5 ways to bring Scandi-style to your interior
Scandi-style is all the rage at the moment. It’s definitely contemporary, in that it avoids excess ornamentation, but it’s not austere - it’s very warm and relaxed. This style has its roots in the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden and Finland - as well as Denmark.
Want to bring some of this style into your home? Here’s how:
The typical Scandi-style palette is a response to the long winter months, high in the northern hemisphere, when the sun barely peeks above the horizon. Pale washes of colour on walls and floors all help to maximise and reflect the winter light.
This colour scheme has become a trademark of Scandinavian design. Pastel shades, particularly blush pink and faded blue, is unique to the Scandinavian aesthetic. Soft hues are not commonly seen in the monochrome minimalist designs in other parts of the world. Hazy pastels work beautifully with our New Zealand landscape, too. Bare floors, area rugs Maybe it’s because nobody wanted snow-covered boots creating wet spots on the rug, but wall-to-wall carpet is almost unheard-of in Northern European homes. Scandinavian homes typically have white-washed floors, or light timbers such as birch or pine. Admittedly, we’re more likely to deal with sandy jandals, but a bare floor is still appealing. Add a few area rugs for a bit of colour and texture.
Scandinavian style, as we know it, evolved from the Modernism of the 1930’s, which stripped back ornamentation and emphasised the beauty of simple, functional forms.You can buy original designs at many of the high-end furniture retailers in our urban centres, but more affordable pieces can be easily found, too. Most of the homefurnishing chain stores have plenty on offer this spring.
Random objects displayed haphazardly have no place in a Scandinavian home.