The choice of a light and light Scandinavian style for the interior of the living room is one of the rather interesting solutions for decorating houses and apartments. The predominance of light shades in a room will help make it spacious, visually increase the area and emphasize comfort. For this direction, minor inclusions of dark shades would be appropriate. The furnishings in a Scandinavian-style living room should be minimalist. Following this rule will eliminate clutter in the room and will allow you to create a comfortable relaxation area for children and adults. However, it is worth choosing lamps for this direction with special attention: they should be bright and illuminate the entire area of the room. As for the decor, just a couple of paintings will be enough to create a beautiful and laconic design.
Features, characteristics and advantages of style
The most important qualities of the Scandinavian style include lightness and calm. The direction is simple, but requires good natural and artificial lighting. It does not use bright inclusions or sharp contrasts: due to this feature, harmony and comfort are easily achieved in the Scandinavian style.
As for its advantages, they include:
- ease of implementation (available simple materials will allow owners to easily carry out the design with their own hands);
- lack of pretentiousness and the use of a minimum amount of furniture (helps create a cozy modern environment);
- Possibility of implementation in a living room of any size (due to the predominant white color in the interior and the presence of good lighting, even a tiny room will look stylish and original).
Basic concept
In contrast to the interiors of living rooms that have prevailed for many decades, in which the main emphasis was on pomp, decorativeness, and even some theatricality, the design of living rooms in the Scandinavian style is practical and lacks frills.
The main goal when developing a design is to create the most comfortable space for the owner. And here it doesn’t matter at all whether the room will produce an effect on the guests.
Color spectrum
The Scandinavian style is dominated by colors characteristic of the area where this trend originated - Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark). The main color of the design should be white. Light gray or light brown (the color of bleached wood) can be used in smaller quantities. Dark inclusions - blue, black - will also help to emphasize the light colors in the design. Appropriate “bright” colors used in the direction are dark mustard and dark turquoise. They allow you to give the overall interior an unusual look and make it unique.
When choosing a color scheme, you should not completely abandon your favorite bright colors. They may be present in the room in small quantities. For example, a red-white or orange-white pillow with a northern pattern will beneficially dilute the light design and emphasize comfort.
Materials for design and finishing
Since one of the main characteristics of the Scandinavian style is simplicity, you need to choose materials for decoration that will emphasize the simplicity of the interior. If possible, you should give preference to finishes that create a light atmosphere. Therefore, materials with elaborate patterns and ornate ornaments should be abandoned. The easier the repair is, the more accurately the style created will be maintained. It is also worth paying special attention to the high quality and environmental friendliness of the selected finishes. The use of slightly processed wood and the presence of plain natural fabrics in the design will help to fully adhere to the direction. If these rules are taken into account, the alteration will be carried out simply and very quickly.
Walls
The right solution for decorating walls in a Scandinavian style is regular painting. You should choose light-colored compositions for work: gray, light blue (almost white) or pure white. You can combine two colors at once in the design of the living room walls. For example, paint the wall behind the seating area light gray and leave the rest white. A universal solution would be to paint all the walls white. In this case, the surface texture can be either ideally smooth or have slight relief, unnoticeable volumetric patterns. An acceptable option would be to stick white wallpaper. These can be plain, plain canvases or finishing materials with small convex patterns. A finish that imitates brick will also look good in a Scandinavian living room. This can be special wallpaper or white foam panels.
Floor
Definitely, a living room decorated in a Scandinavian style should have a wooden floor. It is recommended to give preference to products with a clear wood pattern and minimal processing. Materials should be laid in white, light grey, gray or light brown. As for the type of finishing selected, the most advantageous solutions include parquet boards and laminate. Ordinary parquet, laid out from narrow planks, can ruin the overall interior of the room. It will not only disrupt the overall interior, but also make it less calm (more dynamic). When creating a cozy living room, a combination of soft textile and wooden flooring is also allowed. Thus, you can lay light carpet in the recreation area, and lay laminate flooring in the rest of the room.
Ceiling
For living rooms decorated in Scandinavian style, it is quite easy to choose a ceiling finish. Suitable options include:
- ordinary whitewash; It will allow you to carry out repairs easily and on a budget, and will perfectly complement the overall appearance of the room.
- plasterboard structures; It is recommended to cover uneven ceilings with plasterboard, which will take too long to level for whitewashing. The height of the wall for such a design should be more than 2.7 m. Otherwise, its installation will lead to a visual reduction in the living room. Plasterboard ceilings can be assembled from 1-2 levels, but all of them must be painted white.
- stretch fabrics. A convenient solution for quickly “leveling” the ceiling. The recommended ones are not glossy, but matte canvases with a bright white color. Models “whitewashed” and “satin” are suitable.
Attitude towards excess
In the harsh environment of the northern countries, everything necessary for life is obtained through hard work. In this regard, Scandinavians do not have a penchant for wastefulness, and they have the ability to especially value comfort.
There are no frills in their interior: unnecessary items, expensive furniture. The main component of a Scandinavian-style living room is a cozy sofa; it is also desirable to have a fireplace and an armchair next to it.
There are no expensive textiles or wallpaper here; rather, attention will be paid to a pleasant carpet that warms your feet.
Let's consider the basic principles inherent in style. They are clearly visible in all photos of Scandinavian-style living rooms.
Furniture selection
For the relaxation area in the living room, you should definitely choose a comfortable sofa. It is recommended to select models with soft armrests. It can be complemented by a pair of armchairs upholstered in the same fabric or as similar in quality as possible. The sofa itself can be white, light gray, gray-blue. A small coffee table placed in front of the sofa can have an auxiliary shelf or be supplemented with wheels. But it must be made of wood. To store books and souvenirs, it is recommended to purchase a small wooden rack in natural or bleached wood color, painted light gray or white. In a spacious living room, owners can also install a white bookcase with open shelves or hang 2-3 white shelves on the wall. If you intend to install a TV, then you can buy a simple white cabinet (similar to an installed coffee table) for it.
Lighting
The main requirement for lighting in a Scandinavian living room is its brightness and sufficiency. Every corner of a bright room should be properly illuminated at all times. It is recommended to choose a pendant chandelier with a custom lampshade as the main illuminator. A designer model consisting of numerous elements and including many light bulbs will ideally complement the interior. The lampshade itself can be white, black, gray. Floor lamps or spots will help to succinctly complement the recreation area. If the room has a large area, ceiling spotlights located along 1-2 walls will also come in handy. They will help to illuminate remote parts of the room well. Also, in the remote corners of the living room, owners can install 1-2 floor lamps. A modern electric fireplace can also act as an auxiliary light source.
The role of lighting in the interior of a living room in a Scandinavian style
For a Scandinavian living room, an abundance of natural and artificial light is important. Every corner of the room should be illuminated at any time of the day. It is not customary to cover windows with curtains, so as not to block the free access of light into the room. The frame should be light, blending with the walls.
The central place in the artificial lighting system is given to a chandelier with a silver metal frame and transparent crystal shades. Elements can be decorated in white, black or gray. Models with a non-standard lampshade look interesting. You can get a play of light using designer models with numerous light bulbs. Different lighting options are shown in the photo of the interior design of a living room in a modern style.
Helpful advice! An electric fireplace can serve as an auxiliary source of artificial lighting.
Spot ceiling lights of different intensities will fit into the overall concept. Wall sconces, which are located in the recreation area, will help you achieve the desired lighting effect. Elements are made of frosted or transparent glass. Floor lamps are selected with a fabric lampshade on high legs. They should be placed in the corners of the living room. Elegant candelabra will look harmonious on the fireplace.
An abundance of natural and artificial light is important for a Scandinavian living room.
You can make the atmosphere more cozy with the help of small table lamps on the windows. Warm romance in the beautiful interior of the living room will be created by candlesticks with candles on the console tables.
Decor and textiles
A thematic interior element of a Scandinavian living room can be a false fireplace or a regular electric fireplace. Of course, in a country house, the owners can build a real fireplace, near which they will spend their family leisure time in the winter. But a stylish electric model in white or black will also look appropriate in the overall design. The owners can hang a couple of paintings with monochrome drawings or inscriptions on the walls. Paintings depicting snow-capped mountain landscapes are also suitable. Cushions with northern ornaments or black and white silhouettes of deer and mountains will perfectly complement this decor. It is recommended to choose curtains in white or gray. These can be long floor-length canvases or plain roller blinds. A pair of green living plants installed on the windowsill, near the entrance to the room, on the coffee table will also complement the direction being created.
Various wooden decor will also help to beautifully decorate a Scandinavian living room: 3D plywood figurines, wooden pendants and carved wooden vases in white or light brown.
Textiles and decor in a Scandinavian style living room: photos of room interiors
Scandinavian interior does not tolerate excesses in the decor. The overall concept should be simple and concise. However, it is the bright and original decorative elements that give the gray-white interior of the living room its characteristic expressiveness. Porcelain products, metal souvenirs, elements made of plaster, wood, and ceramics will look organic here. The highlight of the room will be handmade products. The painting above the sofa looks original in the living room interior (the photos clearly show this), made in a retro style or depicting snow-covered mountain landscapes. You can hang several family photos in wooden frames.
The thematic element of the living room interior is the fireplace. In a country house it is presented in a real version, and in an apartment - an electric version or a false product. The photo of corner electric fireplaces in the living room interior shows different design options.
Natural textiles made in a light palette will help add coziness to the interior. It is allowed to use bright products that will add playfulness to the room. Bedspreads should be chosen from cotton, wool and linen. They can be plain or decorated with an openwork pattern. Decorative pillows with ethnic northern patterns or depicting a mountain silhouette in black and white will add softness to the interior. You can liven up your mood with fresh flowers on the windowsill or coffee table.
Velvet and fabrics with excessive shine should not be used in Scandinavian interiors.
Curtains for the windows are selected from light transparent material, which will add airiness and weightlessness to the modern interior of the living room in light colors. The ideal option would be muslin and muslin. In addition, such products will not prevent natural light from entering the room. Thick folds, drapery and bulky lambrequins on the windows will look inappropriate.
Roller blinds with embroidery in ethno style will add originality and originality to the interior. They can be decorated using ribbons and cords. It is customary to lay a natural wool carpet on the floor near the seating area.
Important! Velvet and fabrics with excessive shine should not be used in a Scandinavian interior, as they will look too pompous.
Small living room in Scandinavian style
Decorating a small living room in a Khrushchev-era building or other small-sized apartment is a practical and correct decision. Light decoration and furniture will help to visually raise the ceiling and make the room spacious. It is better to exclude the presence of gray inclusions in a small room. But laying a light brown wooden floor, on the contrary, will help emphasize the special coziness and comfort. To organize a relaxation area, it is recommended to choose a small sofa and 1-2 armchairs. Near them you can install a compact coffee table. A good addition would be a high cabinet located next to the sofa. It is recommended to use a couple of dim wall paintings as decor. Placing a small flowerpot with a green plant on the cabinet will also help emphasize the style. In a small living room, it is better to choose long curtains that reach the floor or short ones that cover the window sill. Sofa cushions should not be used.
Kitchen-living room in Scandinavian style: photos of room interiors
Very often in modern apartments, when renovating the living room, it is combined with the kitchen, thereby creating a spacious and bright room, divided into zones using design techniques. The design of the kitchen-living room in the Scandinavian style has its own characteristic features.
It would be appropriate to lay tiles as flooring in the kitchen area
On the ceiling, you can build a plasterboard structure with several levels, where different lighting systems are organized, which allows you to zone the space. Spotlights are used in the kitchen, a central chandelier is located above the table in the dining area, and wall sconces are hung in the recreation area. The entire surface can be monochromatic and painted white, or made in a smooth color transition from one shade to another, as shown in the photo of color combinations in the interior of the living room-kitchen.
When decorating the walls, you should avoid a monochromatic white color, which in this case will create a hospital environment. It is better to decorate wall surfaces in sand, beige, milky, creamy, mint or lavender shades. In the kitchen area it is better to use paintable wallpaper or decorative plaster.
To create an original atmosphere when decorating the interior of a kitchen-living room, it is recommended to use a white kitchen set
As a floor covering in the kitchen area, it would be appropriate to lay tiles, the pattern of which can be repeated when finishing the apron. In the living room, the tile flooring transitions into wood flooring.
Creating an original atmosphere in the kitchen-living room
To create an original atmosphere when decorating the interior of a kitchen-living room in a country house, it is recommended to use a kitchen set in white or a natural light wooden shade. The tabletop can be selected in whiskey color or coffee shade. Metal fittings can be used as accents. All elements must be rectangular in shape. It is allowed to use built-in furniture elements and facades with hidden buttons.
A bar counter or transforming table will fit organically into a Scandinavian-style kitchen-living room
For the dining area, a table is selected in the same style as the set. Chairs can be wooden or wicker with removable cushions. A bar counter or a folding table will fit organically into a Scandinavian-style kitchen-living room, which will delimit the kitchen space and the relaxation area.
Characteristic decor and textiles will help breathe life into a monochrome room. You can hang frames with colored posters on the walls. On the windowsill in the kitchen area you should place fancy pots of flowers that will fill the room with natural comfort and coziness. Textiles should have something in common in different zones. To do this, it is recommended to use the same pillows, curtains, and rugs. The general concept also applies to towels, oven mitts and chair covers.
