How To Create A Scandinavian Style Interior

The closest most of us get to Scandinavian interior design is a Saturday afternoon trip to Ikea, but this fabulous interior design trend is far more steeped in classic designer style and travels much further back in interior design history than its contemporary incarnation.

Scandinavian homes take the basic concepts of the modernist movement (seen by designers such as Miles Van Der Rohe) and blends it with natural forms and traditional materials. Furniture is crafted in flowing shapes from light regional woods that are readily available across Scandinavian forests. These interior features adopt a 'beauty for all' motto that allows it to be easily accessible to every household.

Colour Scheme

Scandinavian interiors are all about white! Brilliant white, antique white, pebble white; these illuminating shades reflect the crisp Nordic surroundings of Scandinavian homes and give a clean and fresh appearance to any interior space. These sharp white tones can be complemented using pale greys and silvers for a variation in visual colour but once again retains the natural and organic feel of the native landscapes. These neutral and minimal interior designs are often accompanied by splashes of colourful wall art, accessories and textiles for a contrasting burst of pattern and detail.

Furniture

No Scandinavian interior would be complete without the fabulous furniture stylings of Arne Jacobsen. His famous designs and eye-catching chairs have long been associated with Nordic style interiors and the marriage of modernist design and natural materials. Perhaps one of his most famous designs is the instantly recognisable 'Ant' chair. First created in 1952 this chair was designed using lustrous blonde wood that was crafted into a luxurious curved shape. Originally designed with three legs for ergonomic comfort it was then designed with four legs which is the most incarnation of this design that we see today. Whilst original Arne Jabobsen chairs can still be purchased there are fantastic modern reproductions that allow you top recreate his famous Scandinavian look at a fraction of the cost.

Accessories

Accessories are the one area of a Scandinavian interior where colour can be introduced. Plain designs or bold patterns work equally well against the sleek white decor and a selection of modern art will make a great focal point on a feature wall. For a scattering of colour throughout your interior then why not include some traditional Scandinavian glassware such as the famous and curvaceous 'Savoy' vase that was designed by Alvar Aalto for the opening of the Savoy hotel in Helsinki in 1937.

Floral patterns

Floral patterns are huge in Scandinavian interior design and usually appear in bold and bright shapes such as orchids, daisies or cacti. The famous name associated with these designs is Marimekko; a Finnish design company that has been producing fashion and interior prints since the 1960s. Their bold and eye-catching prints look fabulous against the stark white backdrop of Scandinavian interiors and are a versatile style of art that can be adapted into wall art, furnishings and upholstery to add a quirky and fun element that is evident throughout Nordic interior design.

For more inspirational Scandinavian interior ideas take a look at today's Pinterest board - Pinterest - Scandinavian Interiors.