How to do Scandi-style interiors.
Those Scandinavians are brilliant at pretty much everything. Healthcare, education, tackling climate change, and of course skiing. Then there is their interior design style. Effortless, minimalist and cool. Yet cosy, warm and inviting. How do they pull it off? They’re like the natural beauties of the interiors world. They just need a touch of blush and lip gloss to look like a million dollars. Rather than a TOWIE type who spends hours to look plumped, contoured and a little bit alarming.
It can be a tricky look to get right but if you follow these steps you can create your own stunning Scandi style at home.
Here’s how to do Scandi style interiors.
1. PALE FLOORING
Most Scandi interiors that lure you in on Pinterest are likely to have pale wood flooring. Pale wood is pretty much the backbone of this look. A pale wooden floor will reflect light, create atmospheric acoustics and also bring warmth to the scheme, which lots of other materials can’t.
So if your starting point is dark walnut floors or a brown carpet then it’s going to have to be changed or covered up.
If you have hardwood floors they can be sanded and painted. If you’re working with a laminate, vinyl or tile, then you’re going to need a rug. And a large one at that. Or you can create the same effect by layering smaller rugs.
The carpet is much trickier. If it’s a very pale cream or grey then it could work, but anything darker or patterned is going to throw off the whole look. Rugs could be your solution but that will only work if your carpet has a very low pile. So I’m afraid deep pile, and darker carpets are a bit of a non-starter for this look.
2. UNFUSSY FURNITURE
For your furniture, you need pale colours, natural materials and clean lines. This is to create that light and airy feeling. Furniture with long, simple legs allows more light to travel around and allows you to see more of the floor. This creates the illusion of more light and space. Wooden framed furniture is perfect as it creates elegant clean lines. Avoid very heavily upholstered furniture and anything too twiddly and detailed.
3. MUTED PALETTE
A mixture of off-whites, and warm greys with muted greens and pinks will bring the sense of calm and tranquillity that we all love about this look. This simple palette will reflect more light which works brilliantly for the Nordic climate as well as the UK’s. Particularly during our drab winters. They also work really well with the pale wood tones you will have chosen for your furniture.
4. NATURAL MATERIALS
As well as wood, introduce other materials with an organic feel such as rattan and bamboo. As well as being pale in colour they have a wonderful tactile nature that will add visual warmth to the scheme. You can introduce these materials through furniture like chairs and footstools. Or through accessories like baskets and plant pots.
5. PLANTS
The power of plants is huge so don’t hold back. Display them at varying heights. Have some on the floor, some on shelves, and some up high on the top of cupboards. They create natural texture and movement as well as purify our air. Plus the green works beautifully with the muted colour palette so there is nothing not to like.
6. LAYER TEXTURES
This is probably the most skilful and fun part of the Scandi look. Go crazy with your textures to create that cosy vibe. Miss this step and you could end up with the cold, pale, waiting room look that nobody wants in their home. It’s the textures that really bring this look to life. So go mad for rugs, cushions and throws. And when choosing patterns go for geometrics which are streamlined and simple.
7. NATURAL LIGHT
The whole point of the Scandi look is to make the most of natural light by avoiding anything too heavy or detailed. So keep your window treatments as fuss-free as possible. Think sheer curtains or simple blinds. Your aim is to keep as much light coming in as possible so definitely avoid long and heavy fabrics or shutters. And use mirrors on walls opposite the window where possible to reflect back the natural light.
8. CLUTTER-FREE
You don’t have to go for the complete minimalist look but do give your furniture and accessories room to breathe. This means leaving what we call ‘negative space’. You don’t have to put a piece of art on every wall or a piece of furniture in every corner. Less is definitely more when it comes to Scandi design.
Do you like the Scandi style? Are you going to give it a go in your home?
I am here to help, so give me a shout if you need any interior design advice or have any questions. I work across Hampshire but am offering online consultations during lockdown so no matter where you live we can work together 🙂
