Scandinavian style in the interior

The light and spacious Scandinavian style is equally good in both a large country house and a tiny city apartment. It stands out for its originality, versatility and accessibility of design solutions. But to get a truly cozy embodiment of it, it is not enough to simply follow the general principles reflected in the photo or snatched from the classic northern interior. This will require something more.

In order for the Scandinavian style not to be associated with a hospital ward or the tastelessly decorated home of an ascetic, you need to accept its philosophy. And this is impossible without understanding the reasons that gave rise to the basis of the northern interior.

Magic of color

The first thing that comes to mind when describing the Scandinavian style is the abundance of white. This is the basis, the canvas against which you have to create something original, unique and incredible. White color can be diluted with delicate beige, cool blue, neutral shades of gray or contrasting black strokes.

But these inserts should be accents. Their task is to emphasize the whiteness of walls and ceilings, to slightly shade and diversify it, but in no case to mute or weaken it. And all because the sun in the north is not a frequent visitor. So you shouldn’t be surprised at the desire to catch and repeatedly reflect the life-giving rays, allowing them to reach the most secluded corners of the home.And white is the best assistant in solving this problem.

The above does not mean that bright colors have no place in a Scandinavian interior. On the contrary, they should be present, but only in the form of point “flares”. Their task is to arouse interest, relieve the feeling of monotony, without distracting from the white canvas of the base.

Harmony of light

Long winters and short days, characteristic of the climate of northern Europe, at first glance do not fit well with the large windows of Scandinavian houses - after all, heat escapes through them. But everything immediately falls into place if you remember that the sun is a welcome guest. And the more of its rays penetrate into the house, the better, which is why there are often no curtains on the windows.

Well, at night it’s time for artificial lighting. Its task is to disperse the twilight even in the most secluded corners, so that nothing reminds of the cold darkness of the northern night. For this reason complex lighting schemes are welcomed in the Scandinavian interior, leaving no chance for darkness.

Scandinavian style materials

Wood is another element without which it is difficult to imagine a cozy northern house. This should not be surprising, because it is distinguished by its accessibility - taiga forests occupy almost the entire Scandinavian Peninsula.

Wood covers the floor, adds exquisite beauty to the walls, and even makes its way onto the ceiling in the form of exposed beams. Minimal processing gives it additional charm. And the only important condition is the use of light wood (after all, mainly spruce, fir, pine and larch grow in the taiga).

Natural wool and fur help supplement the warmth provided by wood.. They are given a lot of space on the floor and furniture.But decorating the walls with animal skins is already an excess that will interfere with the spread of light.

In mid-latitudes, the use of wood and fur can hardly be considered cheap pleasures, so the Scandinavian style, adapted to local realities, allows the use of artificial materials. But even in this case, you should strive for maximum realism in imitation of natural wood or wool.

Furniture in the interior

Closeness to nature and reluctance to block the path of the sun's rays led to the fact that Scandinavian-style furniture is easily identified by its simplicity and lightness. Laconic forms, exceptional functionality and moderate dimensions are rules that must be strictly observed.

But as for the materials from which the furniture is made, some liberties are allowed here. Yes, natural wool and wood add coziness, giving warmth to the interior. But this does not mean at all that there is no place for glass, plastic or metal in the house.

However, it should be understood that furniture made from such materials is assigned the role of a curiosity brought by a harsh Viking from a long campaign. Still, on the Scandinavian Peninsula, suitable driftwood, the fur of local animals and reindeer antlers have always been more accessible material for home decoration.

How to choose accessories

The abundance of light and longing for summer have led to a logical result: ornamental plants in an interior decorated in a Scandinavian style are as desirable as the sun. Often they become the islands of bright color that were mentioned earlier.

Wherein plants are allowed everything: they can occupy window sills, settle on the wall or even in flowerpots hanging from the ceiling. And this is not to mention the floor vases or pots nestled on coffee tables.

Also Mirrors, ceramics and porcelain, candles, paintings and posters dedicated to the beauty of nature can become worthy interior decorations. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to look for suitable items in catalogs: the Scandinavian style allows you to combine items from the mass market with rarities or one-piece art objects.

But with such a solid range of accessories moderation should be remembered. There should not be too many plants and paintings so that they do not interfere with the spread of light. And the number of other accessories is limited by their functionality: not a dozen different vases, but one or two, which often contain fresh flowers; not decorative plates on an open shelf, but a service that can be used at any time.

Every little thing should be useful. The beauty of accessories fades into the background, giving way to functionality.

Philosophy of Scandinavian style

When creating such an interior, you should start from practicality. First of all, the home of northerners is focused on satisfying basic needs - protection from the cold, the ability to prepare food, sleep in a comfortable bed. Along the way, problems with storing everything you need are solved - clothes, equipment, dishes and food.

And only after the required minimum has been collected to satisfy immediate needs, it is time to form a collection of minor gizmos, which, although they stand out for their functionality, still do not have a serious impact on comfort.

If you follow this logic, you can avoid basic mistakes that arise due to the impartiality of the Scandinavian style to the age and cost of things.Although this interior is a unique collection of objects aimed at providing comfort, it also reflects everyday life, where everything necessary appears in the house over a long period of time, and everything unnecessary is removed the moment it becomes useless. This is exactly the impression you should get when entering any of the rooms.