Decorating interiors and building houses in the style that came to us from the Scandinavian countries is preferred by people who are able to appreciate real coziness, genuine comfort and free creativity, given free space. Today, fatigue from busy everyday affairs and daily worries is a problem for almost every person, so it is very important to create a peaceful atmosphere in your home for a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of life. A white house with a dark flat roof, with huge windows, with modern furniture on the terrace, which opens onto a garden with a perfect lawn and an alpine slide - this is a dream that practical Swedes, Danes and Norwegians successfully bring to life. Our citizens have recently kept up with them.
Features of a Scandinavian-style house (+photo)
Although houses in the Scandinavian style come in a wide variety, for example, they have both a flat and a gable roof, but these buildings are always original in their architectural design. Asymmetrical and non-standard shapes, large windows, light walls - all this, as a rule, fits organically into the landscape of the surrounding area.
- It is not customary among the Scandinavians to build fences three times the height of a person; the area is fenced only with a decorative picket fence or a small hedge is planted. Well-groomed lawns and flower beds are a must. This must be taken into account so that an annoying discrepancy does not disrupt the overall style.
Interesting to know! The prototype of private houses in the Scandinavian style can be considered the style of simplified modernism, which was demonstrated in the last century by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.
The main distinctive feature of the facade of a Scandinavian-style house is its harmonious combination with the surrounding landscape
A beautiful two-story house and garage made in the same architectural style
Most often, facades in Scandinavian houses are finished with wooden paneling. It's not cheap, but it's very beautiful and environmentally friendly. As an alternative, white plaster or matte facade paint can be used.
Often in the exterior design there are contrasting color combinations (shades of white and black or dark gray). Light walls look great against the background of a dark roof, dark trim, and a black front door. Although the walls can be brown, blue, or green, these should be colors that fit into the surrounding landscape.
Scandinavians consider themselves part of the land on which they live, and their ancestors lived, therefore the house should be an element of the surrounding landscape. It always looks harmonious against the background of nature, not only in the warm season, but also in winter.
- A mandatory attribute of a Scandinavian-style home is huge windows. Residents of northern countries love and appreciate sunlight, which they often lack, so they make not only large windows in their homes, but also glass doors.
- If you decide to build a small one-story house, one wall can be glass. In summer, it can be moved aside, and the living room will become an extension of the terrace and neat garden around the home.
- If the house is two-story, then glass doors will lead to a balcony, usually a large one. Naturally, you should prepare to purchase good energy-saving double-glazed windows.
Needless to say, almost every second Swedish house has solar panels on the south side. This, of course, is not a design element, but is already a traditional attribute in Scandinavian countries.
A well-groomed lawn in front of the house is an invariable attribute of Scandinavian housing construction.
The red facade of a private country house goes well with white windows
An interesting option for a house with a two-level gable roof
Scandinavian homes were historically made with gable roofs to make it easier to shed snow. But modernism, beloved by residents of the northern countries, and climate change in favor of warming made their own adjustments, and houses were often built with an elegant flat roof.
However, what speaks in favor of a gable roof is the opportunity to arrange a room under sloping ceilings; these rooms are adored by young people and people of creative professions.
Classic private Scandinavian house with a gable roof
Bituminous shingles have proven themselves well in the difficult climatic conditions of the North
A successful combination of blue and white, perfectly emphasizing the architectural and artistic design of the Scandinavian style
Colored floor or ceiling
In Scandinavian countries there is little sun, so local residents often paint their indoor ceilings in bright sunny colors. A yellow ceiling in combination with white walls will look especially harmonious.
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The floor is also sometimes painted in bright colors. Using different shades you can zone the space. Rooms with such color accents don't even need additional decoration.
Interior in Scandinavian style: natural peace, space and comfort
- The Scandinavian style is rationality, laconic restraint, but at the same time an abundance of light, high-quality finishing of external facades and internal walls, and certainly a small and very cozy room located in the attic.
It should be noted that our citizens’ love for the Scandinavian style is natural: we, just like the Danish followers of the Vikings, love our coniferous and mixed forests, the sun, and just like them, we want to feel comfortable in our home.
The good thing about a house built in the Scandinavian style is that it will never get boring, as it can be easily transformed with various accessories. Although this style implies obvious minimalism and northern restraint, it is not cold and technogenic high-tech.
Stylish Scandinavian house in white and gray design
The walls in a Scandinavian interior are usually made beige, gray or milky white, and the accessories can be bright, but there should be few of them. Northerners love to introduce accents of cherry, blue, grass green or cobalt tones into their interiors. Scandinavian style design should be predominantly light. Naturally, dark colors (brown, gray, black) are used, but beige, white and light ocher tones should definitely predominate.
Important! The use of natural living materials for interior decoration is mandatory. The main motto when decorating a home is simple, light forms, harmony, freshness, freedom and impeccable cleanliness.
Spacious, bright interior with high wooden ceilings
Living room
The living room is the main room in the house. It is here in the evenings that the family relaxes over a cup of aromatic herbal tea and tells each other how their working day went. We invite guests to this room to have fun on a holiday, so the living room should be beautiful.
- Light, high-quality wall decoration, comfortable upholstered furniture, small, simple-shaped coffee tables, shelves and racks with decorative elements and books, a couple of traditional checkered rugs, delicate white lace, a fluffy light carpet on the floor with a long pile - and comfort is guaranteed.
Advice! To ensure that the interior of a Scandinavian-style home takes on a completely finished look, do not forget to add a bright accent to it. A beautiful vase for flowers and a couple of sofa cushions will be enough. In terms of color spots, it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the characteristic Scandinavian style will be disrupted.
In addition to beauty, Scandinavian living room design should have maximum functionality and practicality.
Cozy living room with a perfectly organized relaxation area
The floor should be wooden, made of large boards covered with varnish, but the ceiling can be made with beams that are painted white. The presence of beams emphasizes that you do not live in a city apartment, but in a natural environment. A brick wall painted white looks very beautiful in the living room.
Almost always in a Scandinavian-style home, the living room doubles as a dining room. In this case, a light table with chairs is added to the interior.
Lighting should be abundant and zoned. A chandelier on the ceiling is not enough: in the Scandinavian style there is always a lot of light. You can put a floor lamp near the sofa, a table lamp on the dining table, and two or three sconces on the walls.
Good natural light plays a huge role in creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere
Gray bottom white top - a common technique in a stylish Scandinavian interior
- The presence of a large fireplace in the interior of the living room of residents of Scandinavian countries is mandatory. Of course, nowadays there are artificial substitutes for fireplaces that are made of very high quality. However, for true connoisseurs of this style, there is nothing better than a live fire on a cold winter evening.
In addition, a fireplace grate and beautiful forged accessories will complement your interior. The fireplace can be decorated with decorative stone in light shades, preferably natural. An artificial stone should be similar to its natural prototype.
Second light and fireplace are of fundamental importance for Scandinavian-style homes
In Scandinavian design, furniture made from natural materials and decorative elements made from wood should go well together, complementing each other.
For a comfortable rest, it is not advisable to place the sofa and armchairs next to the fireplace; it is better to place them in close proximity to it
Kitchen and dining room
It is not difficult to arrange a traditional white kitchen in a true Scandinavian style; this can be done either in a large room or in a very small space. The room can also be modified in any way.
Advice! Using the entire light palette when decorating walls, ceilings, floors, and work areas, simple and laconic forms will contribute to the visual expansion of the overall space.
Modern kitchen design in Scandinavian style
- To prevent the entire room from looking boring and faceless, you can focus on bright dishes, a beautiful table and chairs. Light straw is acceptable.
- The most common type of kitchen furniture in the traditional Scandinavian style is snow-white, absolutely smooth and flawless facades. In the event that when finishing the kitchen, wooden panels are used to cover the walls. The furniture must be absolutely white, this applies to both kitchen cabinets and the dining area.
- Single-row or more practical corner furniture will allow you to place everything you need to make it convenient for the housewife to prepare food in the kitchen, and to leave room for the dining table.
- The table and chairs in the dining area can be either light in shape or rather rough, made from light natural wood.
- You must always take into account that contrasts are not at all alien to rooms that are decorated in the Scandinavian style, they can exist, but they must be harmonious, and you cannot overdo them. This is especially true for narrow and long kitchens. For example, a floor with light walls and a ceiling can be traditionally dark.
Important! A light (white, beige, light gray) palette when decorating a room is an indispensable condition. The kitchen set should also be made of light wood.
Original design of a pendant chandelier made of massive metal shades
Scandinavian kitchen design is one of the most popular styles for creating a comfortable and modern interior.
As mentioned above, all rooms of Scandinavian homes should be filled with light: during the day due to a large number of panoramic windows, the presence of glass walls and doors, from ceiling to floor, and in the evening due to zoned lighting. It is for this reason that the use of dark shades of wood and masonry in the work area can be completely justified.
- A Scandinavian -style kitchen looks natural if it is equipped with modern household appliances, which it is advisable not to hide in niches, as in Provence. The kitchen interior will be decorated with dishes - it can be either glass or glazed ceramics in light shades.
White glossy facades in tandem with a wooden wall look simply gorgeous
Modern white kitchen with black countertops
Curtains in the traditional floral or check pattern for our kitchens are unacceptable: it is better not to decorate the windows. If for one reason or another this does not suit the owners of the house, you should limit yourself to Roman blinds.
Bedroom
- A Scandinavian-style bedroom is laconic and simple. This is a white room with a lot of light and little furniture. A large comfortable bed, two bedside tables, an ottoman and a built-in wardrobe - that’s all the furnishings. The decor can be lamps with beautiful shades, a traditional checkered plaid, or a shaggy carpet on the floor.
A modern bedroom, designed in the traditions of the stylistics of the countries of Northern Europe, is very practical. It should not be cluttered, so it is better to limit yourself to the most minimal set of furniture.
Luxurious bedroom with a large panoramic window
A white bedroom looks stylish if this monochrome palette is diluted with a spectacular decorative element, such as wooden beams
Snow-white Scandinavian bedroom with a touch of minimalism
In a Scandinavian-style bedroom, windows are not decorated. The only thing you can afford is light transparent tulle; it will give the room even more airiness.
In order to close the windows from prying eyes from the street, and to shade the room during the day, it is best to use Roman blinds. We hang light curtains on the windows, but this is somewhat out of the general style.
The light tulle from which the canopy in this bedroom is made gives the room lightness and peace.
Cozy, bright and spacious bedroom on the attic floor of a private house
White color is the most economical and aesthetic solution for Scandinavian design
The austere look of the bedroom will be enlivened by a light hand-knitted bedspread, which is a traditional attribute for Scandinavian homes. You can add bouquets of dried plants as a decorative element. Living plants in white flowerpots are acceptable.
