Scandinavian Interior Design & Decor
Scandinavian Minimalism: Ideas for Living Rooms, Bedrooms & Dining Rooms
In this unique combo, Scandinavian design and minimalism come together for a simply beautiful look. By combining sleek furniture and comfy decor, you can create a cozy, clean aesthetic throughout your home. Also, neutral color palettes, bold accents and practical modern light fixtures help you finish off your Scandinavian style space.
Overview
If you’re looking to incorporate Scandinavian minimalism into your home and lifestyle, use this Scandi design style guide for tips on:
- Defining Scandinavian minimalism and how it applies to interior design.
- Using Scandi design room-by-room to achieve a comfy, uncluttered look.
- Incorporating a Scandinavian style color palette into your home.
- Decorating with Scandinavian furniture that’s cozy, chic and minimalistic.
- Completing your design with Scandinavian decor and lighting that maintains a minimalist approach.
What is Scandinavian Style?
Scandinavian design and minimalism have a lot in common. Both styles involve using neutral color palettes, select ornamentation and sleek furnishings to create a clutter-free setting. However, Scandinavian decor exhibits a more comfortable form of strict modern minimalism by focusing on intentional details.
Scandi design comes from trends common in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Scandinavian style unites functionality with beauty and comfort to cleanse your home of distracting excess while still keeping the space cozy. Using this design method, more and more people are turning their homes into tidy sanctuaries that soothe the mind with clean, simple style.
Room-by-Room Decorating Using Scandi Design
In Scandinavian style, polished contrast is key. Adding minimalism to the design helps you achieve a welcoming balance of simplicity and the ultra-comfy. Whether you’re looking to try something new or want a stylish way to declutter your home, Scandinavian interior design has you covered from room to room.
A dedicated minimalist struggling to cozy up their decor should explore furniture that captures the hygge energy of the style. Hygge, in Denmark, is a way of life that’s all about comfort. Adopt this approach by introducing furnishings with soft textures and lush materials when decorating your living room, dining room, bedrooms and other spaces.
Scandinavian Living Rooms
The prime spot for family gatherings, book club meetings, movie nights and more, your living room is an excellent place to establish this comfortable, clean look. De-cluttering the room frees up space and helps you relax, while plush pieces wrap you in softness to create the welcoming essence of hygge and Scandinavian style. Items you can use to complete a Scandinavian living room theme include:
- Sofas and Sectionals: One large sectional or Scandinavian sofa may be all you need for an understated look that’s homey and simple. Low-profile modern sectionals bring subtle details and style to the space while ultra-cozy transitional sofas enhance that comfortable aesthetic.
- Recliners: What’s better than sinking back into an overstuffed recliner and covering up with a thick blanket for a lazy evening in? Complement your sofa with a fabric, textured or push-back recliner that exudes maximum comfort.
- Table Sets: Scandinavian coffee tables and end tables should combine the practical simplicity of minimalism with the soothing vibe of Scandi design. Check out round and oval coffee tables for their organic, curvy shape. Or, find a chic light wood cocktail table that fits a breezy woven basket beneath for additional storage.
- Ottomans: Give your living room a cozy boost with a plush ottoman or Scandinavian-style pouf. Featuring faux fur, velvet and fabric upholstery, these lush and textured pieces offer ample coziness in a small package.
- Fireplaces and TV Stands: Many people think of beautiful snowy mountains when they think of Scandinavia. As such, a stand-alone hearth or a fireplace TV console can warm up the layout and make a wonderful addition to the decor.
Scandinavian Dining Room Ideas
Whatever the size of your formal or casual dining space, Scandinavian dining rooms place a big emphasis on light. If you have covered windows in your breakfast nook or dining area, replace the heavy drapes with see-through blinds or sheer curtains. Hanging modern pendant lights above the table is a chic alternative for a windowless eat-in kitchen.
Scandinavian dining chairs and tables let you keep things simple. Long rectangular or oval tables tend to have light wood finishes and usually feature a few decorations on top instead of runners and tablecloths. Both wooden rustic dining chairs and midcentury modern dining chairs with molded plastic seats can surround the table with enough space in-between to avoid a crowded look.
Decorating a Scandinavian Bedroom
A cozy Scandinavian bedroom design gives you a chance to personalize your space and hone that comfortable, clutter-free look. Even if you’re outfitting the spare room as a guest suite, Scandinavian minimalism is the perfect way to welcome overnight guests and make them feel like they’re spending the night in a luxury resort. Try these bedroom decorating ideas for a Scandinavian design:
- Low-profile Beds: A low-profile bed and mattress set only leaves a little space between the frame and floor, minimizing the chance to store excess clutter underneath. Meanwhile, upholstered frames with clean lines and subtle decoration like channel-tufted headboards enhance the cozy aesthetic.
- Plush Bedding: Combine the purity of minimalism and the snugness of hygge through layered bedspreads. A smooth, unembroidered comforter looks clean and cool in a minimalist bedroom, but tossing a faux fur throw or sweater blanket on top elevates the space into a Scandinavian getaway.
- Mood Lighting: The soft glow from unique bedside lighting such as lamps and overhead chandeliers provides perfect mood lighting for reading in bed or napping during rainy Saturday afternoons. Choose modern or contemporary fixtures for a sleek, minimalist approach.
- Shaggy Rugs: A thick, shaggy area rug helps you make your bedroom feel warm and comfortable, especially if you have hardwood floors. Place a large 8×10 rug with a beautiful blue or snow-white design underneath your bed to highlight your stylish sleep space.
- Mid-century Modern Furniture: In addition to low-profile beds, mid-century modern bedroom sets have wood-finished dressers, chests, and nightstands with subtle details and crisp lines that make completing a Scandi design bedroom a breeze.
The Colors of Scandinavian Interior Design
A neutral background with a few well-placed bold accents is typical in Scandinavian decor. Scandinavian minimalism uses neutrals to simplify a room and make it appear more calm, refined and balanced. Monochrome colors like white, gray, tan, black and cream are a common canvas for bolder hues and robust earth tones.
A Neutral Color Palette in Scandi Design
In Scandinavian interior design, white walls are standard because they give the room a clear, open appearance. If a new coat of alabaster paint is too stark for your liking, a large white TV wall unit can bring the ideal amount of brightness into your family room. To continue that crisp look, consider a modern white leather sectional.
Scandinavian furniture in neutral gray, tan and black shades are popular choices, too. Make a living room feel homier with the comfortable earth-toned upholstery of a sleek, stone-gray armchair. Similarly, the subtle warmth of a cream bedspread adds an inviting allure to a Scandinavian-style bedroom.
Bold and Natural Accents in Scandinavian Decor
Vibrant color accents in a Scandinavian minimalist home bring life and energy to the mix. When incorporating bright colors into your Scandinavian home, it’s best to pick a favorite shade and use it with care. Natural, earthy colors are also quite common. Some bold hues and finishes for your Scandi design include:
- Blue: Calming blue tones work well in cool, wintry color palettes like the white and gray scheme of Scandinavian design. Make a blue sofa a prominent feature in your family room or find a light blue writing desk for your minimalist home office.
- Green: Deep greens are nature-inspired and have a rich feel that captures a relaxed, modern mood. A forest green comforter set looks stunning in a gray bedroom, while a velvet green accent bench in the foyer adds cozy texture to your entryway.
- Yellow: Those who prefer warm colors might toss in a