How to Get That Modern Scandinavian Look
It's not all stark design and clean lines. Scandinavian decorating is surprisingly warm and ventures well beyond white
I just spent three weeks in Sweden and Denmark, where good design is woven into the DNA of the culture. But while we may be familiar with the famous names of Scandinavian design, there is still the question of putting a room together. How do we achieve that warm but clean look? Here are a few pointers.
What you need to decorate like a Scandinavian:
1. Wood. There is no such thing as wall-to-wall carpet in Sweden. Warmth comes from wood and area rugs, and shoes are never worn inside the house.
2. Light, light and more light. We stayed in a house with 20 hours of daylight and not a single window treatment. There is no such thing as too much light.
3. White walls. Bright white is the color of choice in Scandinavia (but don’t worry, there’s still a lot of color).
4. Accent color. It’s not as stern as all that. In fact, Scandinavian design is playful and fun. Colorful rugs, art, furniture and flowers abound. The backdrop might be white, but color is everywhere.
5. A mix of styles and eras. While Scandinavian design is known for clean, geometric lines, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for an ornate chandelier or a flamboyant Louis XVI chair in the mix.
6. A fireplace. No Swedish home is complete without a fireplace or a stove.
Team up with a decorator who specializes in Scandinavian design
What you need to decorate like a Scandinavian:
1. Wood. There is no such thing as wall-to-wall carpet in Sweden. Warmth comes from wood and area rugs, and shoes are never worn inside the house.
2. Light, light and more light. We stayed in a house with 20 hours of daylight and not a single window treatment. There is no such thing as too much light.
3. White walls. Bright white is the color of choice in Scandinavia (but don’t worry, there’s still a lot of color).
4. Accent color. It’s not as stern as all that. In fact, Scandinavian design is playful and fun. Colorful rugs, art, furniture and flowers abound. The backdrop might be white, but color is everywhere.
5. A mix of styles and eras. While Scandinavian design is known for clean, geometric lines, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for an ornate chandelier or a flamboyant Louis XVI chair in the mix.
6. A fireplace. No Swedish home is complete without a fireplace or a stove.
Team up with a decorator who specializes in Scandinavian design
Natural wood is ever present in modern Scandinavian design. Even upholstered furniture keeps its wooden bones exposed. And wood always looks great with bright white.
The sauna is a Swedish invention (even the Vikings took saunas), and the look of unfinished wood paneling seen in a sauna can be carried into the home as well. It's clean and unfussy, but it adds warmth and texture.
Let the light shine in. Modern Swedish and Danish design is very much about connecting with the outdoors, and the locals are absolute fiends for sunshine (probably because there is so little of it during the long winters). Windows are big and uncovered.
Install more windows
Install more windows
Another light, bright Scandinavian home.
Maybe it's because it reflects the light so well. Or maybe it's because it looks so fantastic with wood. Or maybe it's because it so easily allows for an eclectic mix of colors and patterns. Whatever the reasons, white is the wall color of choice.
White walls and hearth with warm wood accents and subtle color.
White is the ideal backdrop for a mix of eras and styles. Oh, and these cowhide rugs are everywhere in Sweden.
Color is a huge part of Scandinavian design, and it usually appears in accessories.
This room sort of brings it all together: bright pops of color in a light-filled white room, Eames chairs, an Ikea tablecloth, a stained glass window from the 19th century and an ornate crystal chandelier.
Mix it up. A modern red chair sits next to a fragile velvet and gold antique. The art is also a mix: gold frames and landscapes with modern sketches and family photos.
The fireplace is the center of the home. This traditional Swedish tiled stove (kakelugnar) is so beautiful and iconic.
A more modern woodstove surrounded by white, light and clean lines.