Scandi style

Denmark, Norway, and Sweden consistently rank in the top 10 happiest countries in the world, year after year. What is it exactly that makes these people so content? Could it be the Scandinavian philosophies of hygge and lagom? Hygge translates from Danish as ‘cosiness of the soul’, while lagom is a Swedish term that’s best translated as ‘moderate’. These two philosophies underpin Scandi interior design, and this probably explains why it has become a global sensation. If you’re looking to bring a little Scandi living into your home, read on for our tips and tricks on creating your own Nordic paradise, and how to channel the philosophies of hygge and lagom into your own interior.

What is Scandi interior design?

The Scandi look focuses on three core principles – warmth, simplicity, and drawing inspiration from nature. This usually means keeping things simple and uncomplicated with your décor, with white walls and light wood featuring heavily throughout Scandi interiors. If you’re lucky enough to have plenty of windows or skylights, allowing as much daylight into your home as possible will further brighten up your space. Alternatively, plenty of lighting and lamps will make your home extra cosy. Scandi furniture is simple in design, avoiding extra detail or unnecessary additions. It also focuses on neutral tones, like light wood and cream upholstery. The uncomplicated nature of Scandi interior design reflects the Swedish principle of lagom perfectly – everything in moderation, and everything in balance. The warmth of Scandi refers to both physical and psychological warmth. Ensuring your home remains a cosy retreat is a central tenet of Scandi philosophy. Lighting plays a big role in this, with warm-tone bulbs helping to give the impression of warmth. Candles are also a great option here, and really help to boost the cosiness of your home. You should also make sure you keep a healthy stock of pillows and blankets on hand, and place thick rugs on hard floors. When designing your Scandi interior, you should look to nature for inspiration. Soft curves, natural materials, and neutral colours combine to bring the peace of the outdoors inside. House plants are another great way to bring nature into your home, plus the green foliage looks beautiful with the light wood of Scandi furniture. Mixing the old and the new is another principle of Scandi style. Anything that is brought into the Scandinavian home is there to give emotional comfort and enrich one’s life, regardless of the external value of the item. Mixing both modern and vintage furniture and ornaments based on what you love or gives you joy is a sure-fire way to fill your home with hygge.

Scandi style living room ideas

To turn your living room into a Scandi paradise, you should start by decluttering and embracing a clear, open space. Try to adopt a minimalist approach to décor, and focus on only displaying special, curated items that bring you joy. This minimalism carries on into the selection of furniture. Scandi furniture looks good but also works hard. Every piece should serve a purpose in the home, so be selective when furnishing your living room. And remember the philosophy of hygge, too; a spacious, comfortable sofa, floor lamp, a large mirror, and a few plump cushions will serve you well while also keeping things cosy. Another core element of Scandi living rooms is natural materials. Wood, leather, wicker, and natural fabrics feature heavily in authentic Scandinavian homes, from a vintage leather sofa to a light wood coffee table. Maintaining this connection to the natural world keeps your space feeling grounded, which in turn helps you to feel rooted and relaxed. Scandi design seamlessly blends natural materials by using similar tones throughout. They don’t have to be the same colour, but a dark wood dining chair will stand out a lot more than a light one. By keeping your materials within a shared range of tones, your living room will have a much more cohesive – and therefore less stressful – vibe.

Scandi style bedroom ideas

When designing a Scandi bedroom, think about how the philosophies of hygge and lagom can benefit your sleep hygiene. Creating a space that is uncluttered, cosy, and peaceful will do wonders for the quality of your sleep. Of course, a great starting point is bedroom furniture. Whether it’s a Scandi style bed or a chest of drawers, Scandi bedroom furniture offers uncomplicated design that helps to relax the mind. In the bedroom, light wood furniture looks fabulous against a light green wall. Plus, green has been shown to help improve sleep, so don’t be afraid to get some plants in the bedroom too! Try not to fill up your bedroom with unnecessary clutter – less is more when it comes to Scandi bedrooms. Ideally, choose furniture that leaves space to get around the room with ease to avoid crowding. You should also embrace texture – look around for inspiration, but some classic Scandi textures would be sheepskins, boucle fabrics, and natural leathers. Incorporate these into your bedroom with a textured rug and scatter cushions on the bed. Hopefully you’re now inspired to bring the Scandi look into your home. Just remember, you can apply it to any room in the home by following the simple philosophies of hygge and lagom. As long as you focus on only bringing in what you need, and making sure that anything you do bring in is cosy and sparks joy, then you’re well on your way to having the Scandi home of your dreams. Our living room and bedroom furniture collections are full of stunning Nordic furniture from top brands, and our home accessories range has plenty of great options for the final touches to your new look.