The simplicity and luxury of a living room in Scandinavian style

Before proceeding to design a living room in a Scandinavian style, it would be nice to understand what its uniqueness is.

If we talk about a special Scandinavian style in architecture, his homeland can be considered Sweden and, perhaps, Finland, which always followed in the wake of Swedish culture. Small northern countries with a harsh climate, picturesque landscapes and hard-working people, not spoiled an easy life … It was Scandinavia that became the trendsetter in the design of the home.

sofa in the living room, decorated in Scandinavian style

One could say that the Scandinavian style is becoming more popular every year – but it’s time to note that he conquered the world by changing the very concept of a dwelling.

Concept

How did it happen that designers in all parts of the world design interiors in Scandinavian style? We venture to say that we know the secret of this mystery.

In a sense, the Scandinavian style is a challenge to theatricality and ambition, for which designers have for decades created interiors of living rooms in the palace style (Baroque, Empire, Antique) or in the style of stylization for some artistic concept (loft, art deco, boho, folk).

A spacious living room in Scandinavian style with no extra elements

The Scandinavians, with their practicality, indifference to excesses, careful attitude to the beautiful northern nature, the ability to appreciate peace and comfort, in architecture always follow the only commandment: everything in the house is for the convenience of the owners.

Absolutely beyond the interest of the harsh inhabitants of the north, it remains to be seen whether their guestroom will cause admiration, the main thing is that the owners themselves are happy to spend their time in it – this is the Scandinavian style.

modesty of the decor and furnishing in the Scandinavian interior

Comfort and extravagance

The peoples living in the North are not inclined to waste: all that is necessary for life is extracted with too much difficulty. At the same time, the harsh habitat makes you particularly appreciate the comfort – warmth, space, light, beautiful things.

In the ideal living room in the Scandinavian style there is nothing superfluous – no trinkets, candelabra and expensive cabinets, but there is necessarily a large cozy sofa, an armchair by the fireplace and the fireplace itself (if possible). Here you will not find pompous wallpaper and expensive textiles, but the carpet on the floor pleasantly warms your feet, and the look attracts an excellent picture on the wall in the spirit of modern modernism.

The beam ceiling in the Scandinavian living room

Paradoxically, the interior of the living room, executed, in fact, in the traditions of functional minimalism, is perceived as luxurious, but the mission of the Scandinavian style is to achieve absolute peace of mind without complicating life with empty expenditure of resources and forces.

Yes, now it has become prestigious, and even expensive, but this is not the essence of style, but, let’s say, the side effect of popularity.

6 principles

Why are the rules useful? If you do not know what to do, just remember the rule – and the right decision will come by itself. It is unrealistic to specify all the nuances of the interior, but you can define the logic, the principles of Scandinavian style – and the living room will surprisingly acquire its features.

A cozy living room with niches of bookshelves and a fireplace

So, the principles of decorating the living room in the Scandinavian style, which must always be remembered:

1. A lot of light.
2. Spaciousness and order.
3. Natural materials.
4. Simple forms.
5. Expensive sofas (and everything on which they sit).
6. Subjects of modern art.

Now you can go to the details.

combined dining room with living room in Scandinavian style

Shine

The cold northern sun warms sparingly, but the more dearly the warm touch of its rays.

Swedes and Finns despise bindings on the windows. Ideally, the living room windows in the Scandinavian style should be without bindings. It is difficult to say what is more in this – the desire to let in the sun’s rays or the desire to freely admire the beautiful nature.

With the same is related to the curtains. They may not be. But if the curtains are still necessary, then they are often made to the full height, without decorative excesses, of natural materials – from linen cloth, for example. In practice, such curtains are often covered with frames with a binding, which can not be replaced because of the inviolability of the facade of the building. Or a view from a window that is far from the picturesque landscape.

A light transparent curtain gives the Scandinavian interior a certain airiness

Quiet attitude to the artificial lighting of the living room, the choice of fixtures, we will consider below, in the section devoted to accessories in the Scandinavian style.

Spaciousness and order

This is a very interesting topic, which concerns the layout, decoration, furniture, accessories, but it makes sense to consider all these points in the complex.

Studio layout

The living room in the Scandinavian style should be so spacious that the huge by usual measures sofa did not seem too big. If the size of the room is far from ideal, the living room is extended, combining with the kitchen-dining room. This studio layout effectively solves the problem of the area, although in this case the sofa is also chosen not too bulky, but necessarily – comfortable and modern.

example of design design studio in the Scandinavian style

A lot of white

The white walls and ceiling in the living room are classics of the Scandinavian style, it is not only a wonderful background for expressive furniture, rare decoration items, but also a way of visual expansion of space.

White color in the interior is actively used in order to avoid variegation, which creates a sense of clutter and tightness. Therefore, white can be a floor, and a piece of furniture, and textiles. One could say that white does not exist much, but it is not so – in the interior of “scandium” there is necessarily a color of wood, stone and several bright color accents – without them the perspective is lost, and hence the sense of spaciousness.

Living room in Scandinavian style interior in traditional white color

Things: each in its place

To be spacious in the living room, it should be empty: it is enough to have a sofa, a table, a cozy armchair, a bookshelf and decorative accessories (cabinets off, things in the house should be stored in the cloak-rooms and storerooms). By the way, according to the canons of the Scandinavian style, the shelves remain half empty – several magazines, books, a basket with yarn for knitting and a decorative dish for fruit – what else should you have at hand?

Natural materials

In Scandinavia, wood and granite are very much appreciated, in general everything is natural, real.

Wooden furniture – it is wooden, natural colors and textures, light pine or dark rocks – an indispensable element of the interior of the living room in the Scandinavian style. The tree is also present in accessories, a special glamor – a small picturesque woodpile near the fireplace.

use of natural flooring material

The wooden floor can be either natural or white. Stone floor – a rarity, more often a stone is used in furnish of a fireplace or in any small architectural forms.

All kinds of textiles (curtains, upholstery, carpet) should only be made of natural fibers: soft wool, flax, cotton or jute. A special highlight – bright floor carpets handmade, woven or knitted. As a carpet under a coffee table you can use the skin of a deer or bear.

Leather is used in the upholstery of a sofa, an armchair or in some decorative objects.

interior of a black-and-white living room with a separate seating area

It is difficult to say whether metal can be attributed to natural materials, but it will not be possible to bypass it. In the interior elements of the living room in the Scandinavian style, shiny steel is always present: the legs of the sofa or chair, the table, the metal lamp contrasts well with the tree and stone.

Simple forms

Laconic, purely functional living room furniture is a business card of the Scandinavian style. In any elements of decoration, simply do not carve, stucco and other useless decorations.

An exception can only be made for an armchair. An ancient armchair of the time of King Henry, as a tribute to Swedish history (and most likely – its copy) organically fits into a modern interior.

white Scandinavian interior diluted with bright colors of paintings and textiles

Conceptual sofa

Sofa – the center of the living room in the Scandinavian style. Large, cozy, simple shape. It is based on rectangular pillows, often wooden armrests, but, nevertheless, it is very comfortable, broad and soft, ready to take in his arms a tired master or a large group of friends. Quite often a corner sofa or two of them, which does not exclude the presence of an armchair and padded stools. Definitely, in the Scandinavian tradition there is something analogous to our expression: “it’s better to sit than stand, but it’s better to lie than to sit.”

carpet with high nap makes the interior of the living room more comfortable

Modern Art

The craving for the true is reflected in relation to the objects of decor. In the room there should be few, but it is desirable that they were either original author’s works or products of mass production, to which the genius designer put his hand (which we see in the production of IKEA).

In the role of an expressive decorative accessory can make a lamp, a fireplace grate, a statuette of a modern master, the original of the picture or an artistic photograph. About lamps it is necessary to tell especially. Artificial lighting should be sufficient, general and dotted. The most popular metal floor lamps are laconic, functional, on flexible bars. It should be noted that the hanging wires of floor lamps are not a mauve, but a small characteristic detail inherent in this style.

An unusual chandelier in the Scandinavian living room

Once again about simplicity and luxury

What is the secret of Scandinavian charm?

On the one hand, this is a very practical, economical variant of interior design. On the other hand, it is convenient for living, including, in terms of cleaning. But most importantly, it embodies modern values.

wall decor in living room in Scandinavian style

What associations did you have when viewing the beautiful interiors of living rooms in Scandinavian style?  Rationality, beauty, ecology, cleanliness, family, leisure, comfort, peace … The luxury of genuine values, all that we really need.

Photo gallery – living room in Scandinavian style:

Author: Daria Degtyareva