The beauty of Scandinavian/Nordic interior
Welcome to our (first) blog about Scandinavian/Nordic interior design. In this blog we will talk about a couple of subjects: From the history of Scandinavian/Nordic interior, to some Tips & Tricks for your own Scandinavian home! So take a seat back, unwind and we hope you’ll enjoy our first blog ;)
Subjects:
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A short introduction about Scandinavian/Nordic interior
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History of Scandinavian interior design
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Colors in Scandinavian/Nordic interior
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Materials & fruniture in Scandinavian/Nordic interior
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Tips & tricks for creating a Scandinavian/Nordic home
A short introduction about Scandinavian/Nordic interior
Scandinavian interior is defined by a minimal and clean approach that seeks to combine it’s functionality with beauty. In the last couple of years the whole world fell in love with the North-European designs. The Scandinavian interior movement started in the early years of the 20th century and began to grew hard in 1950. This all started in the Nordic countries, which consist of Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.
Famous interior designers are well known for their household goods. These household goods consist out of ceramics vases, lamps and glass for example. But Scandinavian design also extended a bit to industrial design nowadays as you can see in the picture below. The combination between the hanging, simplistic lamps and the robust and rough materials is trendy nowadays.
Mix between Scandinavian & Industrial interior
History of Scandinavian/Nordic interior design
As already told in the introduction, the Scandinavian/Nordic interior movement started in the early years of the 20th century and began to grew hard in 1950. It all started between the two World Wars, designers throughout Europe demonstrated a shared ambition for modernism and creativity in design. In a new trend, where the creative process of design is placed in relation to new industrial technology, Scandinavian designers developed an outstanding style. In order to keep mass-production costs at the forefront of new stylistic research, Scandinavian design develops new lines that strengthen the structure of the product and the inherent properties of the materials employed.
In 1914, The Danish Selskabet for Dekorativ Kunst (Company for the decorative arts) published Sknvirke (roughly "Graceful Work"). His name became the name of a new arts and crafts style to compete with Art Nouveau and Jugendstil.
In 1930 Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Borge Mogensen, Hans J. Wegner, Verner Panton, Poul Henningsen, and Maija Isola all have contributed to the creation of a golden period of Scandinavian design. An example of this trend is the ‘Chinese bench’ by Danish designer Hans J. Wegner. This bench was made in 1946 and can be seen in the image below.
Chinese bench by Hans J. Wegner
The Lunning Prize, given to the greatest Scandinavian designers between 1951 and 1970, was critical in establishing Scandinavian design as a distinct product and identifying its qualities.
The Brooklyn Museum arranges the exhibition "Design in Scandinavia" in 1954, which launched a trend in America for "Scandinavian Modern" furniture.
Nordic designers started to experiment with new materials such as plastics and fiberglass throughout the 1960s and 1970s. While they stayed true to their clean-lined principles, some experimented with vibrant graphics or colors. This all is a short summary of how the Scandinavian/Nordic interior movement started
Colors in Scandinavian/Nordic interior
Scandinavian-style interior design follows six design principles: multipurpose, natural, color, lighting, innovation, and humanistic. The use of color is one of the most significant aspects. Nordic folks are more hygge when they use natural materials and colors. Hygge is a key factor in living a happy Scandinavian lifestyle. The term "hygge" refers to the sensation of being at ease and pleased with the little things in life.
Because the design style was inspired by the Nordic environment, the use of natural hues is critical to adding mood and a sensation of being closer to nature. The monotone colors are the natural hues. Monochrome hues are the predominant colors used in Scandinavian design. Walls that are white or off-white are good since they create a bright, clean backdrop. The most common colors used in Scandinavian furniture are white, gray, blue, black, and cream. Those colors are natural to Scandinavians and have become a signature. And, as a result of the employment of distinctive hues, Scandinavian design, particularly in terms of color, has become more adaptable. As a result, many additional hues can merge seamlessly with Scandinavian style. As a result, Scandinavian design is quickly becoming fashionable and popular. As seen in the image below, these are the most common colors in Scandinavian/Nordic interior.
Main colors in Scandinavian/Nordic interior
Materials & furniture in Scandinavian/Nordic interior
As already told Scandinavian/Nordic interior is characterized by functionality, simplicity, and workmanship. Natural materials, particularly pale woods like ash and beech, wool and linen textiles, leather, and glass, are used in the majority of Nordic style designs. While some items feature traditional patterns or brighter color accents, the majority of Scandinavian style designs are subtle and simple. The most common materials in Scandinavian/Nordic interior are the materials below:
- Wood furniture and wood accents
- Plush and tactile fabrics
- Hanging real or Artificial plants
- Nature textiles
- Steel, brass or copper accents
- Ceramic materials, used for vases.
An example of a ceramic vase can be seen in the image below
Ceramic interlocking fase vase by Decorlola
Some of the most used furniture in Scandinavian/Nordic interior are:
- Ceramic vases
- Pendant lights
- Simplistic clocks
- (Artificial) plants
- Artworks as focal points in a minimalistic space
- Plush sofa’s
- Bar chairs
- Danish sideboards
- Extendable Scandinavian dining tables
- Round tables
- Simplistic lamps
- Floating shelves
An example of where most of the products above come together is shown in the image below.
Scandinavian/Nordic living room
Tips & tricks for creating a Scandinavian/Nordic home
If you want to create a Scandinavian/Nordic home yourself, here are a 8 tips to create a Scandinavian/Nordic home.
- It’s all about the neutrals
Winters in Scandinavia are notoriously lengthy and bleak. As a result, you'll see a lot of white and neutral colors that reflect natural light and make the spaces appear bright and welcoming. Use a neutral color palette with varying hues of white, cream, tan, brown, grey, or even black if you want to follow the Scandinavian home design.
- Stay away from carpets
Keep the amount of floor covered to a minimum. Exposed floorboards are popular in Scandinavian homes; you'll frequently be able to see the wooden planks that run throughout all rooms. If you want to create a true winter fairytale atmosphere, paint the floors white and place a soft rug close to the bed and sofa. Vintage cloth items are very popular among Scandinavians, giving the impression of being in a cabin in rural Norway. Check out some great floor decoration ideas that don't use wall-to-wall carpeting.
- Show your windows
Large windows are key to this decor style, however they are frequently left uncovered, which is unique to Scandinavian design. There are frequently no shades or curtains to allow as much light in as possible and absorb it through the walls and floors. If a curtain is required, choose a soft, translucent one that does not block the light but still provides some seclusion.
- Bring in natural light
This one should go without saying after mentioning the windows, but it's so important that I had to mention it again. natural light is essential in Scandinavian interiors. Because of the lengthy winters, people must make the most of the sunny hours. Natural light is your best friend when it comes to bringing those colors to life and generating a sense of movement by creating reflections and playing with the undertones of the paint on walls that are normally painted in neutral colors. This is an excellent reason to choose your colors carefully - a basic white is not the same as white with grey undertones.
- Wood is good
With a focus on craftsmanship, natural materials, and simplicity, the Scandinavian "hygge" attitude is more important than ever. Wooden details combine well with neutral colors, so consider integrating them in your decorating approach to come closer to the Scandinavian dream. Exposed hardwood floors and ceiling planks enhance the original architecture of your area and look stunning when mixed with white and grey. Because wood is a natural material, you can rely on it to turn your rooms into Instagram-worthy pieces of art, bringing the outdoorsy spirit of the Scandinavians into your home.
- Use clean lines
Clean lines imply clear thinking. Decorate with well-defined objects and furniture, focusing on squares and circles. Make sure you employ a lot of geometry in your Scandinavian home, from the kitchen elements to the wall posters. Various shapes can define the area and provide the perfect finishing touch to your home design project.
- Add textiles
Scandinavians are big supporters of materials and textiles, which can enhance our senses and make us feel warm by having them against our skin. Because Scandinavian interior design is primarily on being close to nature, you'll notice a lot of animal skin in the spaces, from cowhide rugs on the bedroom floor to sheepskin covering the Eames chairs in the dining room. Throw blankets and pillows are also essential for giving any place a homey feel and a pleasant ambiance.
- Make it personal
While we understand the charm of a Scandinavian design dream home is appealing, make sure you don't get too caught up in the decorating process. Add some personality to avoid a sterile appearance, and make sure your apartment communicates something about you and your interests. You can decorate your walls with photography prints, typography, and graphics, or you can have an exposed brick space or a statement wall in your living room or bedroom. Decorate the area by telling a tale about yourself. Are you an avid cyclist? Attach your bike to the wall; it will look great hanging above the large sofa in the living room. Do you enjoy surfing? Display it by displaying your board as a decoration in your bedroom. You can use your imagination as much as you want... as long as there aren't too many more details. Remember that little is more.
All in all, I hope you enjoyed our first blog. There will also be new blogs on other topics soon, like the BoHo chiq interior. If you enjoyed this blog, don't forget to leave a comment with maybe some feedback or what you liked about it. Also don't forget to take a look at the website. We have all kinds of great products to transform your home into a Scandinavian/Nordic home.
https://decorlola.com/collections/scandinavian-simplistic
