Before proceeding with the design of the living room in the Scandinavian style, it would be good to understand what is its uniqueness?
If we talk about a special, Scandinavian style in architecture, Sweden and, perhaps, Finland, which has always followed in the wake of Swedish culture, can be considered its homeland. Small northern countries with a harsh climate, picturesque landscapes and hard-working people, not spoiled by an easy life ... It was Scandinavia that became a trendsetter in home design.
sofa in Scandinavian style living room
One could say that the Scandinavian style is becoming more and more popular every year - but it's time to state that he conquered the world by changing the very concept of living quarters.
Concept
How did it happen that in all parts of the world designers decorate interiors in Scandinavian style? We dare to say that we know the answer to this mystery.
In a sense, the Scandinavian style is a challenge to theatricality and ambition, for the sake of which designers have been creating interiors of living rooms in the palace style (Baroque, Empire, Antique) or in the spirit of stylization for some artistic concept (loft, art deco, boho, folk) for decades.).
spacious living room in Scandinavian style without unnecessary elements
Scandinavians, with their inherent practicality, indifference to excesses, careful attitude to the beautiful northern nature, the ability to appreciate peace and comfort, always follow the only commandment in architecture: everything in the house is for the convenience of the owners.
Absolutely beyond the interest of the harsh inhabitants of the north is whether their living room will delight the guests, the main thing is that the owners themselves are happy to spend their time in it - this is the Scandinavian style.
modesty of decor and furnishing in a Scandinavian interior
Comfort and excess
The peoples living in the North are not prone to extravagance: everything necessary for life is obtained by too hard work. At the same time, the harsh living environment makes us appreciate comfort in a special way - warmth, space, light, beautiful things.
The perfect Scandinavian-style living room has nothing superfluous - no knick-knacks, candelabra and expensive cabinets., but there is always a large cozy sofa, an armchair by the fireplace and the fireplace itself (if possible). You will not find pompous wallpapers and expensive textiles here, but the carpet on the floor pleasantly warms the feet, and the eye is drawn by an excellent picture on the wall in the spirit of modern modernity.
beamed ceiling in scandinavian living room
It is paradoxical that the interior of the living room, made, in fact, in the traditions of functional minimalism, is perceived as luxurious, but this is the mission of the Scandinavian style - to achieve absolute peace of mind without complicating life with waste of money and effort.
Yes, now it has become prestigious, and even expensive, but this is not the essence of style, but, let's say, a side effect of popularity.
back to index ↑6 principles
Why are rules useful? If you do not know what to do, just remember the rule - and the right decision will come by itself. It is unrealistic to specify all the nuances of the interior, but you can determine the logic, principles of the Scandinavian style - and the living room will miraculously acquire its features.
cozy living room with niches of bookshelves and a fireplace
So, the principles of decorating a living room in a Scandinavian style, which must always be remembered:
- Lots of light.
- Space and order.
- natural materials.
- Simple forms.
- Expensive sofas (and everything they sit on).
- Objects of contemporary art.
Now we can move on to the details.
combined dining room with living room in Scandinavian style
Light
The cold northern sun warms sparingly, but the warm touch of its rays is all the more precious.
The Swedes and Finns despise the bindings on the windows. Ideally, Scandinavian-style living room windows should be without sashes. It is difficult to say what is more in this - the desire to let the sun's rays into the house or the desire to freely admire the beautiful nature.
The same is true for curtains. They may not be. But if the curtains are still necessary, then more often they are made in full height, without decorative excesses, from natural materials - from linen, for example. In practice, such curtains often cover frames with binding, which cannot be replaced due to the inviolability of the facade of the building. Or the view from the window, which is far from the picturesque landscape.
a light transparent curtain gives the Scandinavian interior of the living room a certain airiness
A reverent attitude to the artificial lighting of the living room, the choice of lamps, we will consider below, in the section on accessories in the Scandinavian style.
back to index ↑Space and order
This is a very interesting topic that concerns planning, decoration, furniture, accessories, but it makes sense to consider all these points in a complex.
studio layout
The living room in the Scandinavian style should be so spacious that the sofa, which is huge by ordinary standards, does not seem too big. If the dimensions of the room are far from ideal, the living room is expanded, combining with a kitchen-dining room. Such a studio layout quite effectively solves the problem of space, although in this case the sofa is also selected not too bulky, but certainly comfortable and modern.
an example of a studio design in a scandinavian style
Lots of white
The white walls and ceiling in the living room are classics of the Scandinavian style; they are not only a great backdrop for expressive furniture and rare decor items, but also a way to visually expand the space.
White color in the interior is actively used in order to avoid variegation, which gives rise to a feeling of clutter and tightness. Therefore, the floor, and part of the furniture, and textiles can be white. One could say that there is never too much white, but this is not so - in the interior of "Scandia" there is always the color of wood, stone and a few bright color accents - without them, the perspective is lost, and hence the feeling of spaciousness.
Scandinavian style living room in traditional white color
Things: each in its place
In order for the living room to be spacious, it must be empty: it is enough to have a sofa, a table, a cozy armchair, a book shelf and decorative accessories (closets away, things in the house should be stored in dressing rooms and pantries). By the way, according to the canons of the Scandinavian style, the shelves remain half empty - several magazines, books, a basket of yarn for knitting and a decorative fruit dish - what else do you need to have on hand?
back to index ↑natural materials
In Scandinavia, wood and granite are highly valued, in general, everything is natural, real.
Wooden furniture - namely wooden, natural color and texture, light pine or dark woods - is an indispensable element of the Scandinavian-style living room interior. Wood is also present in accessories, a special chic is a small picturesque stack of firewood near the fireplace.
use of natural flooring material
The wooden floor can be either natural or white. A stone floor is a rarity, more often a stone is used in the decoration of a fireplace or in some small architectural forms.
All types of textiles (curtains, upholstery, carpet) should only be made from natural fibers: soft wool, linen, cotton or jute. A special delicacy is bright handmade floor carpets, woven or knitted. As a carpet for a coffee table, you can use the skin of a deer or a bear.
Leather is used in the upholstery of a sofa, armchair or in some decorative gizmos.
interior of a black and white living room with a separate seating area
It is difficult to say whether metal can be attributed to natural materials, but it will not be possible to ignore it. Shiny steel is a must-have in Scandinavian-style living room interior elements: sofa or chair legs, table, lamp – metal successfully contrasts with wood and stone.
back to index ↑simple shapes
Laconic, purely functional living room furniture is the hallmark of the Scandinavian style. In any finishing elements, carving, stucco molding and other useless decorations are simply unacceptable.
An exception can be made only for the chair. An old armchair from the time of King Henry, as a tribute to Swedish history (and most likely its copy), fits organically into a modern interior.
white Scandinavian interior diluted with bright colors of paintings and textiles
Concept sofa
The sofa is the center of the living room in Scandinavian style. Big, cozy, simple form. It is based on rectangular pillows, often wooden armrests, but, nevertheless, it is very comfortable, wide and soft, ready to embrace a tired owner or a large group of friends. Often a corner sofa or two of them, which does not exclude the presence of an armchair and ottomans. Certainly, there is something in the Scandinavian tradition that is analogous to our expression: "it is better to sit than to stand, but it is better to lie than to sit."
high pile carpet makes the living room interior more comfortable
Modern Art
The craving for the authentic is also reflected in the attitude towards decor items. There should be few of them in the room, but it is desirable that they be either original author's works, or mass-produced products, to which a brilliant designer had a hand (which we see in IKEA products).
A lamp, a fireplace grate, a figurine of a contemporary master, an original painting or an artistic photograph can act as an expressive decorative accessory. Special mention should be made of the lamps. Artificial lighting should be sufficient, general and spot. The most popular are metal floor lamps - concise, functional, on flexible rods. It should be noted that the hanging wires of floor lamps are not bad manners, but a small characteristic detail inherent in this style.
unusual chandelier in a Scandinavian living room
Once again about simplicity and luxury
What is the secret of Scandinavian style charm?
On the one hand, this is a very practical, economical option for interior design. On the other hand, it is convenient for life, including in terms of cleaning. But most importantly, it embodies modern values.
Scandinavian living room wall decor
What associations did you have when viewing the beautiful Scandinavian-style living room interiors? Rationality, beauty, ecology, cleanliness, family, leisure, comfort, peace ... The luxury of genuine values, everything that we really need.
back to index ↑Photo gallery - Scandinavian style living room:
