Scandinavian style in the interior: the naturalness of northern aesthetics. Interior in the Scandinavian style, photo Materials a characteristic feature of the Scandinavian
Northern interiors are loved for their simplicity and comfort, for the opportunity to show their individuality. What is it that captivates the Scandinavian style of Europeans, and why is it becoming so popular in Russia?
Harsh climate, geometrically complex, indented coasts, mountains, forests and many lakes - the nature of the Scandinavian countries has become a muse for the creators of an elegant, understandable style in the interior, which has won the hearts of millions of people who love affordable, reliable and comfortable homes.
It is customary to think that the northern peoples are reserved people, hiding their emotions, but having been in a Scandinavian house, such an opinion is quickly dispelled. Apartments and houses of the inhabitants of Northern Europe always have a calm sincere conversation, and the owners, as a rule, are friendly and hospitable.
Interior in Scandinavian style
History of style and its priorities
Anyone who has an idea about Scandinavian design will confidently say that its inexhaustible source is the special love of sunlight inherent in the inhabitants of the Nordic countries, their benevolent attitude towards nature and balanced, Nordic character.
But this is only half the truth. The second, less romantic, is that the formation of the style took place in difficult post-war times. Many cities in Europe lay in ruins, people needed new housing, which means that they needed fast-to-manufacture, functional, furniture without unnecessary details.
The Danes offered a way out, starting to produce simple and affordable household items from plywood. And IKEA, founded in Sweden, has established the production of standardized beds, cabinets and kitchens from pine wood. Laconic, devoid of decoration, things, first of all, corresponded to the restrained nature of the Finns, Danes, Norwegians, Icelanders and Swedes. And they did not clutter up the space, making light and "air" the main allies of the interior.
In the 1950s, the term "Scandinavian style" entered the official professional lexicon. And since then, this way of decorating the premises has not lost its relevance.
The priority design features in the Scandinavian style are minimalism, practicality, thoughtful planning, naturalness and natural finishes.
Color design
The impression of coziness and harmony is created by the color schemes of the Scandinavian style. Lightness and naturalness are reflected in warm pastel colors - milky, beige, sandy, light brown.
Winters in Scandinavia are quite long and severe, light shades help to compensate for the lack of sunlight. Often used is white, which is known to visually enlarge the space, in addition, it gives the interior an understated elegance and cleanliness. 
To dilute light colors, bright accents are used in interior design. Contrasting chairs, lamps, carpets, paintings, fresh or decorative flowers will add color to the overall picture.
Bright colors have always been appreciated by the inhabitants of the northern regions. They allow you to cope with despondency and dullness in winter time of the year.
Wooden surfaces fit perfectly into this contrast of white with bright accents. It is the tree that gives the Scandinavian interior warmth and natural harmony. 
Materials and finishes
Both the tones and the very texture of the finishing materials in the Scandinavian interior have a pleasant texture. The overall calm tone and matte surfaces create a pleasant tactile sensation.
The environmental friendliness of materials is one of important points in Scandinavian interior design. The naturalness of the origin of furniture, textiles and accessories is put at the forefront of priorities.
When using metal (door handles, chandeliers, kitchen and shower accessories), aluminum is preferred. Due to its dullness, it fits very harmoniously into the overall picture of the interior.
The walls are covered with decorative plaster or painted. The colors of the walls, as a rule, are calm - beige, light blue, light green, gray.
interesting effect gives wall cladding with natural stone or wood panels. This method will help in. 
If the walls are brick, they can be painted white. This technique looks good along with massive wooden furniture.
Wallpaper is very rare. This is due climatic conditions, in which the paper quickly dampens and peels off the walls ...
The ceiling in the Scandinavian style is designed to emphasize the feeling of airiness and lightness of space. Smooth, light ceilings allow to achieve this effect.
Whitewashed or painted ceilings will look most authentic, and stretched ceilings can also be used, but always matte. 
The floor in the Scandinavian style is also distinguished by light colors. For decoration, parquet is most often used, parquet board or laminate.
The bathroom and toilet are tiled in white or blue, repeating color accents on the walls or in interior details. 
The floor can be decorated with fluffy plain rugs or paths with a bright geometric pattern.
Style furniture
Scandinavian design does not hint at wealth and luxury, so the furniture used is simple but functional. 
When designing an interior in a Scandinavian style, you should carefully consider the organization of storage spaces. The solution to this problem can be built-in racks and shelves, decorated with wood or painted in bright colors. Usually these racks are left open. Everything that needs to be hidden from prying eyes is placed in wicker baskets or boxes. 
Upholstered furniture occupies special place in the "Nordic" interior. Sofas and armchairs must be upholstered with durable natural materials - cotton, linen, suede, less often leather. The colors are mostly calm, but you can play with bright accents by complementing the interior with a red, blue or green armchair.
Lighting
To make up for the lack of light in the houses, Special attention give large windows and an abundance of lighting fixtures - a variety of table lamps, sconces, floor lamps. 
The house must be filled sunlight, so windows are often not decorated with curtains. If there is a desire to decorate a window opening, then make sure that the fabric is light and transparent.
To save general style housing, window frames are made of natural wood, which can be painted white.
Creative ideas can be safely implemented by placing light accents. Bright floor lamps, lamps and colorful lamps in various color and texture options are the highlight that characterizes a Scandinavian-style home.
Accessories and decor
A minimalist northern interior will never seem boring and monotonous thanks to well-placed accents in the form of accessories and decor.
To date, the Scandinavian interior of apartments remains the most popular in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. The inhabitants of Northern Europe have remained true to tradition and continue to improve their style.
Modern Scandinavian style in the interior of the apartment looks concise and tasteful. Local residents are not characterized by a craving for pomposity and wealth.
Protracted dark winters left their mark on the arrangement of the premises, so they are dominated by white, as well as objects made of crystal. This decision makes it clear that winter remains a favorite season, but at the same time, a desire to enjoy is visible. big amount bright days.
There are two options for Scandinavian house interiors.
The first option gravitates towards the interiors of Sweden in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is preferred by owners who want to emphasize their well-being, but without monumentality and pretentiousness. The second - personifies softness, conciseness and functionality. It does not provide for antique furniture and paintings in massive frames, but home comfort it has plenty.
A bit of history
Many believe that the history of the Scandinavian interior began to take shape in the late 19th century. But in fact, it happened much earlier.
For the first time, the Scandinavian style in the interior began to take shape during the reign of the Swedish king Gustav III in the 18th century. Before this period, the inhabitants of the northern part of Europe equipped their houses, copying the fashion trends of France, Italy, and also England. Baroque, rococo and classicism reigned in these countries. When the Scandinavians equipped their homes, they added northern notes to the decor.
The final advantage in favor of northern motives occurred at the initiative of Gustav III, who was a trendsetter of that time. Until the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, the "Gustavian style" was popular in the countries of Northern Europe. It was he who was the forerunner of the Scandinavian modern interior.
A new round in the development of the current received in the 80s of the 19th century. Designers began to give style more modern features, while they were guided by the desire to make the environment more functional and concise.
In the 30s of the 20th century, the International Exhibition was held, at which designers presented their achievements - interiors that harmoniously combine practicality and aesthetic appeal. In the 50s, after exhibitions in America, the genre began to confidently conquer the world community.
Main features
The interior of the house in the Scandinavian style embodies practicality, naturalness, restraint and even some coldness. There is also a love for nature. The main principle of the direction is to make the owners feel comfortable, and not envious of the visitors.
Consider what other features the Scandinavian-style interior design combines:
- Functionality with minimalism
There is nothing superfluous in the interior. Decor and details are minimal, furniture is only the most necessary. At the same time, the atmosphere does not seem empty. At first glance, a decorative item may have a practical purpose.
- Lots of light
In order for the rays of light to penetrate the premises, the windows are often made large and complemented with light tulle and light curtains.
- Furniture of a simple form, light, practical and at the same time elegant.
Spacious shelves and racks are popular, on which you can place things to create space in the rooms. The shape of the furniture is rectangular or slightly rounded. It is combined with cabinet-type furniture. Scandinavian interior items are placed so that they take up a minimum of space.
- The main Scandinavian colors in the interior are white, beige, blue, silver-gray, muted shades of yellow.
White always prevails. As inclusions, you can use bright colors, which will bring zest to a restrained atmosphere.
- Patterns are either absent or they are neutral.
- The floor is dominated by warm soft carpets and animal skins.
- Preference is given to natural and environmentally friendly materials - wood, stone, gypsum plaster.
- The most commonly used textiles are cotton, linen and wool.
- Various lighting devices are used as accessories - floor lamps, sconces, table lamps. Mirrors without massive frames are also involved.
Who prefers Scandinavian style?
The modern Scandinavian style in the interior is most often preferred by people of the northern type, and this is not about appearance, but about character traits and personal preferences. There is a category of people who like the frosty freshness of the north, cold shades and the beauty of nature in a winter dream. At the same time, such people prefer a free, practical and concise environment.
If you belong to this category, then do not hesitate in your choice, the Scandinavian interior design of the apartment will not seem cold and alien to you. On the contrary - you will feel in it harmony, comfort, as well as the embodiment of life preferences.
Also, this direction is suitable for lovers of minimalism and free space, but on condition that they positively perceive cold colors in the interior.
Scandinavian interior design can be implemented both in a city apartment and in a country house. Most importantly, get support. experienced designer, which will help to place all the accents correctly and provide for everything to the smallest detail.
Scandinavian style home improvement
Consider implementation options scandinavian design in the interior.
Hallway
The first thing a person sees when entering an apartment is the entrance hall. Therefore, it must be drawn up especially scrupulously, taking into account all the rules.
A Scandinavian-style entrance hall in the interior should be associated at first glance with the practicality and elegance characteristic of the inhabitants of Northern Europe. Entrance door, like other doors in a Scandinavian interior, should be wooden. The color of the door lacquer is only close to natural colors.
Wall decoration in the hallway should be made of materials that are easily cleaned of dirt without losing properties. Vertical surfaces are best done in a pastel or slightly creamy tone. Although the white color is the most suitable, it is impractical in the hallway, as it can quickly lose its whiteness due to the human factor. The lower part of the walls can be finished with wooden panels.
Make the floor darker than the walls. As a material, you can use a stone of cold shades.
The design of the hallway in the Scandinavian style includes only the most necessary furniture- a chest of drawers, a floor hanger for guests' clothes, a small or medium-sized mirror. You can also put a cabinet with folding doors, which will store outerwear. Often they make hangers attached to the wall.
It is advisable to make lighting in the form of several hanging chandeliers with shades of white, frosted glass.
Living room
Having correctly designed the Scandinavian interior of the living room, you are sure to fall in love with the atmosphere, from which you will breathe the tranquility of the north. To decorate the interior of a living room in a Scandinavian style, it is best to choose a spacious room with large windows on sunny side Houses.
- Cover the walls with decorative white gypsum plaster. It is possible during the application of plaster to make a beautiful texture in the form of an uncomplicated pattern.
- Also make the ceiling white. Don't be afraid to overdo it; this color is basic for the style and will help it to open up in the best possible way.
- Lay parquet or laminate on the floor. If you want to add warmth to the room, choose colors for natural wood flooring. If you are more comfortable in the predominance of cold tones, choose among shades of gray (preferably close to a silvery tone).
- Arrange a sofa area in the living room with a low glass table. Upholstered furniture - without massive decor, large backs and catchy patterns. You can put some pillows on the sofa bright colors, which will serve as a highlight and a bright splash of color.
- Lay a warm carpet on the floor in the sofa area. Also, a bookshelf with your favorite literature will fit into the room.
- The Scandinavian-style living room design will complement the fireplace, which will warm you on cold, winter evenings. vertical fireplace area it is advisable to overlay with white brickwork, and the foot - with dark tiles or stone.
Style loves good lighting, so it is best to hang a central chandelier in the living room, the design of which will resemble pieces of ice or crystals.
Bedroom
Remember how The Snow Queen did you feel at home in your chambers? The bedroom should also evoke the same feeling of comfort. It is necessary to create such an interior of the Scandinavian bedroom in which you can relax, immerse yourself in healthy sleep and feel peace.
- The wall at the head of the bed can be finished with wood, and the rest can be covered with pastel-colored decorative plaster.
- Leave the ceiling white.
- On the floor - parquet or laminate.
- Choose a color with the same factors in mind as when choosing a living room floor. In the area of \u200b\u200bthe bed, lay a fleecy carpet or animal skin.
- Make a double bed rectangular shape with a minimally low headboard or without it.
- On the sides of the bed - two concise cabinets light color, on which there are small lamps with frosted, white glass.
- Clothes and other things are best stored in a dressing room or in a closet with light, folding doors.
Scandinavian style in the interior of the bedroom, correctly selected textiles will emphasize - lay on the bed cotton bedspread creamy or slightly pinkish. The bed can be decorated decorative pillows brighter tones.
A central crystal chandelier is suitable for a Scandinavian-style bedroom design. You can also use a floor lamp with a light-colored shade.
Kitchen
The Scandinavian interior of the kitchen, like other rooms, embodies spaciousness, functionality and understated elegance.
The Scandinavian style appeared as a logical development of post-war trends in the world, superimposed on the national characteristics of Scandinavia: the abundance of wood and people who know how to work with it. Another factor - the ruined cities of Europe needed a lot of furniture, and it had to be functional first, and only then beautiful.
The first here were the Danes, who used mainly teak wood. They also began to use plywood, and then plastic. A little later, standardization came from Sweden: first Swedish kitchens, then beds and other furniture. Since the 70s, the massive use of pine and the distribution of Ikea began. And now the Scandinavian style is chosen for lack of other worthy options, and often from a lack of knowledge. Decorators Anna and Mikhail Koshelev suggest considering alternatives that will not be much more difficult to implement.
Clients often say: "I want Scandinavian style." But the question "And if not Scandinavian, then what?", As a rule, confuses them. It seems that other styles simply do not know. Sometimes "grandmother's style" and hi-tech come to mind, they also remember shabby chic. And it turns out that there seems to be no alternative to Scandinavian. But in fact, there are a great many styles: for example, Moroccan, Chinese, Japanese or Art Deco are good in their own way. But we will only talk about those that are likely to appeal to Scandinavian fans.
Postwar
mid century
Let's start with styles that are often confused with Scandinavian. In the 50s of the last century, a boom in minimalism began around the world, both in clothing and in interiors. Then the beauty of things gave way to functionality: everyone had to build, and there were few materials, and plastic was not yet common.
Distinctive features of the midcentury style are stone, wood and bright colors. Even in "The Adventures of Shurik" we see interiors with these motifs. So a good half of the assortment of Moscow fashion online furniture stores is actually not Scandinavian style, but replicas of style icons of the 50s and 60s.
Minimalism
The second style, which is often mistaken for Scandinavian, is minimalism. There is simplicity of lines here and there, but in minimalism the main thing is a deliberately limited number of details and good illumination. It cannot be said that the Scandinavians live in the dark, but really a lot of daylight can only be given by big windows, which is not cheap and irrational in a cold climate. The main difference between minimalism and the scarcity of decoration is the high cost of execution of both individual details and the entire architecture of a house or apartment as a whole. But there are difficulties here: everything looks great until the first signs of life. After all, even a shirt left on a chair in such conditions begins to declare itself as part of the interior.
Modern
Contemporary
An important feature of this style is relevance. It consists of what is now at the peak of popularity. If white broken triangles in the style of Audi are relevant, this is contemporary, if concrete and chandeliers made of cord and cartridge are fashionable, this is contemporary, if zigzags on the walls and craft bags for children's toys are at their peak, this is contemporary. Individual fashion items appear more often than a whole style. Something is forgotten, and what shows itself from the best side accumulates in a new style. The task of the designer is to create a space in which you can constantly change something without violating harmony. The complexity of this undertaking is obvious: it is not easy to follow fashion all the time. It is worth stopping once, and repairs can be dated to within a couple of years.
Traditional
This style is traditional not for us, but for Europe and America. If you travel around the world, you can understand that the interiors of the houses that we see in Western cinema are really like that. The reason for the style's popularity is practicality. Such an interior will not become outdated and will look appropriate in many years. Scandinavian particle boards or chipboards become shabby over time, which spoils the look, but scratches on traditional furniture (not to be confused with classic ones) are perceived as scuffs on jeans, that is, they only add charm. Separately, the opportunity to put a brass lamp, which is 80-90 years old, on a new bedside table, or hang a 250-year-old engraving on the wall, fascinates.
Nautical
The basis of the beach style, as a rule, is quite traditional and in demand in any other style colors - white, blue, beige and coral, as well as the color of the deck board, brass or bronze. Maybe chrome, but definitely not plastic. Details play the most important role here: old burnt-out oars on the walls, pillows with seahorses, blown glass bottles, ropes and other marine paraphernalia. Nautical decor often used for children: it is difficult for kids to live in a boring rectangular world.
Rustic
Farmhouse, French country
rustic style is cozy interior with traditional wooden furniture and simple décor dominated by pastoral motifs: floral curtains, crockery with red polka dots, bed linen with frills and cockerels. Everything that says about the comfort and hot cocoa that your grandmother prepared for you as a child is country style. Decorators most often borrow barn doors from it, but we would also advise you to look at wooden ceilings, walls and furniture - cast, less often stamped, made of metal and with wooden elements.
Industrial
A style originating in old factory and warehouses Manhattan, now successfully continues its victorious march through the old buildings in the center of Moscow and other capitals. It is often called "loft" for short, although the loft is just one of the directions of the industrial style. All rooms in this area are characterized by the presence of huge windows and high ceilings. Since you won’t finish large spaces with expensive tiles, bare concrete or metal structures of the building are simply painted, parquet is replaced with a planed board, but they don’t save on furniture. Metal, leather, solid wood will not be cheap. It would be a gross mistake to try to replace real brickwork with its imitation. You can build a wall from the cheapest red brick, and then take used engine oil, coal and age the masonry yourself. For such cases, we use a plasma torch, which oxidizes and ignites clay. As a result, decades of exposure to air and ultraviolet light make up in minutes.
Mediterranean
If in nautical style wall color and shape doorways are not so important, then in the Mediterranean it is in them that the whole point. Semi-circular arches, bright multi-colored tiles, terracotta pots with herbs of Provence, textiles with geometric prints of yellow, red and shades of blue- This is a Mediterranean style. And no photo wallpaper with the Black Sea surf in Yalta.
Chalet style
Rustic, "Hunting Lodge"
This is an abundance of natural wood with a visible texture, sloping ceilings, warm colors, stone aprons in the kitchen and in the fireplace area, leather furniture, wooden beams on the ceiling and everything that is somehow connected with taxidermy: animal heads and skins on the floor. We often want to see country houses like this, which is understandable. Although sometimes individual elements can be great friends with interiors in other styles.
Eclecticism
Aerobatics of the owner of the apartment or the decorator. Eclectic is a good combination different styles, for example, an antique coffee table from a great-grandmother with a pop art poster and an Auchan carpet. The key word is lucky.
Victorian
If traditional style is quite neutral (add a trendy plastic rocking chair with wooden legs and it is already modern, a boar's head and it is already a chalet), then the Victorian interior is difficult to remake. This is the interior of a rich English grandmother or a Californian gold miner: floral wallpaper on the walls, handmade furniture from the best varieties wood, classic candlesticks and chandeliers made of crystal, Tiffany, no chipboard. Seriously, sustainedly and without fuss. Like whiskey. Victorian style is definitely expensive. When designing it, you can fall into leather wallpaper or natural silk on the walls. For such an interior, you don’t even need a decorator, but an antique dealer with excellent taste.
An increasing number of our compatriots are looking at the Scandinavian style when planning the renovation of a private house or apartment. The versatility, simplicity, practicality and beauty of the style of the Scandinavian countries also attracts attention with its accessibility in terms of design solutions. The advantage of using the motives of the Scandinavian countries when decorating a home is that the owners of apartments and private households can cope with the main tasks on their own. The idea of creating a practical, cozy, but at the same time rather modest design of residential apartments also attracts with its relevance to our latitudes. In the Scandinavian countries, as well as in our country, quite severe winters occur, most of the cold season outside the window is damp and cloudy. That is why the inhabitants of the Nordic countries are so fond of filling their homes with light, decorating the premises mainly in white tones and placing bright accents in the resulting interiors. Let's try to apply a modest, but at the same time cozy aesthetics to the design of Russian city and country apartments.
Distinctive features of Scandinavian style
Despite its obvious originality, almost everyone likes the Scandinavian style. Yes, and it is difficult to imagine an owner who would not want to see his home decorated with such simplicity and practicality, lightness and modesty. But at the same time, the desire to create a comfortable, beautiful and modern design of an apartment or a private house is not alien to the style of the Scandinavian countries.
The main motives for decorating a room in the Scandinavian style include the following:
- the main task of creating an interior in the Scandinavian style is to provide the premises with the maximum number of natural light. The space itself can be small, but it must have sufficiently large windows. The importance of natural lighting in the aesthetics of the Scandinavian peoples is difficult to overestimate;
- active use of white in the decoration of the room. A snow-white ceiling and in almost all cases a similar tone for the walls are a characteristic feature of the design of the space in the Scandinavian style. This approach maximizes the spread of light in the room - Sun rays are reflected from snow-white surfaces and spread over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe room;
- the use of predominantly natural materials - wood for finishing and making furniture, ceramics and stone for facing surfaces that need special protection, the use of leather, fur and natural textiles (cotton, linen) for decorative drapery. If you decide to use artificial analogues natural materials, then they should ideally imitate natural raw materials;
- the use of an open plan in the design of most rooms - the dining room is connected to the kitchen and very often to the dining room, the bedroom is combined with an office, and sometimes a library without any partitions. This approach allows you to maximize the feeling of spaciousness and provide everything functional areas spaces with natural light;
- the use of simple but functional furniture. Exceptionally comfortable yet modest design business card stylistics of the Scandinavian peoples;
- no hint of luxury and wealth - the main task of any element of the interior is its practical use. Even decorative items (of which there are few in a Scandinavian-style room) carry a functional load;
- in a bright room there are one or two bright accents - it can be a piece of furniture or textiles, a large houseplant or wall decor (colorful paintings, family photos in bright frames);
- and last, but not least, the criterion for using the Scandinavian style in drawing up the design of the room - the interior should be a reflection of the character of a person, should, first of all, serve his needs, reflect the concept of the owners of the home about beauty, comfort, coziness and aesthetics.
Color palette - use the play of light
The fact that the Scandinavian style gravitates towards the active use of white is known even to a homeowner who is not enlightened in the field of design. The snow-white ceiling and walls are the hallmark of the style of the Nordic countries. This finish performs several significant functions at once - it visually expands the space, promotes the spread of sunlight and serves as an ideal background for placing color accents. On a white background, almost any furniture looks impressive, even soft decor elements and indoor plants.
Using a combination of white and black (dark gray in some cases) with wood surfaces will help you form the basis for creating a Scandinavian interior. No need to puzzle over the choice of shades and their harmonious combination - white and black colors are ideal for creating a contrasting design (of course, white tone dominates, and black acts as a metered accent). Wooden surfaces perfectly dilute this contrasting duet, bringing natural warmth into the atmosphere of the room. Most often, light-colored wood (pine, oak, ash) is used for flooring and as a raw material for the manufacture of furniture - tables and chairs, bookcases and other storage systems.
Despite the Scandinavian style's total love for the use of white, the creation is absolutely bright rooms is not the goal. Color accents are necessary for our eyes, a person of any age needs to periodically focus his eyes on bright details, interior elements. On light background one piece of large furniture (a sofa or an armchair) or a couple of small interior elements (curtains, a bedspread, a coffee table or a bedside table) will look contrasting and bright.
Examples of room design in the Scandinavian style
Living room
For any homeowner, the living room is the heart of the house, the common room where the whole family gathers in the evenings and on weekends gatherings with friends and relatives are arranged. Of course, you want to decorate such a space with maximum comfort and coziness. But at the same time, it is desirable to maintain the practicality of the interior, ease of use of interior items and ease of cleaning. Scandinavian style perfectly combines all these qualities. At the same time, the design looks modern, while remaining relevant. long years. The cost of using natural materials for finishing the room and arranging the space with furniture will pay off not only with the attractive appearance of the interior, but also with its durability. If the appearance of the room gets boring in a year or two, it is easy to change it with the help of accessories, decor. Replacing only a picture on the wall or sofa cushions with colorful, bright specimens, you will radically change the perception of the entire living room.
In Scandinavian-style rooms, you can often see window openings devoid of any drapery. Such a choice is conscious - in order to receive the maximum amount of natural light in the room, the sun's rays should not encounter any obstacles in their path, even the thinnest tulle as an element of window decoration. If the bedroom is such design technique can meet the reasonable dissatisfaction of the owners, then in the living room space it is quite applicable for the apartments of our compatriots.
White ceiling and walls flooring in the form of parquet or boards, upholstered furniture with natural upholstery (mostly linen or cotton), light coffee tables or coasters, pair indoor plants and the interior of a comfortable and at the same time modern living room is ready. As accents, you can use sofa cushions or lighting fixtures - bright, but simple in design floor lamps or table lamps do an excellent job with the task, not to mention the functions performed by illuminating the space in dark time days.
In order to organize a home library in a Scandinavian-style living room, it is enough to place an open bookcase along one of the walls. The simplest and most practical implementation open shelves will be the best option for organizing book storage systems. Will it be a wooden rack or metal structure, painted white - the Scandinavian style will successfully accept any integration.
Kitchen and dining room
A Scandinavian-style kitchen is most often the already familiar “play” of white and black with wooden surfaces. Combination of light finishes and wooden facades a kitchen set with dark decorative elements or a ceramic tile pattern on an apron - allows you to create a modern, but at the same time cozy and practical interior. In such a kitchen space, everyone will be cozy, light and comfortable, and the hostess (owner) will not have to spend a lot of time and effort on cleaning. The principle of practicality and functionality, enclosed in an attractive external shell, is most conveniently used in the kitchen room - an incredibly busy space of any home in terms of options performed.
Scandinavian style is perfect for decorating standard and superior apartments. In modern apartments, the kitchen is most often a studio, which houses not only a working and dining area, but also functional segments of the living room. With this approach to the organization of living space, a very modest area is often allocated for a kitchen set. In such a situation, the observance of maximum practicality and functionality of all elements of the kitchen space comes to the fore. Bright hues used in the decoration and furnishing of this segment of the dwelling, as well as dosed use wooden surfaces and dark accents, contribute to the visual increase in the room.
But even a small kitchen space can be decorated using Scandinavian style motifs. After all, the snow-white tone and wooden surfaces as a color and texture accent, so beloved by the style of the Scandinavian countries, do an excellent job with visual magnification room volume.
In the kitchen space, decorated in the Scandinavian style, perfectly integrated Appliances made in retro style. It can be like bright models household appliances, acting as a color accent on a light background kitchen interior, and corresponding to the general color scheme appliances in pastel colors.
Bedroom
A Scandinavian-style bedroom is a spacious and bright room with light finishes and a minimal set of furniture and decor. Comfortable bed, a pair of compact bedside tables or tables, table lamps or wall sconces and modest storage systems for the owners' wardrobe. Scandinavian style stands for simplicity and comfort, which is why instead of built-in wardrobes, ordinary floor or ceiling-mounted clothes hangers are often used. open shelving for books can be placed above the head of the bed or along a free wall.
Selection design technique accent wall not alien to the style of the Scandinavian peoples. But in such bedrooms wallpaper is very rarely used - it acts as a finishing material decorative plaster or even painting in one tone. Both the plane behind the head of the bed and the wall located perpendicular to it can act as an accent wall. As an accent, a wall hung with bright photos or artwork.
Nothing contributes to creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in a room for sleeping and relaxing like the presence of interior elements made of natural wood. The flooring, the main piece of furniture - the bed and additional furniture will look great against the light background of the finish. At the same time, you can create a similar interior in a budget version, using furniture from chain stores like Ikea.
As part of the Scandinavian style, it is very easy to use elements of country style and even garden furniture. For example, in the bedroom, you can use wicker baskets as storage systems for books, magazines, and sundries. And near the window, install a snow-white rattan chair and a light table-stand. Artificially aged interior items or elements of the living space that have “reached the required condition” in a natural way will also organically fit into a simple, but cozy design bedrooms in scandinavian style.
Children's room
The versatility of the Scandinavian style is manifested not only in the fact that its main motifs can be used both for urban dwellings and for country apartments. For example, to decorate a children's room in a Scandinavian style, you can use even modest-sized rooms, but with an important caveat - the window in such a space should be large and provide the room with the maximum amount of sunlight. The advantage of using the concept of the Scandinavian style when decorating a nursery is that the interior can be transformed depending on the growing up of the baby, adjusting it to new preferences and acquired skills. On the snow-white walls, you can place decor that will match the age and interests of the child, changing it without much loss for family budget. Wooden furniture - perfect option arrangement of the nursery in terms of safety for humans and environment. And bright accents in the bright interior of a room for a boy or girl can be toys, books and textile design of the space.
In a Scandinavian-style children's room, it is important to leave as much free space as possible for active games. The feeling of spaciousness is necessary not only for the comfort of the child, but also to maintain the concept of the style of the Scandinavian peoples. The use of bunk beds in the case of two children living in a room becomes the best option for breading furniture. But a loft bed can be a good way out for one child - storage systems can be located at the bottom of such a structure, workplace or a creative area.
It is customary to decorate rooms for newborns in light, pastel colors to create the most relaxed atmosphere in which it will be calm and comfortable, especially for parents. After all, the little owner of the premises still pays little attention to the environment and focuses mainly on the psychological state of the mother. Predominantly light finishes and the use of exclusively natural materials, so important for the Scandinavian style, incredibly clearly reflect the requirements for the design of spaces for young children. And you can arrange color accents with the help of toys, pictures on the walls and colorful textiles for decorating a crib or window openings.
Cabinet
In modern apartments of urban or country type, the office rarely appears as an isolated room. Most often, a home office is a small area occupied in the living room or bedroom. Very little is needed to organize the working sector - compact desk or a console that is conveniently attached to the wall and open shelves for storing stationery, books and documents. For a Scandinavian style that does not tolerate luxury and kitsch, this way of arranging a mini-office at home is ideal.
Bathroom
Acceptance room water procedures, made in the Scandinavian style should be light, as spacious as possible (as far as the layout of modern bathrooms allows) and, of course, functional. Using a combination of light ceiling and wall finishes with dark floors helps to create a visual illusion of increasing space and at the same time fills the interior with clarity and constructiveness. In addition, on dark background flooring snow-white plumbing looks especially impressive.
In a bathroom designed in the style of the Scandinavian peoples, it is difficult to do without the use of wooden surfaces. After all, it is the woody natural pattern that brings that warmth and comfort to the atmosphere of the room, which the urban dweller needs so much. Most often, wood (treated with special antiseptics and protective varnishes) is used for the manufacture of storage systems, sometimes for the execution of countertops around sinks and even trim elements in places with the least exposure to moisture.
In order to dilute the snow-white idyll of bathroom decoration, you can use patterned ceramic tiles to finish the backsplash above the sink and bathtub or as flooring. The room will not look colorful if the ornament is present only on one surface, and the rest of the planes appear in a light design.
Auxiliary premises
Entering an apartment or home ownership, decorated in the Scandinavian style, you will see the simplicity and practicality of the design in the hallway, successfully harmonizing with the beauty and ease of execution. Simple and clear forms, straight lines and modesty of the situation - this is what will definitely catch your eye. Only the necessary storage systems in the most concise design. The decoration of the hallway and corridors is extremely practical - the use of light colors does not mean problems with cleaning, washable surfaces do not cause much trouble to the owners.
The use of the three main surface finishes – white, black and wood – is not alien to the design of ancillary spaces such as hallways, corridors, stairwells, pantries and terraces. Combining these contrasting surfaces with a dosed use of dark tones allows you to create an original look for rooms even with the simplest layout and minimal furniture.
Do you want to know the features and main secrets of creating the most popular interior design style on the planet?
Then welcome to Scandinavia!
After all, it was here that the Scandinavian style of the same name was born in the interior, which millions of families around the world have become admirers.
But how and why - we will tell you right now.
Everything you need to know about Scandinavian style
The Scandinavian design style is one of the most sought after and popular in the world. Yes, yes, it is even more popular than high-tech, classic and Provence styles.
And all thanks to… Ikea!
But first things first.
The history of the origin of the Scandinavian style
Firstly, only three states belong to the Scandinavian countries: Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Neither Iceland, nor Finland, nor any other neighbors are the progenitors, carriers and standards of the Scandinavian style. Even despite the superficial similarity of the interiors, the dwellings of the neighbors of the Scandinavians have their own special authentic features.
Secondly, the inhabitants of Northern Europe (like any other inhabitants of any other country in the world) have been building their houses since time immemorial. And, of course, they built them in accordance with their needs and needs.
Do you want to understand what?
Then imagine: it is cold, a very harsh climate, there are continuous snows, forests and mountains around, the sun peeks out from behind the clouds a limited number of days a year, you have a huge amount of bulky warm clothes ... In what kind of house would you like to live?
Obviously warm, light, bright and with ample storage.
Here these are the houses that the Scandinavians built.
But until the 20th century, there was still no mass production of anything, so the interiors were more of a handicraft character than the modern Scandinavian style that is now familiar to the entire planet. The traditional Scandinavian style still has its place in the world of interior design today, but, like any ethnic trend, it is more of a local flavor and a kind of zest than a mass trend.
The history of classic modern Scandinavian style began in the 20th century with the development of mass industry. Moreover, the Scandinavian style has become a kind of quintessence of the focus of the Nordic countries on sociality and democracy.
Swedish social politics is considered the most thoughtful and focused on ordinary people. According to its postulates, all benefits should be equally available to both the rich and the poor. And this is more than noticeably reflected in the interior design of the Nordic countries. After all, with the creation of technologies for the mass processing of natural wood, cheaper technological processes, the invention of plywood and plastic and, as a result, the development of mass furniture production, the interior has ceased to be an indicator of status and financial capabilities.
It has become concise, functional, comfortable, of high quality and carefully checked by the control service, but most importantly - affordable.
The birth of modern Scandinavian style culminated in the opening of the first Ikea store in Sweden in the 1950s. The concept of the store resonated so much with the masses that it confidently began its journey around the planet, and the brand became the most recognizable furniture brand.
Scandinavian apartment: features, colors, materials
In a modern Scandinavian apartment, light powdery shades predominate, and black and white contrasting monochrome decorative elements are very common.
The most commonly used colors are white, light gray, light blue, beige, yellow.
Bright textile accents are welcome.
Most of the materials used in Scandinavian interior design are natural wood and teak in particular (for a long time Denmark was the main supplier of teak on the world market).
However, today one can see general trend the rise in price of natural materials, therefore, more and more often synthetic materials imitating natural ones are allowed to be used in a classic Scandinavian interior.
Who suits the Scandinavian style?
Scandinavian style in the interior of different rooms
Living room in Scandinavian style
Such living rooms are distinguished by their simplicity and conciseness. The main colors used in the interior of the Scandinavian living room are white, light gray, light blue, beige and black as accents.
Scandinavian style kitchen
In 1952, the term "Swedish cuisine" was coined, meaning an organization of space that is as compact as possible and as functional as possible. In fact, this is how kitchen sets(not only IKEA), which are used today by housewives all over the world.
Perhaps that is why the term today has somewhat lost its relevance, because what used to be exclusively the invention and property of the Swedes is now produced and used on a planetary scale.
Dining room in Scandinavian style
For Scandinavians, family ties are of particular value, which is clearly visible in their principle of organizing the dining and dining area in the kitchen.
There must be a large dinner table and comfortable chairs. They can be wooden or with a textile coating of a simple texture.
One or two pendant lamps can be placed above the table.
Sometimes, to create a dining room in Khrushchev, it makes sense to combine the kitchen and living room, but remember - any demolition of the walls must be coordinated with the control service!
Bedroom in Scandinavian style
The interior of such a bedroom is rarely performed in cold shades. As a rule, the base color is white. It is combined with beige flooring and light gray or light blue furniture. However, other options are also possible.
So, in particular in Ikea, all the facades are made in several colors and always like a wooden “blank” without a coating. You can not only leave it in its original texture, but also experiment with color using paint.
One of the walls in the Scandinavian bedroom can be accentuated.
Indoor plants will not be superfluous in the interior.
Nursery in Scandinavian style
This style is very popular in the design of children's rooms, because:
- natural and safe materials are used, which have passed the quality control service
- the interior is very light and delicate
- bright accents and interesting patterns contribute to the full psycho-emotional development of children
And in such a bedroom it will always be appropriate to look at a wigwam! Kids of all ages just love them.
Bathroom in Scandinavian style
A feature of the bathroom in this style is the presence of wooden functional or decorative elements.
Wall panel, shower tray or hanging cabinet - it's up to you.
For a budget option for decorating a bathroom in Khrushchev, instead of natural wood, it is quite suitable tile imitating wood slabs.
Scandinavian style office
The office and workspaces of the Scandinavians are distinguished by their visual lightness.
Instead of bulky classic tables with cabinets and antique massive secretaries, everything is as simple as possible here: a small table with thin legs, cozy armchair streamlined shape, several open shelves and a very light palette of shades (white, beige, light blue, yellow, light gray).
Bright accents are not used here (or are used in limited quantities), but you can often find black accent details.
house in scandinavian style
A house or cottage will look good in the traditional, rather than the modern style of the northern peoples.
Scandinavian style apartment
For an apartment, this style is ideal due to its conciseness and simplicity. A light range of cold shades allows you to visually expand even the most small space, and capacious storage systems are ideal for city apartments without pantries and utility rooms.
Hallway in Scandinavian style
Scandinavians borrowed many motifs from nature, so a tree-shaped hanger or a wooden pendant lamp would look appropriate in the hallway.
How to create Scandinavian style at home?
Furniture
The Scandinavian interior is famous for its thoughtful storage system with a large number of spacious drawers and cabinets.
Scandinavian furniture of a restrained laconic form, no frills, light gray, light blue or light beige, less often dark, made of natural wood.
Wooden sets are used modular, with the ability to independently assemble furniture of a suitable size and content.
However, there is furniture that is a must have for a classic Scandinavian interior and its distinctive decorative elements.
For example, furniture designed by Arne Jacobson, known throughout the world and widely used in interior design to this day.
The Ant chair was the first mass-produced Danish chair.
Armchair "Egg".
Armchair "Swan".
Armchair "Drop".
Textile
Textiles are an important decorative element in a Scandinavian interior. The texture is not important in it and layering is completely excluded, however, the obligatory component is a rich and rich palette.
To create Scandinavian style with fabrics, you will need a few sofa cushions in bright covers, a carpet with a bright geometric pattern, simple curtains to the floor with a print.
Important condition! The Scandinavian style is not characterized by synthetic colors, so even the brightest shades used in the interior should be as natural and natural as possible.
Lighting
In the Scandinavian countries, sunlight is quite a luxury. Gloomy weather reigns there for most of the year, so when decorating a Scandinavian apartment, they are in great demand different types lighting and all kinds of light scenarios. In addition to the classic hanging lamps table and floor lamps are used. Sometimes even a single-color garland can play the role of decorative lighting.
Accessories
Despite all the modernity of the Scandinavian style, handicraft roots make themselves felt. Therefore, frequent decorative elements in a Scandinavian apartment are vintage chests and stools.
Another feature of the Scandinavians is the passion for family photos. As a rule, in a Scandinavian apartment you can see individual shelves or even entire walls hung with family photos. IN modern interiors they are often replaced by laconic posters or watercolors.
Often, the Finnish Aalto vases, also known as Savoy vases, become the main decoration of the table.
Trees and plants
Nature cheated Scandinavian countries rich and picturesque flora, so their residents decided to compensate for this right in their homes.
Plants can be everywhere!
However, which ones - depends on the type of room.
In the living room or in the dining room can there be more plant and even full-fledged trees.
In smaller rooms, it is better to give preference to a plant in pots.
And in the bathroom or hallway, a crumb can even settle in a miniature glass or glass jar.
As for plant species, these can be succulents, monsters, ficuses, ferns, etc.
Functionality
This is the most important feature of the Scandinavian interior!
First of all, it must be FUNCTIONAL.
Therefore, a spacious storage system, laconic wooden furniture, wall covering, the easiest to clean, and textiles that do not require much effort to care for.
Finishing materials for the Scandinavian style
For floor
In a classic Scandinavian interior, the flooring is wooden.
Today, given the pricing policy for natural wood, a more budgetary laminate is quite acceptable, which, when modern technologies processing is practically indistinguishable from its progenitor.
Parquet boards or lamellas are laid in a herringbone pattern or “in a run”.
For flooring, medium-beige shades of the coating are used, less often light gray.
for windows
Curtains on the windows in a Scandinavian apartment are not used at all or are used in a minimal amount. Here you will never see the curtain + tulle duo, traditional for the post-Soviet space, because the main task of Scandinavian-style windows is to let in light.
It is better to make frames natural, wooden. It is not only beautiful, but also functional in terms of keeping warm.
for walls
In the Scandinavian style, the walls are always plain and very light:
- white
- light gray
- light blue
- light yellow
Cold shades are rarely used.
Paint is usually used as a coating, although wallpaper can be used.
Sometimes Scandinavians single out one accent wall.
