In the thirties of the last century, a new independent direction, called the “Scandinavian style,” branched out from modernism in interior design. It was based on the peculiarities of the way of life of the inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries - Norway, Sweden.
The designers Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, and Paul Henningsen are rightfully considered the founders of the Scandinavian style. They defined its canons, such as harmonious coexistence with the harsh nature of the northern latitudes, a return to the roots of naturalness, originality, and rejection of excesses and pretentiousness.
The Scandinavian style is characterized by:
- abundance of light, large window openings, transparent or absent, rich artificial lighting;
- the prevalence of pure white color in the decoration - it enhances the lighting;
- closeness to natural nature, naturalness of the materials used;
- open plan, combining rooms - this allows daylight to penetrate to all corners of the rooms;
- functionality - use of folding furniture;
- minimalism - lack of luxurious decor;
- accent splashes of bright colors (textiles, some furniture, accessories) - no more than two per room;
- maintaining free space;
- focus on the owner, his habits, preferences.
The coloring of the style is dictated by the climatic conditions of the countries of its origin. Cool white color plays a leading role. It is combined with natural shades of the nature of Northern Europe, repeating the grayness of stones, the entire brown palette of endless forests, the colors of the cold sea, cloudy sky and coastal sand.
The lack of sunlight in northern latitudes has led to maximum use in interior design, white color has the unique ability to illuminate the room from the inside. In addition, it is considered an ideal background for color accents and goes well with any other color.
The decoration is simple and concise. The walls are usually simply painted white or another color that matches the canons of the style. To add some zest to the interior, one wall can be decorated with a painting on a natural theme or highlighted with a bright finish.
The floor is traditionally lined with long, wide boards of natural color or bleached. Parquet or laminate are also often used as flooring here. A soft wool rug will warm your feet and soften the openness of the interior.
The light textured surface of the wood and living greenery on a white background, the presence of individual accessories create a soft, gentle coloring of the home atmosphere within the framework of Scandinavian restraint and pedantry.
Contrasting black or dark gray shades are often added to the combination of white and wood.
Color usually highlights either one large item (some furniture) or two or three small interior elements (curtains, other textiles, floor lamp, etc.).
Scandinavian style implies space. The space is under no circumstances cluttered with furniture and things. The stylized furniture is simple and functional. Light, thin and elegant designs, clean and simple geometric lines, coupled with an overall light background, create a feeling of laconicism and freedom of space.
Traditionally, Scandinavian style uses wooden furniture, but it is also possible to use other lightweight materials, such as plastic. Leather, suede or natural fabric, plain, checkered or striped, are preferred as upholstery. Textured textiles and fur blankets bring coziness to the overall cold background of the interior.
Scandinavians love unusual furnishings. For example, in schools in Norway they use chairs in which you need to sit on your knees.
Wood stove or have been in the past the most important elements home improvement of the Scandinavians, and today they remain attributes that emphasize style.
Crystal chandelier pendants, glass vases, mirrors present in the interior reflect and refract rare rays of light.
In addition to the central large chandelier, there should be many sources of artificial lighting. These can be spotlights, sconces, floor lamps, desk lamp- anything. Bright colors, futuristic or often make them the highlight of the interior.
Accessories require careful selection. Photographs, candles, clocks, animal horns, decorative pillows, handmade rugs - they should be part of the overall concept and not attract unnecessary attention. You can often find musical instruments, for example, a guitar just leaning against the wall, as if accidentally forgotten.
Since the window is not covered with curtains, pots with plants, small lamps and other decorative elements are placed on the windowsill. Garlands and pendants are often used to decorate the interior. Scandinavian style is a mix of simplicity, conciseness and abstraction.
Living room in Scandinavian style
The living room is undoubtedly the face of any home. Guests, friends and family gather here to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, socialize and spend time in comfort. Scandinavian style provides this opportunity. The interior, designed within its framework, has excellent external characteristics, remains relevant for many years, and does not create hassle in cleaning. A color scheme based on white allows you to quickly and easily refresh your decor by replacing accents.
The heart of the living room can be a fireplace. Above it there is a place for a picture corresponding to the theme of the style. On wooden floor A wool rug or animal skin is spread in the center of the room. It comfortably accommodates upholstered furniture upholstered in leather or other natural material. It is convenient to place the necessary little things on a small coffee table.
Accents in the living room are often original table lamps or floor lamps in bright colors and simple geometric shapes. You can set the color mood against a background of a combination of white, black and brown with the help of decorative pillows of different colors and patterns.
Kitchen and dining room in Scandinavian style
In the Scandinavian style, the kitchen is often a studio that combines the functions of a dining room and sometimes a living room.
The basic color combination is also relevant for this room. It often appears as a combination of a set and dining room furniture in a natural wood shade with a dark shade of the apron against a background of white walls and ceiling. But a wide variety of variations are possible.
The facades of the furniture are usually smooth, without inserts, and all utensils are hidden from view. Functionality, neatness, ergonomics are the main characteristics of a Scandinavian-style kitchen.
Scandinavian style bedroom
The Scandinavian bedroom is ideal for rest and relaxation. A bright, natural environment, the absence of unnecessary details, sets you up for harmony with the outside world and yourself. Furniture is limited to a bed, bedside tables, open shelves, and hangers for storing things. Lightness and symmetry are welcome. Massive closed cabinets will not fit into such a nice environment.
The walls are being finished decorative plaster or simply painted white. Hue natural wood looks perfect on a white background. It is often present on the floor, interior items and decor. The emphasis in the overall background combination of white/wood can be placed on any item by choosing a suitable rich color for it.
Framed photographs, northern landscapes, books on open shelves and potted plants are simple accessories for a nap room. It is preferable to curtain the windows with Roman blinds, which will protect from extraneous light at night and will not prevent the penetration of sunlight during the day. Sconces or table lamps of modest shapes will provide an opportunity to read before bed. An animal skin or a fleecy rug spread on the floor will warm your feet and soften the severity of Scandinavian minimalism.
Children's room in Scandinavian style
Scandinavian style is perfect for decorating children's rooms. There must be a large window and good lighting. The white finish is perfect. A symbol of goodness and peace, it will not distract from activities, irritate or overload a fragile psyche. Any pictures, drawings, maps or photographs will look equally good against a neutral wall background. As the child grows, they will change and change the character of the room.
Wood, due to its environmental friendliness, is the most suitable material for finishing floors, doors and windows in a children's room. Wooden furniture To maintain the Scandinavian style and preserve free space, it should be compact, such as a loft bed. In such a room, the child will have a place for any games.
Natural textiles in a warm pastel palette, fluffy rugs, and stylish lamps will unobtrusively decorate the room.
Scandinavian style in the interior is one of the best options for decorating a modern apartment or house. Its components can be mixed with classic, avant-garde and even loft, which allows you to create a unique, individual image of your home. A calm, bright, positive environment in which you can breathe freely and think easily, skillfully placed spatial pauses and original comfort make this style increasingly popular.
Photos of a Scandinavian style apartment
The Scandinavian style in the interior most clearly demonstrates its characteristic features in its homeland, in the countries of its origin.
For example, an interesting design project was implemented in an apartment located in the center of Gothenburg, a popular large city in Sweden. The kitchen, living room, bedroom and children's room are located on its area of 79 square meters.
The first thing we see when we step outside the door is a large window. The absence of curtains gives freedom to the sun's rays rushing in, reflected by the smooth surface of the snow-white walls. The effect of the room's own glow is created.
An uncurtained window also contributes to the concept of open space. Open clothes hanger and dryer, no interior door, cabinets and other bulky pieces of furniture turned the small hallway into a separate spacious room. Active use of the window sill saves space, eliminating the need for additional furniture.
Accessories are carefully thought out and fully adjusted to match the style. Decorative pillow on wooden chair with leather upholstery, small posters assembled into a composition on the wall, candles, glass vessels, living plant carry the function of elements of the general Scandinavian image of the interior.
The floors of one of the rooms, laid with black and white tiles in a checkerboard pattern, are an element of the retro style of the last century that does not lose its relevance. The balance of colors is maintained by decorative elements. The contrast with black gives the interior character, intrigues and lures you deeper into the home.
The living room, in turn, impresses with its uniqueness and extraordinary design solutions that do not go beyond the style canons. Painted boiling white ceiling, walls, as well as whitewashed wooden floors and a minimum of furniture make the room unusually spacious.
In the best traditions of the Scandinavian style, there are light and dark shades of gray. Warm splashes of color break up the icy shell of color and make the interior extremely dynamic.
In a seemingly random collection of things, each has its place. The first thing that catches your eye when entering the room is the device used as a table. Its shabby appearance and metal construction suggest a completely acceptable borrowing from. An aged chair and lack of technology add a retro touch to the general composition. Books stacked on the floor, chairs and placed on an open shelving, captivating attention with the brightness of their covers, are turned into a decorative element. The same can be said about a children's wooden horse.
Animal skin, clocks, lamps located around the perimeter of the room, a wicker laundry basket, a pouf - all these details are involved in creating the Scandinavian style.
Doors open, filling the apartment fresh air, lead to the balcony. Sticking to the general style solution, its open space looks softer, more comfortable than others thanks to the natural shade of wood, an abundance of textiles, soft knitted rugs, aged objects, light furniture and an abundance of greenery.
The bedroom is combined with a study. In this room, minimalism and asceticism of style were most clearly manifested.
The baby's room is decorated with a magical light emerald color of the walls, paper garlands, and a bright blue rug.
In the kitchen, the contrast of the black wall with the absolute whiteness of the rest of the room is striking. An open shelf with books in the kitchen looks unusual, but it’s appropriate here, as it mutes the aggressiveness of black and echoes the posters hanging on the opposite wall.
The gloss of the floors reflects the light, making the room seem dazzling. Light furniture cheerful shades, cheerful rug, natural warm color tabletops against a backdrop of snowy freshness are the key to a good appetite and cheerful mood.
Comfort and coziness in the house largely depend on the style in which it is made. There are a large number of different style trends: from classic to, ethnic, marine, etc. In the review prepared by the editors of the site, we will look at the features of creating a Scandinavian style in the interior, we will analyze what materials are best to use and how you can maintain the style using the right combination of different textures and materials.
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Interior of a country house in Scandinavian style
Scandinavian style is an abundance of light colors, practicality, simplicity, clear lines and use natural materials. Interiors in this style are characterized by the presence, a lot, functionality, use and a minimum of decor.
Hallway interior in Scandinavian style
Bedroom
Materials for floors, doors and windows
In a modern Scandinavian interior, light brown shades are used as flooring. Northern peoples prefer light-colored wood and really dislike red colors, while brown shades set off snow-white walls favorably, filling the atmosphere of the room with warmth and comfort. Also, for flooring, boards made of pine, beech and ash, painted in light colors, are used. Wooden flooring is installed almost everywhere, with the exception of the bathroom. In the kitchen or bathroom, the floor is covered with ceramic black, white, grey, blue or purple. A soft, fluffy carpet in light or beige tones or a carelessly thrown animal skin will complement the interior.
Since a feature of the Scandinavian style is the abundance of natural light, the windows in the room should be large. The best option is if they are made of natural wood. It is not recommended to cover windows with thick curtains or tulle with tacky patterns. in Scandinavian-style interiors they should perform only their direct function: open or close the entrance to the room. Basically, these are devoid of any decor.
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The wooden floor made from cream-colored planks looks very harmonious
In modern Scandinavian interiors, laminate flooring is allowed.
Classic flooring - parquet
Doors should be simple without frills
White wooden door - Scandinavian classic
There are no heavy textiles on the windows - light roller blinds or Roman blinds are best
Finishing materials for walls and ceilings
When decorating the walls of rooms in the Scandinavian style, they are practically not used. They can be pasted over only one wall, which is used as an accent. In this case, wallpaper is chosen in neutral tones with floral patterns or checkered patterns. Mostly the walls are painted in light colors. applied with careless strokes, which will help emphasize the relief of the surface. Separate sections of the walls can be decorated with wood, stone or.
The ceilings continue the theme of the Scandinavian interior style and therefore should be light. Painting, or any bright elements not allowed. Ceilings Scandinavian houses traditionally they were only plastered and whitewashed. This finishing technology is still used today. In modern interiors, installation is allowed, but only white and with a matte surface. The ceiling can also be decorated with wooden beams or their imitation.
Furniture
Furniture for Scandinavian-style interiors is made from natural materials - rattan, metal and glass. The color scheme is muted tones (milky white, creamy, light brown). Designers recommend choosing lightweight designs over bulky cabinets and sofas. The best option for Scandinavian-style rooms is collapsible or modular furniture, allowing you to visually increase the space. The Scandinavian style is good because it perfectly combines furniture of different styles: eco, minimalism, classic, baroque, etc. The main thing is that it is reliable, functional and practical.
Mirrors and paintings in Scandinavian style
In a Scandinavian-style interior, they are a must, as they allow you to increase the amount of sunlight entering the room and visually expand the space.
The Scandinavian peoples were very sensitive to the sea and everything connected with it. This love manifested itself in the use of marine-themed paintings when decorating their homes. Also, to decorate the walls, it is customary to hang black and white family photographs, posters and banners, which add originality and comfort to the laconic and cold Scandinavian interior.
Scandinavian style decor
As we have already said, when decorating interiors in the Scandinavian style, mainly natural materials are used. This also applies to decorative elements. For decoration, objects of bright colors, things related to ships (especially ancient ones), stones ground with water, shells of sea mollusks, and plaster deer heads are used. Also used as decoration are various knitted items, textiles, candlesticks with candles, natural fireplaces or their imitation.
Kvartblog studied all the nuances of creating a Scandinavian style in an apartment, looked at what furniture is suitable for these purposes, selected photo examples of the design of the kitchen, bedroom, nursery, living room and other parts of the house. We have collected all the material into one big style guide that will help you fully understand such a popular, but so difficult Scandi.
Content:
Scandinavian style - the basics of philosophy
Scandi can easily be called a modern classic, if only because it does not accept anything pretentious, unnecessary or impractical. Its forms are simple and are literally timeless, without losing their relevance over the years. In this, his philosophy is very similar to minimalism, but the focus in the Scandinavian interior is on the naturalness of materials, the most spacious open space with plenty of light and conciseness in details. At the same time, literally not a single square centimeter of even the smallest apartment will be wasted.
Why Scandinavian?
Harsh nature with coniferous and deciduous forests, relatively short summers and long frosty winters, not the most gentle sun - all this makes Scandinavia very similar to Russia. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that the interior style of the same name was liked by the residents of our country, along with the Swedes, Norwegians and Danes.
The climate there is temperate and even subarctic, the seas that wash the Scandinavian Peninsula on all sides, and many rivers and lakes have determined the philosophy of housing in this region.
The house should be of the simplest possible forms - so that it can be quickly erected, spacious and warm - to keep warm cold winter, light and airy - to compensate for the lack of sunlight.
The active use of natural materials in such housing - in particular, wood and wool - has long been due to the relative geographical isolation - compared to other European countries, as well as the abundance of forests of various types. But despite the traditions established over many years, its official name the style received only in the middle of the twentieth century after one of the design exhibitions held in North America - in the USA and Canada.
However, not only and not so much the principle of arrangement Scandinavian house highlighted this design as a separate stylistic direction.
A huge role in the development of the style was played by the fact that it was the Scandinavians, in particular the Swedes, who put comfortable, functional, high-quality furniture and household items available to everyone.
Thanks to this, the very concept of design has become accessible to almost everyone - after all, combining ready-made, stylistically consistent solutions with each other is much easier than creating an interior completely from scratch. By the way, this is precisely what lies behind the apparent simplicity of creating a Scandinavian interior in an apartment or house. However, as usual, it's all in the details.
Scandinavian style apartment: main features
The Scandinavian style, despite its laconicism, requires several fundamental conditions. Firstly, this is a very specific color scheme - a maximum of cool colors, and the basis of the interior is most often pure white. Secondly, no clutter with furniture - on the contrary, the most free open space with a large number of windows, including panoramic ones. Thirdly, all furniture and decor are of simple forms, but at the same time maximally functional and ergonomic. And finally, the constant companion of the Scandinavian style in the interior - natural wood details and living greenery indoor plants.
Why is white the color in favor when arranging an interior in a Scandinavian style?
It's simple - in harsh climatic conditions you always want more light, and snow-white decor contributes a lot to this. The main thing is to maintain the necessary balance so as not to turn the room or kitchen into a sterile operating room. The use of cool colors in interior design - turquoise, blue, lilac shades, the color of natural stone or spring greenery will emphasize the charm of the Scandinavian style without compromising the integrity design idea. Elements made of natural wood or its imitation, as well as those decorated in warm beige or brown will add warmth and special comfort. color scheme. The main rule is clear lines and simple geometric shapes.
Scandinavian style furniture
This requirement directly applies, first of all, to “Scandi” furniture: no curlicues or excessive decoration, which allows you to use literally every centimeter of space as functionally as possible. The simple geometry of the furniture is compensated by the color scheme and the absolute ergonomics of each item.
As for the materials from which the furniture is made, there are practically no restrictions, the main thing is that the appearance corresponds to the Scandinavian style, but the highest aerobatics in this case is furniture made of natural wood of laconic forms. The main wealth of such furniture, as a rule, is hidden inside: storage systems and ease of use must be impeccably executed. Therefore, the organization of a Scandinavian interior, especially in small apartments ah or in “industrial” premises such as a kitchen requires accurate calculations and taking into account all the nuances of the room.
Scandinavian style kitchen
By the way, the kitchen is an ideal space for “Scandinavian” experiments, since this space is, first of all, purely functional. In other words, practicality and ergonomics dominate here and are expressed, perhaps, most clearly. It’s great if the white kitchen, which can be either matte or glossy, has a wooden or gray stone countertop. Open shelves with dishes at the top of the kitchen cabinets will highlight the Scandinavian style. And the cabinets themselves should be as high as possible, ideally close to the ceiling. A kitchen apron can be either white or quite bright - in this case it may well become a color accent of the interior. The chairs in this kitchen are both vintage and ultra-modern in shape.
The main thing is color and a minimum of decor. The floor is traditionally light; a mat or other lint-free carpet would look appropriate on it.
Living room in Scandinavian style
And although an open space with a minimum of partitions is desirable for a Scandinavian-style interior, it is precisely this that is most suitable for small-sized apartments. And this is obvious: the color scheme inherent in this design and the ergonomics of furniture and decorative items visually expand the space, while leaving it as comfortable as possible. Therefore, in this case, the format of living room-kitchen, studio apartment is quite logical.
In such living rooms, much attention is paid to wall decor. A minimum of high furniture opens up vertical space, which should also be included in the overall concept.
Scandinavian style bedroom
The design of a Scandi bedroom should be approached with typical restraint. Every unnecessary detail tends to overload the room, which is intended for relaxation. Classic bedrooms in this style are so minimalist that they only contain a bed/sleeper, a bedside table, an open wardrobe and a floor lamp. Sometimes you can see a miniature chair in them and that’s it.
Children's room in Scandinavian style
As you already understand, Scandi is not only white, gray and black. This style allows you to make your child's room very stylish without being too overbearing. If you are familiar with IKEA products, then you have probably seen wonderful decorative items for a child’s bedroom, which are distinguished by bright colors, geometric shapes and laconic design.
Hallway in Scandinavian style
The main emphasis in such hallways is on storage - it’s not for nothing that IKEA constantly pays a lot of attention to storage systems.
Scandinavian style bathroom
The Scandi bathroom is distinguished by an abundance of light, natural materials, laconic and simple furniture and plumbing. Unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult not to go into “hospital” design on your own when creating a Scandinavian style. Plants can often be found in these bathrooms, adding color and contrast to an otherwise overly white space.
The biggest plus of this style is that it fits perfectly with Russian realities. Namely small bathrooms. Often Scandinavians have a combined toilet and bathroom, which is not uncommon in our country.
Scandinavian style decor
Coloristic and “geometric” requirements fully apply to the elements of “Scandi” decor, however, no one has canceled accent items. But even in accent decor, at least one condition must be fulfilled - simple forms. The material is almost any, but glass, crystal, metal, and ceramics are in favor. And the main thing is not to overdo it!
A special place is given to textiles - practically the only “solid” element of the decor of a Scandinavian interior.
Therefore, everything is important - texture, color and, most importantly, conciseness. Curtains, bedspreads, upholstery, decorative pillows and tablecloths are a great opportunity to emphasize the clean lines of Scandinavian style without the use of “rich” interior decorations. The same mission applies to posters and paintings, which can become an accent element in the interior - again taking into account the philosophy of the “Scandi” style.
Wallpaper in Scandinavian style
Usually Scandinavians paint all the walls with light paint, but sometimes you want to add an accent to the wall. In this case, wallpaper comes to the rescue. But not every design is suitable for Scandi. Having studied the furniture and decor, you can now easily distinguish wallpaper with a Scandinavian style pattern.
Photo source - hirshfields.com
Quartblog digest: studying Scandi in more detail
However, even if you are confident in your impeccable taste and have studied the IKEA catalog literally by heart, this does not always mean that you will be able to create an interior in the Scandinavian style right away. Any apartment, especially a small one, any kitchen with installed communications, has many technological nuances, which the homeowner is not always able to take into account when selecting furniture and decor. It is quite difficult to choose a color scheme that is acceptable for a specific room, taking into account natural lighting. And as a result, there is a great danger that instead of the desired beautiful picture from the magazine, you will end up with a faceless, completely unpersonalized room. However, nothing is impossible: high-quality decor and furniture combined with your imagination plus available ready-made solutions will help make your Scandinavian dreams come true. Well, traditionally - Kvartblog will help.
Scandinavian style is one of the most popular modern styles, widespread throughout the world, but, of course, most in demand in its homeland, in the countries of Northern Europe - Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Norway.
The aesthetics of the style follows from the features climate zone with a fairly harsh climate and geographical location these countries. The concept of Scandinavian design is filled with light and air, it is distinguished by naturalness and lightness. And this is no coincidence - the Scandinavian style personifies the harmony of man with nature and is based on eco-materials, a light color palette and a lot of light.
Scandinavian style personifies the harmony of man and nature and is based on eco-friendly materials, a light color palette and a lot of light.
Color #6f6f6c is the most popular color in the Scandinavian interior palette
In addition, the Scandinavian style is focused on the national color, customs and traditions of local peoples, while historical design is taken as a basis. Internal independence has allowed the Scandinavian region not only to preserve its authentic style, but also to maintain and develop it over the years.
One of the first Scandinavian interiors, presented at the exhibition in 1954.
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History of the origin of the style
The Scandinavian style began to take shape in the 18th century during the reign of the Swedish king Gustav III. Until this time, residents of Northern European countries furnished their homes, copying the fashion trends of France, Italy, and England, in which Baroque, Rococo and Classicism reigned. But at the same time, the Scandinavians added northern notes familiar to the eye to the design of their homes. The king abandoned pathos and luxury in favor of natural white light and natural wood finishing, creating a special northern style, simple, warm and homely. This trend was supported by other Scandinavian countries. The “Gustavian style” remained popular in the Nordic countries almost until the end of the 19th century, becoming the predecessor of the Scandinavian modern style.
The king abandoned pathos and luxury in favor of natural white light and natural wood finishes, creating a special northern style, simple, warm and homely.
A new stage in the development of style occurred in the 80s of the nineteenth century. Designers began to add modern features to the style, guided by the desire to make the interior more functional and laconic. The benefits of Scandinavian design were demonstrated to the world in 1930 at the International Exhibition in Stockholm, and the term itself “ scandinavian design"appeared in specialized and popular literature a little later, in 1950, after design exhibitions took place in the USA and Canada.
Early Scandinavian design at an exhibition in Stockholm in 1930
Today, two directions can be distinguished in the Scandinavian style - traditional (classical) and modern. The traditional Scandinavian style is based on the interiors of Sweden in the 18th-19th centuries - a simplified Empire style without gilding and bronze, a kind of palace classic without frills. It personifies severity and emphasizes the well-being of its owners. Modern style brings elegance, softness, simplicity and functionality. There is no heavy antique furniture, massive paintings or mirrors in heavy gilded frames. His calling card is the absence of frills, careful thought and naturalness.
Characteristics and main features of the Scandinavian style
Scandinavian style is one of the most environmentally friendly and laconic. In an amazing way, it reflects the peculiarities of the way of life and the main character traits of the Scandinavian peoples, their restraint, leisurelyness, frugality and attachment to their home.
The main components of the Scandinavian style are, first of all, the use of natural materials, functionality, conciseness and beauty of forms. It simultaneously contains lightness and grace, solidity and even some severity. Interiors made in light natural colors from simple and natural materials radiate calm, kindness and order. The warm, light color palette gives a feeling of freshness and cleanliness.
The main components of the Scandinavian style are, first of all, the use of natural materials, functionality, conciseness and beauty of forms.
Furniture made of natural wood, most often light hardwood, makes the interior especially cozy and homely warm. The use of metal, natural stone, leather, fur, linen and cotton in the interior demonstrates the wealth of the owners and boundless love for their native nature. There is a lot of glass and mirrors in the rooms, visually enlarging the space and filling them additional light. Textiles and decorative items made from natural materials bring a feeling of comfort to the interior.
An impressive element of the Scandinavian style is the wood-burning stove, which can be installed in any room. For reasons of neatness and economical use of space, it is usually placed in the corner of the room, which does not prevent it from being the central element of the entire interior.
The main features of the Scandinavian style are:
- minimalism, naturalness, simplicity and naturalness. The Scandinavian style is not characterized by external effect, intricate ornaments and variegation, which may be due to the restraint of the northern temperament. The main thing is that all family members feel comfortable and cozy.
Gustav III, King of Sweden and the founder of the special Scandinavian style
- open plan living spaces, free bright spaces, not cluttered with a lot of furniture and decorative items.
- thoughtful functionality and practicality.
Features of Scandinavian style in the interior
The popularity of the Scandinavian style around the world is explained primarily by the harmonious combination of the national traditions of the Nordic countries and international design trends. This is one of the lightest and most natural styles in the interior of apartments and houses.
The main advantage and distinctive feature of the Scandinavian style is the predominance of a large amount of light and free space. As a rule, the social area is open - the living room, dining room and kitchen are combined into one space. This layout allows you to have more windows, which means you can fit as much light into the space as possible. Absence internal partitions also allows the area to have additional light.
Minimalism and laconicism of the interior does not imply cluttering the space with too much furniture or accessories. Only the most necessary things that have a practical purpose. The interior should maintain a sense of spaciousness and plenty of air.
The Scandinavian style is characterized by laconic and simple geometric shapes (square or rectangle), strict and smooth lines. Light, thin and elegant design details, open layouts create comfort and make the interior functional.
Furniture in the interior is usually low, simple in shape, functional, and at the same time, beautiful and light. For its production, light or white-painted wood of simple deciduous species is used - birch, pine, beech, and less often coniferous species– pine trees, spruce trees.
The Scandinavian style is characterized by laconic and simple geometric shapes (square or rectangle), strict and smooth lines.
Most often, furniture has matte surfaces, which makes it more practical and affordable to use. Textiles, suede, leather, cotton, and linen are used for upholstery. Sofas, armchairs, chairs are usually used in covers, usually linen. The main feature of furniture is its functionality. Modular systems and furniture with various folding mechanisms are popular, which allow you to effectively unload space. Convenient storage systems for household items are used - all kinds of cabinets, beds with drawers for linen, shelves, racks.
The interior is dominated by natural, eco-friendly materials, creating an atmosphere of homely warmth and comfort. Metal, natural stones, glass, cotton, linen, fur, leather, and ceramics are actively used. However, the dominant material is still wood, both minimally processed, preserving its natural pattern and color, and painted white. Wood is used to finish floors, walls and even the ceiling, which can be decorated with decorative wooden beams.
The pure northern nature is reminiscent of the light natural color palette, conveying the color of coastal sand, rocks and the cold bluish-gray northern sea - beige, light gray, light blue, light green, light brown silver-gray, muted shades of yellow. But the main color is always white, visually expanding the space and filling it with freshness and cleanliness. The color range in the Scandinavian interior is quite wide, but dark or too bright colors are not suitable for it.
Windows and doors in the interior must be wooden. Scandinavian style is impossible without large windows, which often have no curtains at all and only occasionally drape translucent tulle or white cotton fabric. the main task- make the most of natural light, so heavy draperies and blinds are not accepted.
The design of the floor, ceiling and walls in a Scandinavian interior is simple and uncomplicated. The walls and ceiling are always white - this is the hallmark of the Scandinavian style. White color is attractive due to its immaculate purity and lightness; in addition, this color solution allows you to solve several problems. Firstly, white color makes it possible to visually expand the boundaries of space and increase its volume. Secondly, any furniture and decorative items look advantageous on a white background. The ceiling is usually smooth, plastered, complex suspended structures are not used in the design of the ceiling; it must retain its naturalness and originality. The ceiling is usually decorated wooden beams. The floor is usually wooden, made of light bleached or lightly painted boards.
The walls and ceiling are always white - this is the hallmark of the Scandinavian style.
The Scandinavian style is characterized by a carefully thought-out lighting system. Due to the insufficient amount of sunlight and in order to compensate for its deficiency, many different light sources are used in the interior - lamps, candles, floor lamps, table lamps various forms, sizes and styles. The more and more varied the better. Ceiling and wall spots, lamps, LED backlights and floor lamps with fabric lampshades are traditionally present in any Scandinavian interior.
The highlight of Scandinavian interiors are bright color accents, which allow the long, colorless winter to recall the hot, sunny summer. For this purpose, a variety of bright accessories are used, including colored carpets, cheerful pillows, and textiles. However, there should not be too much decor, just a few touches, so as not to overload the space. Typically red, pink, blue or green shades are used.
It is difficult to imagine Scandinavian style in the interior without a combination of various materials and textures. The cold of northern nature is compensated by a large number of diverse textiles, from knitted blankets to bright tablecloths and napkins. Curtains, furniture covers, bed linen and towels are decorated with common geometric patterns - checks and stripes, as well as traditional Scandinavian patterns and ornaments - Christmas trees, snowflakes, zigzags and deer.
A characteristic element often used in Scandinavian interiors is wicker furniture - baskets, boxes and chair seats. Animal skins thrown on the floor effectively enliven the interior.
The calm atmosphere of the interior is necessarily diluted with fresh flowers and plants. They increase the color expression of the space and make it more attractive. Flower pots, vases of herbs and hanging planters are excellent additions to sleek furniture.
The cold of northern nature is compensated by a large number of diverse textiles, from knitted blankets to bright tablecloths and napkins.
Traditional decoration of a Scandinavian home are all kinds of paintings with and without frames, posters, panels, placards. A characteristic feature of the Scandinavian interior is the placement of family photographs on the walls.
The entire Scandinavian interior is built on a spectacular play of light and shadow. It has a lot of different glass and mirrors that fill the space with sunlight and warmth and visually enlarge it. Glass, transparent and frosted, refracting and scattering, shiny porcelain, candles, metal objects - all this harmoniously decorates the interior. As a rule, it also contains clear glass and ceramics with cobalt painting depicting symbols representing the abundance of water in Scandinavia and the thousands of lakes for which it is famous.
A detail typical of the Scandinavian style is landscapes by marine painters and photographs with a marine theme on the walls. The interior often contains paintings depicting the sea, Norman fjords, ships and fish.
Scandinavian style in architecture
The Scandinavian style in architecture reflects the peculiarities of the lifestyle and character of the peoples of Northern Europe. At its core, this style is very original, since it managed to avoid the influence of ancient culture and absorb the diversity and features of Scandinavian traditions. It is far from high technology and artistic and decorative innovations. It is modest, devoid of frills and unnecessary pathos, rather restrained, but at the same time very elegant, comfortable and cozy option housing registration. Absolute rationality, color harmony, impeccable quality and natural materials - these are the main features inherent in the Scandinavian architectural style.
House designs in the Scandinavian style are distinguished by their quality and reliability, which explains its popularity in many countries around the world. The reasons for its demand lie in a number of its other positive characteristics, including harmonious combination aesthetics and functionality, natural and environmentally friendly materials, simplicity and speed of construction of houses.
Features of the Scandinavian style in architecture
Classic house in Scandinavian style - this is wooden frame. Initially, only natural wood in the form of calibrated or laminated veneer lumber was used for construction. Untreated boards, darkened by time, were also common in decoration. Today, Scandinavian houses can be built from brick and concrete, the walls are covered with light plaster, lined with wooden siding, clapboard, panels or facade boards. The main thing is that all materials are of high quality and environmentally friendly. However, wood still remains the main material, and the natural texture of wood is a characteristic decorative element.
No excessive or pretentious decor – just simple geometry of shapes.
Color solutions for the design of the facades of modern Scandinavian houses are chosen depending on the features of the landscape. As a rule, natural shades predominate - beige, brownish, gray-green, earthy black, sand. The most common color is white, which best matches northern nature. It fits perfectly into any landscape and gives buildings visual lightness, ideally combined with both cold and warm shades. The decoration of the facade usually uses a game of contrasts. For example, walls are made of light wood, and window frames are dark, and vice versa. But individual parts are allowed to be brightly colored, for example, ridges, roof supports or gables.
The shape of the house is distinguished by regular geometry and minimalist design. The first floor is a simple square, the second floor has the shape of a triangle, which is formed by a gable roof. No excessive or pretentious decor – just simple geometry of shapes.
As a rule, houses are built low - one or two floors. Scandinavian houses traditionally have roofs gable design great steepness, which avoids unnecessary snow load. In addition, an additional attic space is created, which can be used as additional usable space. It is also possible flat options roof structures with small hip slopes on the gables. Traditionally, tiles are used as roofing material. In modern times, its polymer analogues are actively used.
Roofing materials usually have a dark color - mostly gray or deep brown - which naturally speeds up the melting of snow. Quite common is inversion green roof, in this case, the entire surface of the roof is sown with lawn grasses. This roof fits perfectly into the eco-friendly format.
Mandatory elements of the house are a porch and a terrace. Often they can be combined or located with different sides. The porch is usually quite high. It is usually located at the main entrance and, taking into account the climatic characteristics of the northern nature, has an exclusively practical purpose - maintaining cleanliness inside the home. A terrace, most often, is an open area under a canopy, decorated in a minimalist style. In some cases it has wooden fence harmonizing with the color design of the facade. Sometimes a terrace can surround the entire perimeter of the house.
Traditionally, Scandinavian houses had small windows that saved internal heat. With the development of technology and the advent of modern energy-saving windows, houses began to be built with large panoramic windows covering two floors at once. Such windows allow you to receive aesthetic pleasure and clearly emphasize the individuality of the building. You can glaze entire walls, gables, or install attic windows. One of the calling cards of this style is massive wooden frames on the windows.
Main entrance doors usually correspond to the façade. Often these are insulated metal doors covered with wood, in accordance with the color scheme of the facade. But it can also be massive wooden doors with glass inserts, or panoramic doors that practically do not stand out against the general background of the glazing and repeat the style of the windows.
An indispensable attribute of a Scandinavian home is the presence of a fireplace or wood-burning stove, which can be located in any room.
The layout of the house is carefully designed. The house does not have large wide corridors or a modern huge hall, but there are many convenient utility rooms. The home should be as comfortable as possible for all family members.
The rooms are evenly heated due to pipes built into the walls. An indispensable attribute of a Scandinavian home is the presence of a fireplace or wood-burning stove, which can be located in any room.
Characteristic raised porch
The houses are distinguished by restrained and austere beauty; decorativeness and pomp are alien to them. As a rule, they do not have balconies; the climate does not favor them. A typical decoration of building facades is carving. Often the stairs of porches and terraces have carved wooden railings.
The construction of new houses is carried out with great respect for nature. It is not customary to disturb the surrounding landscape, and a new building must necessarily fit into the landscape of the area. The house is usually not fenced; it is only sometimes surrounded by a low picket fence, thanks to which the building turns into a harmonious element of the landscape.
