What is lagom: basic principles in interior design

A lot has already been written about Scandinavian styles, but very little is known about Swedish Lagom. In fact, this word is completely untranslatable. It can mean “moderately”, “enough”, “neither more nor less” - the golden mean. These words are the basis. They imply the economical use of things and resources, simplicity, conciseness, strict minimalism, practicality and modesty.
It is noteworthy that the word “lagom” is universal: if you ask a Swede how he is doing, he may simply answer: “Lagom”. This is the Scandinavian worldview.

Lagom philosophy of life

The basis of lagom is a few simple principles that you quickly adapt to and begin to live by:

1. Maintaining a home budget: proper distribution of money, saving, caring for tomorrow.
2. Indifferent attitude towards decor. In lagom interiors you will never find an abundance of figurines and figurines: they only collect dust and do not carry a functional load.
3. Recycling, sorting, reuse. Sweden is a country where about 100% of waste is recycled, which is why it is considered one of the most environmentally friendly. Residents of this Scandinavian state are very careful about nature, save resources as much as possible, do not hesitate to use products from recycled materials, and always give items a chance for a second life.
4. The interiors of the lagom have an abundance of living indoor plants. Fans of the direction make use of them in any free space.And there are a lot of advantages to this. The premises turn out to be lively, bright, positive.
   

5. Minimalism and practicality are the main principles in home organization. It is important that it is functional, durable and cozy.
6. No luxury. Here, first of all, we are talking about refusing expensive pretentious things that were bought thoughtlessly and unconsciously. However, this does not mean that Swedes are stingy and poor. They just treat any purchase very responsibly. A resident of Sweden would rather buy one expensive item that will last a long time than spend money every year on low-grade and low-quality products. This applies to absolutely everything - from a car to a toothbrush.

Swedes are always against clutter. Their advantage is that they never hoard things or become attached to them. When it comes time to unload the closet, they will do it with ease. Have some clothes become too small or no longer bring positive emotions? They boldly give it to those in need.

Principles of lagom in interior design

You should always remember: lagom is not a separate direction in the design of rooms. This is a philosophy of life, its style, which is reflected literally everywhere - from food to interiors.

Lagom consists of several principles. If you decide to bring it into your home, then you should know them:

1. Long service life. All things you buy must be of high quality. This immediately excludes disposable items, synthetic materials, and low-grade products. In essence, the Lagom philosophy is a “comrade” to eco-living, which cares about the environment.
2. Strictness and restraint. Any room looks laconic. They should not have a lot of furniture. The basis is space, lightness, absence of unnecessary details.
   

3. The palette is calm pastel colors. No sharp contrasts, only soothing colors.
4. The interior should bring pleasure. Do you want to place the sofa against the far wall, even if it doesn’t look right there? Feel free to implement your idea! The Lagom philosophy implies a feeling of satisfaction in everything you do.
5. Proper organization of storage. The Swedes have their place for everything. You are unlikely to see combs, tubes in the bathroom, or things scattered around their homes. Convenient storage systems are the key to success and a clean home.
6. High-quality and textured textiles. Lagom is coziness, warmth, unimaginable comfort and pleasure. That is why the Swedes pay a lot of attention to textile products in the home. Soft blankets, thick curtains, textured bedspreads, cute decorative pillows on the sofa - all this is about lagom.
   

7. A categorical “no” to trash! All old things turn into new and necessary ones. Nothing is stacked in closets or on the top shelves of cabinets. If the item is not needed, it finds another owner who will give it a new life.
8. Living plants. They are everywhere: on the windowsills, by the bed, in the bathroom and kitchen, on the floor in the hallway. Any free space is suitable for indoor plants, which purify the air, fill it with oxygen, and simply look amazing in the interior.

As you can see, lagom is not a style or a direction. This is a deep and important philosophy about eliminating unnecessary things from your life and focusing on the things that really matter.