Guest Post -Chloe Taylor
Image 1 source: unsplash.com (free to use and share, no attribution needed)
More than half a century ago, the exquisiteness of Scandinavian interior design approach was finally recognized around the globe, and since then its presence is only growing stronger. People love this style because it is minimalistic, yet not barren; organic, yet comfortable; white, yet not sterile. Swedish designers like Josef Frank, Greta Grossman and Lars Bolander continue to astonish us with the impeccable lines, shapes and colors, and they’re showing us, day after day, that we have yet to learn about Swedish design. If you share this affection for chic minimalism, here are some valuable lessons from Swedish designers you can pick up.
Everything looks better on a white base
Image 2 source: makeahome.nl
Painting the walls, ceilings and floors all-white, at first might seem as if you want to turn your home into a hospital-looking space, but Swedish designers know that everything looks better with an all-white backdrop.
Image 3 source: makeahome.nl
An all-white palette creates a surprisingly soothing effect and it allows you to coordinate different furniture and accessories without creating a chaotic look.
Be subtle with other hues
Of course, white isn’t the only color that will grace your home if you decide to decorate it in Swedish style. Other shades will find their way to the furniture, accessories and fabrics, as well. If you want to include them without affecting the airiness of the white, use Swedish Gustavian hues like soft grey, green, blue and yellowish hues of white.
You shouldn’t keep things you don’t need
Image 5 source: decoist.com
This is the basic principle of all Scandinavian design styles. Clutter is a huge no-no, and it should be dealt with before you start doing anything else. Take a good look around and if you have some things that you just never use, and which don’t even serve a decorative purpose, throw them away, give them to charity or sell them.
Play with textures
Image 6 source: decoist.com
Swedish designers insist on minimalism when it comes to colors and the amount of furniture, but they still find ways to introduce some playfulness into their designs.
One of the ways they are making that happen is by using different textures. As long as you keep them in the same tonal family, you can mix leather, shag, sheepskin and metal.
Bring the nature in
Start by bringing a lot of sunlight in. Natural light plays a huge role in all Nordic design approaches, and Swedish is no different. Ditch the curtains or opt for sheer lightweight fabrics and use a lot of reflective surfaces to make the light bounce around the room.
Image 7 source: homedsgn.com
Bare wood (pale shades or reclaimed pieces) and stone are also typical ways of bringing the nature inside, in a Swedish home. Houseplants are the final touch.
Image 7 source: rilane.com
Show some love to the bathroom
In a Swedish interior design, the bathroom holds a special place as a room designed for relaxing, taking care of oneself and self-indulgence. As with the rest of the rooms, the prevailing color here is also white, and there are a lot of elements you wouldn’t otherwise see in a bathroom, such as wood, plants and fresh flower.
If there is one thing that we could consider a must in the Swedish bathroom, that would be a sleek freestanding bath designed to provide comfort and stylish pizzazz.
A state-of-the-art kitchen
Image 9 source: makeahome.nl
Another very important room for Swedish designers is the kitchen. The amount of love and care invested in this room is reflected in large kitchen islands, functional countertops, interesting pendant lights (often the pieces where the accent color is used), statement chandeliers, and one of the Scandinavian signature design moves – kitchenware exposed on open shelving.
Pay attention to details
Image 10 source: andersbergstedt.com
Details are the very essence of the Swedish design. Since striking colors and furniture pieces are off limits in this approach, small trinkets are making the difference between a stylish and a boring room. Just take a look at Josef Frank’s colorful fabric designs – in large amount, they would be inacceptable in the Swedish décor, but a pillow or two on the sofa are just the accent you need. Other things that can add interest are wallpapers, artwork or Swedish antique wall clocks.
There are many secrets we can learn from skillful Swedish designers, and each one of them will turn your home into a more peaceful, warmer and happier place. What else could you wish for?