Design options for a children's room in a Scandinavian style

Scandinavian style refers to the general design techniques that Swedes, Danes and Finns use when decorating their homes, although the interiors of premises in each country have their own characteristics. Thus, the Finnish style is characterized by a black and white palette, the Danish one gravitates towards romanticism, and the Swedish one is the most laconic and strict. However, the combination of aesthetic techniques gives rise to a special, unlike any other Scandinavian style, reminiscent of a magical winter fairy tale.

Scandinavian style means a cross between Finnish, Swedish and Danish design trends

Decorated in this calm style, all rooms look great, and it is ideal for a nursery. A Scandinavian-style nursery will not only be practical, but also safe for children of any age, comfortable, and also, importantly, contribute to the development of the child’s creative potential, allowing you to decorate the room at your own discretion.

For parents, this style is also attractive for its cost-effectiveness, since expensive finishing materials are not required, and the decor can be easily transformed based on the changing preferences of the growing child.

The Scandinavian style is characterized by restraint, simplicity and functionality.

Color palette

Scandinavian style sometimes leaves the impression of some coldness and even sterility. But this will not happen in a children’s room: a lot of bright toys, rich tones of textiles, wall decoration with works by the little owner or hostess will give the room the necessary brightness.

A Scandinavian room is always bright, so the following natural colors are used in the palette for the main decoration:

1. White. It is most often used in this case when painting walls; it also dominates in the colors of flooring and furniture. Creates a feeling of freshness and spaciousness even in a small nursery. White always looks clean and festive. You can use shades: cream, milky, ivory. Vintage white looks interesting - as if slightly worn from time to time. Don’t be afraid that white color in a nursery is impractical; the main thing is to use washable and stain-resistant materials.

White is a favorite color of Scandinavian style

1. Grey. The second most important color in a Scandinavian interior. Gray is not boring, as it might seem at first glance. After all, warm shades of gray create a wonderful backdrop for bright accents. It is worth using silver or mother-of-pearl, the color of green gray tea, slate.
2. Black. There shouldn’t be a lot of it, especially in a nursery, but a little black graphics in the design won’t hurt.
3. Universal colors. In the photo, the children's design is varied in rich colors: purple, green, red, yellow and orange bring the necessary energy.

A children's room is a room where bright colors will always be appropriate.

1. Pastel shades. Depending on whether a boy or a girl lives in the room, shades are added to the color palette:

• for girls - coral, mint, lilac, peach;
• for a boy - lemon, blue, light blue, wheat.

Children's room for girls

A typical color used in girls' rooms is pink. Scandinavian interiors can be decorated with pink in bleached tones. The room may include pink elements, but subdued ones. Pink may appear on:

• wall decoration,
• stickers,
• containers,
• carpet,
• pillow.

A little pink addition gives the rooms a subtle girlish charm. A great example is the Scandinavian design of girls’ children’s rooms, shown in the photo below.

Wall decoration and wallpaper for children's rooms in Scandinavian style

To decorate walls in this style, exclusively natural materials are used, such as stone, wood, plaster, and paper.

Important! Wall coverings should leave an impression of lightness, simplicity, and uncomplicatedness. Complexity and pretentiousness are unusual in the Scandinavian style.

It is better to choose natural materials for decorating the walls of a children's room.

What can you cover the walls with to create a neutral, comfortable atmosphere that matches your style:

1. The simplest and most common method is painting with waterproof paints in one color. However, you can paint 4 walls in 4 colors. Another option is painting with special slate paint, then you can draw on a black surface with crayons.
2. Wallpaper. For children's use:

• non-woven;
• chalk - you can draw on them with chalk.

Scandinavian style wallpaper has a very simple print

Wallpaper is glued in plain colors, but you can also use a combined method:

• one wall becomes a color accent, diluting the neutral background, and stands out with wallpaper in a contrasting color or with prints;
• one wall or part of it is covered with wallpaper imitating stone or brickwork;
• Wallpaper is combined with wood panels.

1. Lining. White vertical panels successfully increase the height of the room. They are placed on a third of the wall or the entire height.

An interesting idea would be to install a large drawing board on one of the walls of the nursery.

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The Scandinavian style originated in the northern countries of Europe back in the eighteenth century and to this day not only does not lose its relevance, but, on the contrary, is only acquiring new design principles and modern interior features. This is a style where simplicity, functionality, practicality border on comfort and coziness.

That is why this style is an ideal solution for a children's room. In this article, we will give some important tips that will serve as a guide for parents in decorating a cozy room for their children. Of course, the design of a children's room in a Scandinavian style can be very diverse, but there are still a few basic points that need to be observed when decorating.

1. As you know, in northern countries there is a shortage of daylight. That is why it is customary to compensate for this deficiency with shades of white in the room. Walls, floors, and ceilings are most often decorated in white or other light shades (ivory, milky, cream, etc.). Such shades have a positive effect on the child’s psyche and also perfectly reflect natural light. In addition, a white background serves as a good backdrop for the various color accents that should be present in the nursery. It is recommended to use dirt-repellent materials. Decorating a nursery in a Scandinavian style often depends on the gender of the child. Depending on whose children's room is a girl's or a boy's, the colors are chosen: mint, peach and coral are more suitable for a girl, and blue, yellow, light blue - for a boy.
2. The materials from which the furniture in the children's room is made are predominantly of natural origin. Wood, cotton, leather, glass, stone - these materials help create a cozy space, while providing the idea of ​​unity with nature.
3. Lighting is another important factor. Scandinavian style involves the presence of a large number of lamps and lighting fixtures. Here you should choose lamps of simple shapes; lamps in the form of geometric shapes are often used.
4. Wallpaper. For a Scandinavian-style children's room, two types of wallpaper are most often used. The first type is non-woven. Their peculiarity is that they are made from non-woven material (viscose, acrylic, etc.). Unlike ordinary paper wallpaper, such wallpaper does not stretch when wet. The second type, often used in children's rooms, is chalk wallpaper. This type carries an element of play and is always liked by the child, because you can draw on them with chalk. And drawing on the walls is always so interesting! You can use a combined method of wallpapering, when only one part of the wall is covered with wallpaper and it serves as a kind of color accent. Wallpaper can imitate brick or stonework. Wallpaper is often combined with wooden baseboards and panels.
5. As already noted, furniture should be made from natural materials. Preference is given to wooden furniture made from spruce, pine, and beech. Don’t forget about interesting experiments – this is a children’s room after all! A bed in the form of a house or an attic, a hanging swing, a tent - all this will delight the child, and even the dreary process of cleaning can turn into an interesting game. Also, with the help of furniture, you can very competently divide a child’s room into zones: sleeping, study and play. Furniture for a Scandinavian children's room must meet three parameters: functionality, safety, and compactness. Remember that you can make even furniture products that you purchased in a store truly unique. So, you can change the standard handles on cabinets to brighter ones, ones that your child will like. You can also modify the facades by repainting them a different color. Don't neglect stickers and stencils, they can significantly transform a child's room. Even the most ordinary stencil with diamond patterns can significantly transform a closet or chest of drawers. A good option for a nursery is modular furniture. Now there are a lot of design options that fit perfectly into the style of the northern countries. We hope that after seeing real photos of a Scandinavian-style nursery, you will have interesting ideas.
6. When decorating the floor in a children's room, choose materials such as parquet or laminate. If you choose wood, it should be light shades or painted white. Avoid linoleum or carpet. Avoid red wood shades.
7. Accessories. It is the presence of details that allows you to give the room a special character. Decorate a Scandinavian-style nursery for a girl with all kinds of flowers and plants in colorful pots. You can add bright colors to your interior using posters and banners with your favorite characters.
8. Curtains. In Scandinavian interiors, curtains are often not used at all. However, in our interpretation of Scandi style this is quite appropriate, the main thing is that they do not attract attention. Minimalist roller blinds are a great solution! It is also common to use white or light-colored cotton or linen curtains or hang wooden blinds.
9. Ceilings. Whitewash or suspended matte ceilings are welcome. The main rule is to keep it as simple as possible. The ceiling in a Scandinavian style room should be no frills. If you are decorating a room in a country house with high ceilings, then you can decorate it with wooden beams.

A Scandinavian-style children's room can serve as an impetus for the development of a child's creative potential, because he can decorate the room on his own, transforming some interior elements as he grows up. This option for arranging a nursery is an excellent solution for parents. Thus, the child is provided not only with comfort and practicality, but also with safety.

Features of the Scandinavian style: floor and ceiling coverings

In the best photos, a Scandinavian-style nursery looks spacious - this is achieved with small design tricks:

1. The ceiling is well leveled and painted white. No stucco, decor, moldings - the simplicity of the design visually increases the height of the room. If the ceiling is very uneven, it makes sense to use tension or plasterboard, observing the rule of simplicity. The ceiling made of clapboard, boards or wooden slats painted white looks original.

The ceiling in Scandinavian interiors is almost always white

1. The following can be used as flooring:

• floorboard;
• parquet board;
• laminate.

Floor materials should be light, natural shades.

Selection of lighting

The climatic features of the Scandinavian countries have determined the residents’ special love for a large number of lighting fixtures that do not leave a single dark corner. Therefore, the children's room should be well lit.

There should be a lot of light in the children's room

1. Natural light comes from the window. Window frames must match the style of the room, so it is better to make them from wood or a material that imitates it. There is no need to cover the windows with curtains; you can do without them at all or use translucent white curtains made of cotton or linen. They should be light and cut in the form of straight panels up to the window sill. If it is necessary to close the window from the sun's rays, it is preferable to hang wooden blinds.

For a children's room, curtains made of light and natural materials would be preferable.

1. Artificial lighting is provided by:

• central chandelier;
• ceiling lamps;
• desk lamp;
• wall;
• portable lamp.

A ceiling chandelier, which has a simple shape, is used as the main source of artificial light.

It is worth choosing lamps of simple shapes, without unnecessary decoration. Suitable from frosted and transparent glass of simple geometric shapes (ball, cube). Vintage copper or imitation kerosene ones look interesting.

Windows and lighting

Another feature of the Scandinavian style is large windows, no curtains, and many reflective surfaces (mirrors, metal, etc.). This is due to the fact that in Scandinavian countries there is a lack of sun, so they try to preserve sunlight in the most accessible ways possible. How can this be applied in a nursery? Especially in conditions if you live in the southern regions with an abundance of sun, from which in the hot season you even want to hide.

Read about Scandinavian-style kitchens here.

So, if direct sunlight does not hit the nursery, then leave the room without curtains. Indoor flowers, toys, and a large doll are placed on the windowsill.

If the room sometimes needs to be shaded, for example, in the summer or in the morning, so that the children do not wake up at dawn, then the Scandinavian style allows for some options. For curtains, you can choose light material, for example, muslin or muslin, in light colors. If you want to hang a thick curtain, then choose it to match the walls so that when pulled back, it blends into the interior. Or you can cover the windows with roller blinds or curtains. Keep your blinds open most of the time and your curtains pulled back into a nice shape, and only use them as needed.

For safety reasons, avoid mirrors and glass surfaces in the nursery, even though they are an attribute of the Scandinavian style.

Artificial lighting should be plentiful. Lamps in the Scandinavian style are used in a wide variety - from simple, inconspicuous to elaborate futuristic. Here you can rely on your taste or the taste of your child. For example, you and your child can build a lampshade for a chandelier from textiles or tree branches.

Furniture selection

Before going to the store to buy furniture, it is worth studying photos of ready-made design projects, because in fact, a Scandinavian-style children's room does not require expensive or necessarily new furniture. It is quite possible that some existing items, with minimal changes, can be placed in the nursery. A great option is to use the Ikea system and purchase inexpensive modular systems. Preference is given to wooden furniture made from inexpensive species - beech, pine, spruce.

For a Scandinavian-style nursery, it is worth purchasing simple and inexpensive wooden furniture

Important! Furniture in a Scandinavian style children's room must meet 3 parameters and be:

• simple forms;
• functional;
• compact.

With the help of furniture, the room is zoned into study, sleeping and play areas.

Furniture can be used to zone a room

On a note! It is better to purchase a bed that is either transformable or multifunctional (with drawers for storing linen).

Scandinavian companies produce beds that change according to the growth of the child. A bunk bed is suitable for two children. However, if the children’s room is small, then for one child you can buy a bed on two floors: arrange a workplace on the first floor, and a sleeping place on the second. If, on the contrary, as in the photo, the room is spacious, then in addition to the bed, you can put a small sofa or chair.

If there are two children living in a room, then a bunk bed would be an excellent solution.

Both beds and wardrobes or shelving are often designed in the form of houses.

What other furniture is needed in a nursery:

• wardrobe - if the room footage allows, it can be replaced with a modular storage system, covering it with linen curtains on metal rods;
• chests of drawers, always with large drawers;
• shelving has an open design; decorative boxes or wicker boxes are placed on the shelves to store small items;
• open shelves on the walls;
• desk with drawers or mobile cabinet;
• one or more poufs.

Open shelving is perfect for storing toys

For the little things that every child has, chests, baskets, drawers or panels with pockets hung on the wall are suitable. A hanger with hooks is attached to the door.

Even standard store furniture can be made unique by creating an amazing children's room for your child. To do this you can:

• change the standard handles on cabinets and chests of drawers, choosing those that the baby likes;
• repaint standard facades or shelf strips;
• use stickers or stencils;
• decorate the handles with ribbons and pompoms.

Even the simplest chest of drawers will become bright and unusual if you use a stencil to apply a pattern to it, for example, diamonds

Organization of children's room space

When decorating a children's room in a Scandinavian style, you should think not only about the color scheme of the room, but also about smart interior solutions. In this children's room, a raised bed frees up space below for a desk, two neat benches and a bookshelf. Consider having custom furniture made, especially if the space is small.

A room intended for children must perform several important functions. First of all, children should feel safe here. Secondly, this is a space for fun and games, so it can't be boring. Thirdly, this is a place to do homework, so it should not be distracting with a lot of colors and decorations. Organizing space in the Scandinavian style allows you to combine all three aspects.

Study space

An important advantage of this style is the brightness of colors and the sophistication of textures and shapes. Scandinavian interiors use natural materials such as wood, wool, linen, whose presence in the children's room is welcomed, because thanks to this the little family members will live in harmony with nature. Plastic chairs and metal tables are replaced with furniture made of fir, spruce or oak. Whether to preserve the original appearance of wooden surfaces or paint them with white or pastel paint is up to you.

It is better to finish the floor with wood, and, as in the case of furniture, leave it in its natural form, except perhaps protect it with a layer of varnish. Subtle, monochrome colors in the workplace will allow the little student to concentrate on studying. Don't forget to have proper lighting in your work area. Scandinavian style emphasizes natural sunlight - curtains and blinds are not needed in the room. In addition, the interiors are also illuminated by lamps, the light of which, reflected from the smooth walls, creates a warm aura.

Place to rest

The child is just waiting for the moment when, having finished doing his homework, he will finally start playing. The place where he will spend his free time from school should be organized in such a way that the game is safe and at the same time enjoyable. Children love bright colors, but too much of them can be boring. However, in a Scandinavian interior, bright colors and bold shapes appear only in accessories.

A colorful rug, patterned wallpaper, wall paintings or graphically simplified posters and paintings will breathe life into a sophisticated interior. Soft blankets and rugs, softly textured pillows and cute teddy bears will bring joy to children, making the space more welcoming and friendly.

Scandinavian children's room for boys

Textiles and accessories will help add personality to the room - they are of great importance in embodying the Scandinavian style.

There must be a carpet on the floor - it will make the room cozier, and it is much more pleasant to play on it. It is better to choose wool products with short pile or loop covering. A rug can become a bright accent in a neutral room or, if there are already enough splashes of color, it can seamlessly blend into the background. You can put a quilted patchwork bedspread on the bed.

It is worth putting a carpet on the floor in the nursery; it can be either neutral or bright colors

Accessories play a special role in a Scandinavian-style nursery for a boy:

1. Toys - cars, steam locomotives, plush animals, as well as books will add color to the room.
2. Flags are great for decoration - these can be maritime, signal, or flags of different countries. The theme will continue with a globe on the shelf and maps.
3. The Scandinavian style is supported by images of animals, forest nature, snowflakes, clouds, fish, cozy houses on posters or paintings.
4. The child can contribute to the decoration of the room. It is his drawings in wooden baguette that will decorate the walls. Animal heads made using 3D modeling technique will also become an interesting interior decor.
5. An electric garland on the window will make every evening New Year's Eve!
6. Use Lego style decor.

Animal heads, a wigwam, giant Lego - all this will fit organically into a Scandinavian nursery

And one more irreplaceable thing in a boy’s room is a tent or wigwam. You can sew a house yourself, buy a ready-made one, or quickly build it together with your child from scrap materials, the main thing is that the child feels comfortable and happy in it!