With busy modern lives, more and more homeowners aim to find a balance between minimalism and luxury for their living room ideas. Adopt Scandinavian design principles to create a space that is focused, functional, and features only a few meaningful and cherished items.
The term Scandinavia traditionally refers to three northern European countries – Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Currently, however, the definition has been expanded in common usage to include Finland, Iceland, and even, though less often, Greenland.
Scandinavian interior design focuses on simplicity, minimalism, and functionality. This style emerged in the 1950s with an appreciation for craftsmanship and understated elegance in homes. Want to infuse your space with the clever functionality and pleasing aesthetics of Scandinavian interior design in your living room? Here’s a quick guide how to create a Scandinavian Living room.
EMBRACE AN OPEN-PLAN LIVING SPACE
Rarely will you see an abundance of clutter in a Scandinavian living room. Instead, expect to see clean lines, minimalist living room furniture and a focus on bringing nature indoors. The majority of Scandinavian homes are open-plan, joining together the kitchen, living room and dining room to create the heart of the household whilst also giving a sense of space. Open-plan living room layouts also encourage us to reduce clutter and keep only special, curated items on display. Opt for fitted furniture ideas to streamline the interiors and maximize living room storage.
INTRODUCE FUNCTIONAL FURNITURE
The main purpose of modern Scandinavian living room design is to improve daily life. Furniture is therefore not only about stylish elegance, but also about functionality – it should serve a purpose and stand the test of time.
Select a few key pieces of furniture in each room that look good but also work hard, paired with a few carefully chosen accessories, fittings or soft furnishings to tie the room together.
For a living room, for example, a comfortable sofa and chair, simple floor lamp, a mirror or artwork, a few large carefully placed houseplants, a woven rug, and accent cushions works well. Remember to only make space for items and furnishings that you truly love.
CURATE A NEUTRAL LIVING ROOM COLOR SCHEME
A good starting point is a neutral backdrop and the easiest way to achieve this is with stark white living room walls. The clean, blank canvas is a timeless and easy-on-the-eye choice – plus, you can decide to change the look of the room by switching up the accessories, soft furnishings and artwork.
If you like colours and pattern, add a few accent colours ideas, rather than going overboard or creating colours-coordinated room. For example, pair a patterned cushion or rug with a grey sofa or small footstool, or decorate just one simple Scandinavian living room feature wall with intricate, hand-painted wallpaper or art.
PUT THE FOCUS ON FLOORING
Unlike many homes in the Northern Hemisphere, fitted carpets are rarely seen in Scandinavian homes, where wooden floors are often favored.
Pale-colored woods such as pine or birch help to reflect light. You can also paint floorboards white, as this will make the space look bigger than it is. Wooden floors also help draw attention to the interior quality of a room’s architecture and furnishings.
Rugs are a big feature in Scandinavian design; especially in combination with wooden flooring and usually in specific areas such as under a table, in the main living space or in a corridor. A living room rug will also add a splash of colours and texture to a room; wool and cotton are the go-to materials, although the design and colours are up to you.
LET THE LIGHT IN
Getting your living room lighting ideas right of the utmost importance to making a Scandinavian-style living room feel welcoming, relaxing and atmospheric from day into night.
Lighting is one of the most versatile design tools that can be used to enhance your living room, so aim to flood your home with as much as possible.
It’s common to see well-thought-out pendant lights and lamps, rather than overhead lighting or a single central light source. A beautiful combination of floor and small table lamps will provide a a softer alternative to harsh spotlights.
USE RAW MATERIALS FOUND IN NATURE
Nature’s own materials, such as wood, leather, wicker and cotton, all play a huge role in an authentic Scandinavian living room. There is a strong relationship between design elements and nature, driven by the many Nordic style bedroomforests and abundance of outdoor space. Bringing natural materials into the home helps you to continue to feel connected with nature – even once indoors.
Scandinavian design seamlessly blends in various natural materials including stone, wood and linen. All materials should be kept within a similar tone and colours range, for example, whites, creams and grey living room ideas. Otherwise, the use of varied materials will clutter the space and make it feel fussy, which is the opposite of what this design scheme is trying to achieve.
SHOW OFF A DISPLAY OF PLANTS
Displaying houseplants is one of the easiest ways to introduce nature into a rustic Scandinavian living room. Plants also give a home an inexpensive yet instant uplift.
Group house plants together in height order or add hanging plants and ivy to door frames or curtain rails for a unique look. Plus, if you have a small living room, studio or an apartment living room, you can add cacti and more compact plants to shelves for an on-trend look.
BRING OUTDOOR COLOURS INSIDE
Forgo the stark and clinical all-white look in favor of a scheme inspired by the great outdoors. Embrace a natural colour scheme for an understated, calming look. This can apply to the wall and floor colours, curtains and living room setting.
A nordic style bedroom use green to evoke the earth, grass and plants, blue for the sky and ocean, and yellow for the sun and flowers. Neutral tones such as brown, cream and beige living room will all make your interiors feel more natural, clean and fresh.
Finally, avoid cold, man-made materials and embrace wood, cork and bamboo for flooring. These feel warmer underfoot and are a more natural, organic choice.
ADD NATURAL ELEMENTS THROUGH FURNISHINGS
Bringing nature indoors doesn’t only apply to plants. Use materials normally found outdoors and make them a part of your home’s interior décor. Wood, wicker, rattan and stone all work well to bring an outdoor theme inside.
Introduce natural elements throughout the décor; seashells, jars of sand and bunches of branches can all make interesting focal points. Imitate nature by adding outdoor cues such as woody incense and fresh flowers for a floral smell. The same feeling of being relaxed and free in nature can be brought into your home by stimulating the senses.
As far as design trends go, Scandinavian design is one of the easiest to get behind. What’s not to love about a movement that embodies the feeling of comfort and warmth and strives to create calm in every space? Scandi design is a great inspiration for bringing a bit of simplicity and happiness to your own space, don’t hesitate to contact 9Creation, as an interior design firm, 9Creation approach to each project renders one of a kind spaces, which distil essence and spirit of the individual.
