What is Scandinavian interior Design?
Scandinavia is a sub-region located in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples.
Scandinavian interior design (Wikipedia, 2022) is a design characterized by “simplicity”, “minimalism” and “functionality” that emerged in the early 20th century in Northern Europe, and subsequently flourished in the 1950s throughout the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland respectively.
Scandinavian designers are well known for household goods such as furniture, textiles, ceramics, lamps, and glass. Nevertheless, Scandinavian design has been extended to industrial design for interior home furnishing.
What is traditional Scandinavian style?
Traditional Scandinavian style has a long history, it is a design characterized by simplicity, bright whites, natural wood tones, folk style ornamentation, and color-washed furnishings and trims. Hues of medium blues, bright reds, and pleasant greens, pinks, and yellows are norms throughout the Scandinavian design (Johnson, 2022).
What is Scandinavia interior Design Style?
An iteration of clean Design that will never go out of the trendy style with Scandinavian interior design. The style is popular because it speaks to both tidy tendencies and the desire to live in. With a comfortable setting, making a space feel cozy.
Scandinavian interior design (SAVOIE, 2022) is a minimalistic style using a blend of textures and soft hues to make sleek, modern décor that feels warm and inviting. It emphasizes the clean lines, utility, and simple furnishings that are functional, beautiful, and cozy.
What are Scandinavian Design Principles, Characteristics, and vibe?
There are factors that you can identify as the origins of Scandinavian interior design, beloved for its simplicity, function, and connection to the natural world. (Taste, 2022) Hence, the signature elements to define this Nordic style are white walls, wood floors, and modern furniture.
Scandinavian interior design vibes (Feeling, 2022) are all about finding the balance between functionality, coziness, and aesthetics. In short, it trying to mean clean, simple, and stylish with a timeless expression and a dash of hygge (a taste of the Nordics).
10 Tips for Scandinavian Characteristics vibes:
- Focus on neutrals (Muted colors)
- The winters are long and dark in Northern Europe, Nordic design utilizes whites, greys, and tans to make a space feel uniform and bright. Add neutral, muted tones. Choose a calming palette of white, greys, and light tones.
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- Bring Nature inside
- Most Scandinavian houses enjoy daylight in as little as seven hours a day. Natural lighting is used to make a space feel bigger and brighter. Hence, the accent of wood and leather creates a welcoming and homely touch.
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- Wood Accents (Wall or Floor) + Metal Finishes
- Wood is often incorporated into the design of space on the walls and floor. Select wood slat with a pale, matt wood color for the wall or flooring (classic herringbone pattern). Hence, copper sconces and brass pendants are installed in a wooden ceiling to add glimmer and shine to the entire space (Decoraid, 2021).
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- Decluttered Space
- The Scandinavian decor follows a “less is more” design mantra, avoid ornate or excessive detailing, and storage is wisely implemented. Achieve simple and clutter-free living, no need to display everything.
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- A dash of hygge
- Most countries in the Scandinavian region have climates with extremely cold temperatures. Thus, the use of warm textiles is common for Scandinavian home decor. Such as carpets made of wool, sheepskins, or mohair. Adding layers of different fabrics and textures to your homes like chunky knits and faux fur. Use cozy elements such as blankets, pillows, and candles.
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- Greenery
- Plants, flowers, and other botanicals are used to brighten up spaces and breathe life into a room. These living elements offer a pop of color and add to the natural, minimalist essence of Scandinavian design.
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- Pop of Color
- A pop of carefully selected colors helps to liven up the space without overwhelming it and can be changed to match the season.
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- Vintage touches VS Modern Furniture
- When it comes to the use of furniture in a Scandinavian design, clean lines should be evident. Add Retro feel furniture contrast with the modern design and paved the way for the sleek Nordic rooms.
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- Lighting
- A lamp is always a big feature in any room and a candle to snuggle up during the dark. Choose the lamp lighting with a simple and slit-cut design that will help to bring out the ambient of the room, creating a relaxed atmosphere with a Scandinavian vibe.
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- Decorative accents
- Get the look by selecting a few statements Scandinavian design accessories. Need not have large and expensive art pieces, items that belong to you is good enough
What are Scandinavian colors?

White, gray, blue, black, and cream color are the mostly using color in Scandinavian furniture.
References
Decoraid, 2021. Smart Scandinavian Interior Design Hacks To Try. [Online]
Available at: https://www.decoraid.com/blog/interior-design-style/scandinavian-style/
[Accessed 27 Jul 2022].
Feeling, T. S., 2022. HOW TO GET THAT SCANDINAVIAN FEELING AT HOME. [Online]
Available at: https://www.thatscandinavianfeeling.com/interior/how-to-get-that-scandinavian-feeling-at-home
[Accessed 27 Jul 2022].
Johnson, M., 2022. DESIGN STYLE 101: SCANDINAVIAN. [Online]
Available at: https://abeautifulmess.com/design-style-101-scandinavian/
[Accessed 27 Jul 2022].
SAVOIE, G., 2022. 12 Beautiful Scandinavian Interior Design Concepts. [Online]
Available at: https://www.mydomaine.com/scandinavian-interior-design-ideas
[Accessed 02 Jul 2022].
Taste, I. G., 2022. 7 Scandinavian Design Principles and How to Use Them. [Online]
Available at: https://www.invaluable.com/blog/scandinavian-design/
[Accessed 27 Jul 2022].
Wikipedia, 2022. Scandinavian design. [Online]
Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_design
[Accessed 27 Jul 2022].