Over the years, we’ve seen many interior design genres, from rustic to mid-century modern to bohemian to industrial, but none seem to have the same staying power as the Scandinavian design style.
There’s something about Scandi decor that people can’t get enough of! And we’re not just talking about IKEA’s continued popularity either. So, to celebrate this influential style, in this article, we’re exploring everything Scandinavian design has to offer so you can welcome it into your home.
What Are the Scandinavian Countries?
Scandinavia comprises three Northern European countries: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
While some people mistakenly include Finland and Iceland in this definition, they’re not part of Scandi. However, they’re considered Nordic countries along with the three Scandinavian countries. Norway and Sweden occupy the Scandinavian Peninsula, with Denmark located just south of Sweden, across the Kattegat strait.
What Is Scandinavian Design?
It’s about so much more than furniture; from electronics to fashion, architecture to interior design, Nordic design, and especially elements of Scandinavian minimalism, have found their way into every aspect of our lives.
Scandinavian interior design style consists of clean lines, minimalism and a lack of clutter, which can be visually appealing. Scandinavian design is characterised by a sleek combination between functionality and beauty, where these principles extend to all areas of design. However, it’s most commonly used to describe different interior design styles, including furniture, textiles, ceramics, and lighting.
The History Of Scandinavian Design
The Scandinavian design movement emerged in the early 20th century and flourished throughout the five Nordic countries from the 1930s onwards.
It originates from the Danish Selskabet for Dekorativ Kunst, who launched its Skønvirke (literally “Graceful Work”) magazine in 1914. Shortly after, the title became the name of a new Danish style of arts and crafts to rival contemporary trends like Art Nouveau, often reserved for the social elite, whereas Skønvirke promoted local crafts and accessible design.
From the 1930s, most Scandinavian designers started creating “a golden age of Scandi design”, where most of their work was inspired by the concepts of Constructivism, Functionalism, and in some cases, Surrealism. The Scandi design history and its concept have been the subject of scholarly debate, exhibitions, and marketing agendas since then.
Top Scandinavian Design Features
The most-used Scandinavian design colours are neutral and monochromatic such as bright, warm whites with black and tan with pops of colour added used as accents. Like sage, plush pinks, gray blues, and colours rooted in nature are the most popular among Scandinavian designs.
Also, natural and organic materials take pride in this design to reflect the Scandinavian and Nordic countries’ relationship to nature. Wood lightened to fit with a neutral interior colour palette, cotton, and wool feature heavily in Scandi design, as do house plants. And while it shares many elements with mid-century modern furniture, Scandinavian design favours bright and airy spaces, while mid-century design tends to showcase darker colours and focus less on the light. In case you missed them, we have 2 great articles packed with tips on How To Create A Complementary Colour Scheme In Interior Design and Biophilic Interior Design: Bringing The Outdoors In.
Also, Scandinavian winters are no joke, so creating a cosy home is a must. That’s why you’ll find warm, inviting textures like chunky knit blankets and faux fur accents in many Scandi designs. If you want to learn more, check out our blog on How To Create A Hygge Home, one of our favourite things about Scandi!
A guiding principle for this type of interior design style is to establish harmony with one’s environment and to create things made to last. It seeks to complement the art of living well by promoting a simple home environment filled with quality items.
The Scandimania British TV Series
Scandimania Style British TV is full of Scandinavian noir series at the moment. The Bridge, a Swedish-Danish cop show, has just finished. With its eponymous hero Sarah Lund, The Killing led to a flurry of media articles about Danish knitwear and a rather lacklustre American remake.
These settle alongside the older Wallander cop shows, the original Swedish and the British remake starring Kenneth Branagh. To highlight the quality of Scandinavian drama, a series about Danish coalition politics, Borgen, was another surprise British TV hit. The only way the British could make a similar programme would be as a farce, along the lines of The Thick of It.
All these series tap into a broader British curiosity about Scandinavia. Since the 1960s, Sweden, in particular, has been perceived as a haven for progressive attitudes and social policy. The Swedes tend to be better looking, better paid, have a better standard of living, and probably a better sex life, or so we all thought.
What also marks Scandinavia out is the quality of its design. Ikea has transformed the interior of British houses, and Scandinavian design minimalism has contrasted favourably with the traditional monumentalism of British interior design.
Typical of this Scandinavian style is the iconic mid-century chair replica. Originally designed for the Radisson Hotel in Copenhagen over 50 years ago, it remains an example of iconic contemporary furniture design. Available from Pash Classics for with Free UK Delivery, this rather funky chair not only looks exquisite but is also great for reading and getting some quality time during a busy day. It’s available in wool, cashmere and Italian leather, and various colours you can choose from.
Another contemporary design classic is the swan chair, designed in 1958, which still retains its cool while being both functional and comfortable and is available in cashmere with free UK delivery.
If you’re looking for cool Scandinavian furniture for your kitchen, tulip dining chairs are a great choice. Their designer was Finnish-American, and his tulip chair is a timeless classic of form and function, providing comfort and style. It is also available with free UK delivery, and it’s made of glossy fibreglass with a fabric cushion.
Finally, to achieve the ultimate comfort and relaxation in your lounge, our black leather designer sofa and matching black leather armchair offer all the quality and simple design you’d expect from great Scandinavian design. Upholstered in full-grain Italian leather and designed to work in any style of interior, this is a sofa that is built to last!
Is Scandinavian Design Here to Stay?
Scandinavian design has been around for a very long time now, and we hope that we’re at a point where we can all acknowledge that trends morph, and Scandi will be forever wonderful to those who love it!
So go ahead and embrace minimalist design, invite more brightness into your home, and lean into the Scandi lifestyle with confidence!
