of a practical, cozy, but at the same time modest design of a living space attracts with its relevance for our latitudes

The style received a fresh breath in the 30s of the twentieth century, when at the International Exhibition Scandinavian designers presented interiors that combined beauty and practicality. Since the style's introduction to the United States in the 1950s, Scandinavian interior design has gained worldwide popularity.

Who should choose a Scandinavian interior: photos of design options

The interiors of Scandinavian-style houses are presented in two versions.

1. Swedish house design of the 18th-19th centuries. It is chosen by people who want to emphasize their material wealth, but without pretentiousness and pronounced monumentality.
2. Contemporary Scandinavian style, embodying softness, simplicity and functionality. In a house with this design, there is no antique furniture or paintings, while simple objects create home comfort.

It is the second option, which personifies practicality, naturalness, restraint and even a certain coldness, that is most often chosen by adherents of Scandinavian apartment design. The photos clearly demonstrate the open love for nature, the comfort and beauty of the premises.

Scandinavian style will appeal to connoisseurs of minimalism and space combined with cool shades

Modern Scandinavian style is most suitable for decorating the home of owners who prefer northern traditions. Both character traits and taste play a major role. This category includes people who love frosty freshness, cold colors and the winter beauty of nature. In addition, such people like freedom, practicality and laconicism in the environment.

This style direction will also appeal to connoisseurs of minimalism and space in combination with cool shades. You can successfully implement the Scandinavian style in the interior of a country house and in a city apartment. At the same time, you should not neglect the help of an experienced designer who will tell you how to correctly place accents and think through every little detail.

Helpful advice! The Scandinavian style is perfect for many regions of Russia, as it involves compensation for the missing daylight during the long autumn-winter period, which is typical for high-altitude regions.

Extremely comfortable, but at the same time modest design - the hallmark of the style of the Scandinavian peoples

Selection of decorative elements: 5 universal tips

Like any other style, Scandinavian style cannot do without additional decoration.

We have identified 5 areas or spheres that require not only finishing or selection of colors, but also additional decorative elements:

1. Decorative design of walls. Choose a tree to decorate bright or, on the contrary, black and white photographs; unusual driftwood and twig compositions will fit perfectly into a Scandinavian interior. One of the walls can be made slate so that you can draw new landscapes or abstractions every day, write reminders or wishes for the whole day. Hang bright textile curtains on the wall, imitating window curtains or pastel-colored textile panels. Such design moves will help highlight certain areas, make bright accents and slightly refresh or even modernize an apartment or house. When decorating the walls, do not forget about the floral print, which is not only in fashion now, but will also emphasize that the Scandinavian style belongs to nature.
2. Use of art objects. And again, do not forget about natural materials: wood, stone, clay, it can also be forging, products made from cotton, linen. A large wooden rhinoceros or deer standing in the hallway, a designer floor lamp with a Tiffany lampshade, an abstraction made of plywood or plaster, garlands of cardboard stars or bright outdoor flower beds in the kitchen, a rocking chair on the balcony. Don't be afraid to go beyond the generally accepted rules, just catch the spirit of Scandinavia and try to show your imagination.
3. Scandinavian-style comfort includes all kinds of hand-made textiles. A patchwork bedspread or tablecloth, woven pillowcases with a Norwegian pattern, cotton curtains with a repeating geometric or floral print, chunky knitted blankets, monochrome rugs or runners.
4. Additional decorative lighting. Scandi interior is, first of all, space and light. If it is not possible to fully fill the room with natural light, then use as many additional lamps as possible: floor lamps, sconces, structures with spotlights. These can be the simplest lamps in design using wood, forging, or natural stone. But the most interesting thing is that these lamps can be used as decorative design elements.
5. Plants are another feature of the style. It is enough to arrange plants with lush green leaves in ordinary clay pots and the room will acquire freshness and naturalness. Create entire flower arrangements from pots of different sizes and colors, use flowerpots, create an entire winter garden.

Scandinavian interior is a philosophy, spirit and power of nature, it is freedom and peace, comfort and tranquility, regularity and harmony. If you are determined to embody the Scandinavian style in the interior, then do it with a good mood, love, love for nature, think through everything to the smallest detail, but don’t get too carried away. Everything should be easy and relaxed, just like the style itself. Strive for this simplicity, for harmony with nature, for comfort with minimal effort and for a relaxed but not mindless lifestyle!

Main features of Scandinavian interior: photo examples of design of houses and apartments

Scandinavian interior has its own features that are distinctive from other styles, which are expressed in the following features:

• functionality combined with minimalism. There is nothing superfluous in the rooms. There is only the most necessary furniture, a minimum of decor and additional details that carry a functional load. Additional space is visually created;
• abundance and dominance of light. In order to maximize the penetration of sunlight, choose large windows that are decorated with transparent curtains. Curtains in a Scandinavian interior should be light, light, plain, without a pattern;
• elegant, practical furniture with simple straight or rounded shapes. Basically, these are spacious open cabinets that visually create additional space. Interior items are arranged in such a way that they take up minimal space;
• natural and environmentally friendly materials and fabrics such as wood, stone, plaster, cotton, linen and wool are used in decoration;
• accessories include a variety of lamps - floor lamps, chandeliers, sconces, table lamps. Mirrors are welcome in the design;
• the floors are usually covered with plain soft carpets or animal skins;
• The interior is dominated by light, cold tones: white, blue, silver-gray, beige, perhaps a light yellow tint. The theme of flowers is very important, so it is worth talking about in a separate section.

Scandinavian style is filled with elegant, practical furniture with simple straight or rounded shapes

Scandinavian style colors: the right choice of shade combinations

White is a premium color in the style of Northern Europe. The hallmark of Scandinavian-style room design is the snow-white ceiling and walls. Light finishing carries a significant functional load, visually expanding the space, promoting maximum distribution of natural light and creating an excellent background for decorating color accents. White is a universal background against which virtually any furniture, decorative items and indoor plants look great.

A varied combination of white with other colors is acceptable. For example, its combination with black or dark gray and wood surfaces will help create the basis of a Scandinavian interior. This combination is considered universal, but the predominance of white is important, and the dark tone is used in doses, as an accent. Wooden objects will perfectly complement the contrasting duo and add natural warmth to the atmosphere of the house. It is important to use light-colored wood, for example, as flooring or furniture.

Helpful advice! Excessive whiteness blinds, so the use of color accents is no less important, since periodic concentration of the gaze on bright elements of the environment is psychologically important.

The main color in the Scandinavian style of interior design is white.

White in the Scandinavian interior of an apartment is the main color, but not the only one. The presence of bright elements is one of the important features of the Scandinavian style. An example of a contrasting accent would be one sofa or a pair of brown chairs combined with curtains, a carpet or tablecloth to match.

Accessories and decor

Accessories for a Scandinavian-style living room are bright and simple. They are used in limited quantities, but maximize attention to detail. Multi-colored textile pillows on the sofa, wooden and porcelain figurines with an ethnic twist on the shelves - all this can add a special “zest” to the interior. The coffee table can be decorated with a decorative bouquet in a glass vase, and black and white family photographs will be the ideal wall decoration.

An interior in the Scandinavian style, although it must necessarily be kept within the framework of strict simplicity, still provides ample room for flights of fancy and the embodiment of your preferences within the above-mentioned framework of design features. If you are looking for new design ideas and creative tips for interior design, then our Westwing shopping club is always ready to help with this. Stay with us and get inspired!

Main features

What is Scandinavian interior design? For a better understanding, you need to imagine the living conditions of the northern peoples, which for most Russians will not be so difficult. Winter on the Scandinavian Peninsula lasts more than six months, the days are short during this time, which is why sunlight is worth its weight in gold. It is from this that the northerners’ love for light colors in the interior, which reflect precious light, grows. And long winter nights are the origins of the tradition of surrounding yourself with cute and cozy little things that fill the house with warmth and turn it into an ideal refuge from the cold.

To summarize briefly, the main features of design in the Scandinavian style are as follows:

1. Lots of light in the room.
2. Furniture and decor are simple and functional, with minimalism at the forefront.
3. Use predominantly light colors in the design.

In this article we will analyze in detail and with photos examples of the Scandinavian style in the interior.