You're probably more familiar with it than you realize, because it's popping up all over social media, design blogs, and your favorite magazines. Scandinavian designemerged in the 1930s, and really grew to popularity in the 1950s. At a basic level, Scandinavian design is minimal, with a focus on simplicity and functionality, using natural materials.
Anything added should have a practical purpose. This design concept can be sum up into five major points:
Texture | Light | Neutral Palette | Balance | Nature inspired
Starting with the first point, Minimalism is often considered cold and stark to critics, but Scandinavian design creates warmth through textiles, rather than cluttering things with a lot of decorative items. Soft textiles, such as sheepskin, wool, and mohair, linen cushions are a necessity in cold climates.Lighting is key since Nordic countries get as little as seven hours of daylight in the winter.Keeping furniture and decor minimal using white floor and natural hard-wood help the space seem brighter.
The absence of wall-to-wall carpeting, or window treatments maximize the light that comes in. Furniture should be functional and storage should be hidden.Neutral colors palette are the foundation, but recently, earthy tones colors like dark blues, greens, grays, and browns has started to be used as an accent. The nature-inspired shades can aid in creating a cocoon-like space. Sweden uses the word lagom, which means not too little, not too much, basically, finding the balance between minimalist and cozy.
On a Final note, The beauty of Scandinavian design is that it’s incredibly versatile.The simple aesthetic means it can fit seamlessly with almost any style and era. Just make sure to keep the space around the items decluttered so you can more easily appreciate the beauty of each element.
ref: HouseBeautiful.com
