The Essential Guide to Scandinavian Design
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While brutalist, Bauhaus, and even Art Decor design styles may feel more suited to niche decorators and past eras, there's one interior design aesthetic that has stood the test of time: Scandinavian design. The epitome of elevated simplicity, Scandinavian design is known to be minimal and cozy, but with a twist. There's an added emphasis in the style on combining form and function. If this sounds like your ideal interior environment but don’t know exactly how to bring it to life, don’t fret. Ahead, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about Scandinavian design, so you can swiftly infuse the style into your home and enjoy all it has to offer.
What is Scandinavian Design?
At its core, Scandinavian design is characterized by an aethestic that looks to combine minimalism with coziness and functionality. Basically, it’s the ideal design style for someone who wants to feel like their home is constantly giving them a warm embrace and making their life easier. Picture high-pile rugs and natural wood tones, crisp bedding and clutter-free interiors.
IKEA is probably the most widespread example of this interior design style, but Scandinavian design is about so much more than flat-pack furniture. It's creating simple, yet beautiful (and high quality) furniture pieces and interiors that bring joy throughout the region's long, dark regions.
The History of Scandinavian Design
Scandinavian design emerged in the 1930s thanks to designers and architects like Josef Frank, Alvar Aalto, and Arne Jacobsen. By the 1950s, it grew in international popularity. A design show traveling through the U.S. and Canada in 1954-1957 promoted works by Nordic designers emphasizing simple designs inspired by the nature and climate of the region.
The Lunning Prize also helped grow the design style's relevance during the '50s. Basically the Nobel Prize for Scandinavian design, the award was instituted by Frederik Lunning—a Danish-born businessman and owner of the Georg Jensen Inc. store in New York at the time. It was awarded to stellar Scandinavian designers between 1951 and 1970.
What Countries are Included in Scandinavia?
Most commonly, Scandinavia refers to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Some also consider Finland and Iceland to be a part of the region depending on the context. The countries have plenty of similarities and are certainly seen as united through the marketing of their design preferences and values. But they also possess distinguishing characteristics within the industry as well as beyond it.
Key Characteristics of Scandinavian Design
Minimalism
Yes, it has nuances that differentiate it from minimalism, modernism, and contemporary decor. But at its most basic level, Scandinavian design is minimal with a focus on simplicity and functionality. There's not a lot of clutter. It incorporates natural materials and takes a "democratic approach" to design, says Niki Brantmark, author of Lagom: The Swedish Art of Living and the blog My Scandinavian Home. "Scandinavian design has a tradition of striving to ensure everyone has access to good design, not just the elite," she explains. "This is why you’ll see beauty in everyday pieces. IKEA is a good example of this."
Natural Materials
Because of the countries deep connection to nature—the Nordic landscapes are filled with rivers, islands, and forests—incorporating natural materials is a large part of Scandinavian design. Raw woods, natural wool, and woven textures like cane or rattan are common. Scandinavian design also brings in color through greenery. Houseplants are difficult to care for in areas where sunlight is minimal, but Scandinavian gardeners make use of grow lights and artificial sunlight when not in the summer season.
Plenty of Light
At its core, Scandinavian design seeks to improve everyday life. Nordic countries get as little as seven hours of daylight in the winter, so lighting is key. You won't find wall-to-wall carpeting. Instead, it features natural hardwood or white flooring to make the space seem brighter. The walls are often painted in a white or cream color as well. Furniture is functional, doubling as storage, and window treatments are nonexistent or transparent at most in order to maximize the light that comes in.
Texture
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—are a necessity in cold climates and keep the aesthetic paired down but add some visual interest. The rationale: Anything added should have a practical purpose.
Neutral Hues
Neutral colors are the foundation of Scandinavian design since natural light can be rare in Nordic homes. But color can be used as an accent, though still in earthy tones like dark blues, greens, grays, and browns. The nature-inspired shades can aid in creating a cocoon-like space.
Scandinavian Design Is All About Balance
Similar to the idea of hygge, Sweden uses the word lagom, which means not too little, not too much—basically, finding the balance. "In my home, I like to find a balance between minimalist and cozy," Brantmark says. "I love to mix and match old and new, and try to ensure no two items are the same for a relaxed look." That means adding lots of textiles in the form of sheepskins, linen cushions, and layered rugs to boost the curl-up-and-relax factor while keeping furniture and decor minimal and streamlined.
Is Scandinavian Design The Same As Hygge?
Hygge exploded in popularity back in 2016, and the devotion to the concept hasn't seen any slowdown. But don't subscribe to the common misconception that it's a design style. The Danish word associated with coziness is a state of mind. You can seek to create it with your decor, which much of Scandinavian design does, but the two are not interchangeable.
Why Is Scandinavian Design So Popular?
"The beauty of Scandinavian design is that it’s incredibly versatile," Brantmark says. "The simple aesthetic means it can fit seamlessly with almost any style and era, while the sculptural, organic shape adds an element of drama to a room."
You can deck your space out completely in Scandinavian-inspired decor, or you can incorporate pieces sparingly if you want to dabble with the design. Just make sure to "keep the space around [the items] decluttered so you can more easily appreciate the beauty of each item," Brantmark says. And if you're not sure where to start, Brantmark recommends shopping at Design Within Reach, eBay, West Elm, and, of course, IKEA
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