Scandinavian design- all about the triumphal march of the Nordic living and furnishing style

The modern world of living has already seen numerous minimalist styles come and go. But there is a puristic interior design trend that will probably never really be fashionable: Scandinavian interior design, loving also loved to be referred to as a Scandi style , Scandi style or Scandi-Chic .

This combines various textures in an almost perfectly appearance, the game with contrasts, gentle colors, emphasizes modern and strictly functional furniture, and the use of natural materials. He manages to create a cozy and cozy atmosphere that one would not expect per se with a rather puristic and reduced furnishing style.

Like no other interior design style, it fulfills our apparently opposing needs for order and cleanliness on the one hand and comfort, comfort and cosiness on the other.

No wonder that Nordic design is again a truly triumphal march around the entire globe. Even if you may not have a concrete and sharp picture in front of your spiritual eye when it comes to thinking, you have already had a relatively high probability of touching this style.

So you can't avoid it on social media, design blogs and specialist magazines. The variety of design tips and suggestions for this is hardly manageable. Even when strolling through furniture and furnishing houses- and here Ikea is not meant- you notice the increased dominance of furniture and furnishing ideas from the European north.

What distinguishes Scandinavian design?

As already mentioned, the key feature of this style is the combination of modern elegance, functional approaches, cozy accents and elements inspired by nature.

A special feature that has made an important contribution to the popularity and distribution of this living trend is also the simple aesthetics, which can be combined almost seamlessly with almost any other style and is also timeless.

Let's take a closer look at the individual features.

Minimalist / puristic credo

If you look closely, then nuances can be seen, the Scandinavian design of trends such as minimalism , modernism and contemporary decor. Nevertheless, it can confidently describe it as minimalistic, with a strong focus on simplicity and functionality.

No mess - clear order - avoiding unnecessary elements - functional and reduced to the essentials.

Niki Brantmark, the author of "Lagom: The Swedish Art of Living A Balanced, Happy Life" and owner of the English -language blog My Scandinavian Home as follows Nordic access to design:

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."

Translated into German:

Scandinavian design has a tradition to strive that everyone has access to good design, not just the elite. That is the reason why you can find design beauty in objects of everyday life. Ikea is a good example of this. "

Inspiration from nature and the environment

For the first time, this trend appeared in the 1930s. He then became really popular in the 1950s. A design show made a significant contribution to marketing and marketing through the USA and Canada between 1954-1957 and marketing work by Nordic designers .

Simple patterns and styles were emphasized that were inspired by regional nature and the environment. People quickly liked the simple aesthetics and beauty, which thus found their way into their everyday life.

The close relationship with nature can also be found in the selection of materials. This means that wood, stone, skins, wool and the like are often used. The combination with industrial elements made of iron or steel can also be found again and again-for example in lighting or closets. also includes wood shelves

Such an example is the Rackbuddy John wooden shelf with fittings made of silver pipes. Light pine wood in combination with the galvanized iron fittings is definitely shaped by the Nordic style and underlines a Nordic look - with a pinch of industrial chic .

Improvements for daily life

It is located in the DNA of the Scandi styles to change the daily life of people positively. In the Nordic countries, residents often have to make do with less than seven hours of daylight in the winter months. It makes sense that lighting plays an elementary role in the interior. This is also reflected in the Scandi style.

In addition, you will probably not find outdoor carpets or carpets. Rooms should look lighter and friendly through natural floors (often made of wood) or white floor coverings.

The furniture is strictly functional, has a modern and straightforward look and often the purpose of using space as effective as possible. Now I am no longer surprised that Ikea furniture can be found especially in small student stalls. Incidentally, windows are not imposed in the Skandi-Chic or only very discreetly or framed. So the maximum of light gets into the rooms. A charming side effect is that you do not have to dust out and clean curtains.

Textures against too much baldness

The use of textures, patterns and different surfaces revives larger areas and ensures that they are staged in an exciting way. This prevents the apartment from being bare, empty or too factual.

In this way you do not need to complete the apartment with a lot of nipples and unnecessary decorative accessories. The Scandi style largely does without decorative objects.

Often you can also find textile materials such as sheep fur, wool and Mohair in Scandinavian interiors . A necessity in cold realms, they also create a cozy and homely atmosphere with us. A rule of the Scandi style says: Each element should not only be decorative, but above all bring a concrete practical benefit.

Reserved coloring with carefully set accents

The prevailing color pallets are neutral, gentle and reserved. No colorful color mixtures or brightly pop productions.

Bright, pastel tones form the basis - mixed with color accents from nature such as sand, earth tones, dark green, blue and all shades of gray and brown.

This use of reduced colors has a calming effect on our minds. A blessing and oasis of deceleration in an increasingly hectic world.

Hygge is a attitude to life

Hygge - that's the name of cosiness in Denmark. Also happy to be called the Danish recipe for happiness that we take as a template to make ourselves really homely in the colder season.

This Danish term has been heard more and more since 2016. It is often equated with a design trend, but this is clearly too short. After all, Hygge is a attitude to life, a way of life is a concept for daily life.

As a result, it also has a great impact on all design processes - not least in the interior design. The Scandi style is therefore based, but is not a synonym for it.

All one question of balance

Similar to the Danish hygge, the Swedes also have a word that strongly influences the Nordic design: Lagom . It does not mean too little, not too much. So it's about balance and the production of equilibrium.

Converted to our needs when designing our interiors, Lagom therefore adheres to us to strive for a balanced relationship between minimalism and cosiness, old and new, cool and warmth. This is the only way to have a relaxed atmosphere and calming effect.

Timeless optics

The Scandi charm has been enchanting us for over 80 years. He would not have succeeded if he didn't have such a timeless design. The beauty of the Scandinavian design is incredibly diverse and can be combined, not to mention the practical aspect.

Clean and straight shapes, subtle colors, organic shapes and textures. An excellent foundation to build on it with other styles and bring in your own individual note.

By the way, you will find numerous suggestions and outstanding furnishing examples of Scandinavian style in the following articles:

• Harmony through minimalism: What is Scandinavian living design?
• Colorful Nordic Design-Scandi style with color upgrade

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www.kunstplaza.de/