Search for a new place. Search some more. Found! And now what? How do you decorate a space to make it feel like home, and take advantage of what you have at hand? There are numerous interior design styles, trends, tips, and tricks.
There is really something for everybody, but there is one style that seems to stand out. Perhaps it has something to do with the furniture giant that is IKEA, perhaps it has become a lifestyle, but the Scandinavian design is definitely taking over Instagram, Pinterest, and home-decorating apps. Going through its key elements below we can see why it is such a hit among the masses.
Marie Kondo your home
The Scandi interior design originates in the 1950s and ‘60s when:
The house size that differs among countries clearly influences the way in which homes are furnished and decorated. Scandinavian design is often characterized as minimalistic even though it is not the same as a minimalistic style. The latter is intrinsic to spirituality and philosophy rather than practicality. In recent years, mostly in the United States, minimalism has grown wildly popular as a lifestyle movement with TVshows like Netflix’s Marie Kondo.
Truth is, both approaches stress decluttering and leaving a space clean to enjoy. And this is something that starts with the design itself. It is easy to fall into the trap of wanting to add more and more pieces of furniture, without realizing how crowded a place might get. The challenge is to pick the right furniture for that specific space. You can easily do so with RoomBox – a 3D scene composer that allows you to realistically visualize and move within a space designed and decorated by you. See when minimal is too minimal and when you are cluttering a room with that extra dresser or rack.
Functionality & Practicality
Right in the same line as having a minimalistic approach for open space is the idea that furniture needs to be functional. And its inclusion in an interior design for a room – practical. Again, the notion goes back to the origins of the Scandi design. Beverly Solomon, creative director of Beverly Solomon Design says that
The ultimate goal of furnishing a tiny space can most probably be handled well by the Nordics.
Light of my life
The North of Europe is famous for its spectacular Nordic lights but at the same time, people spend a great part of the year with very few hours of sunshine. As a result, they have learned to appreciate it and make it an integral part of their home. So it comes as no surprise that “homes in Scandinavia are designed to let in as much natural light as possible and to trap it there”. Lighting, both natural and artificial, is crucial for experiencing a space. With RoomBox it can easily be imagined by placing the light sources and setting the room in the right solar orientation so that the sunlight behaves in a physically correct manner. You can make sure no room is too dark or bright, and that you have the perfect reading corner.
Keep it natural
Natural is a keyword for the Scandi design that follows the natural environment of Nordic homes, including what they are made of. Materials are often eco-friendly or sustainable, wooden with a lot of living green in terms of plants and flowers.
As for the color scheme – it revolves around contrasts between earth, stone, wood, white, and generally light colors in combination with some darker shades. The idea is not to go crazy as with the number of furniture pieces. Remember, less is more when “less” is well thought through.
Add a dash of cozy
Hygge is another trending word associated with the Scandinavian design. The word comes from Danish and the concept basically means
“a sense of cozy togetherness or feeling content with the present moment”
Hygge is all about the small things and the same goes for its application in interior design. All those decoration pieces like deliciously smelling candles, soft blankets, and your favorite mug for coffee or mulled wine, that make a space cozy and enjoyable, and give you the urge to be yourself and never leave.
This same feeling can be experienced when playing around with the RoomBox 3D composer. Users say they have so much fun they don’t feel the time pass. And the best part is you don’t have to leave because all the items you picked are already in your shopping cart. Click “Buy” and get that Scandi interior design on!
