The Scandinavian style has settled in modern apartments for a long time. Living rooms decorated in this stylistic direction are bright, simple and functional. The interior is primarily spacious, characterized by clean form and muted colors. The design is dominated by white, gray and brown. Scandinavian-style living room additions most often feature light, pastel colors. If you decide to decorate the main room of the house in a Scandinavian style, find out from the presented article what characterizes it, what materials and colors predominate?
Fashionable living room in Scandinavian style: close to nature
Scandinavian style comes from Northern Europe. The wildness and cold of this climate have inspired interior designers for several seasons. The main feature of the Scandinavian style is its close connection with nature. Interiors designed in this direction are characterized by minimalism and simplicity of form. Light walls, wood and functional furniture emphasize naturalness.
Simple and comfortable Scandinavian style works great both in small apartment living rooms and in spacious houses. Its bright colors optically enhance the interior, while raw wood warms the space. Geometric patterns and pastel colors of accessories enliven the entire Scandinavian arrangement.
Living room-office
Even in a small apartment, you can make room for organizing your own office. It is often placed in the bedroom or living room, with space allocated for a desk. The size of the table itself, as well as its location in the room, depends on how often you will work at it. For example, if you are choosing a table for a laptop, the width will be 55-60 cm; if it is a stationary computer, then you need to choose a table model whose depth will be at least 70 cm.
Living room design
. In the presented project, a small table and shelves, thanks to the light, almost merge with the wall and become invisible, but the accent is placed on the chair.
For consideration, we can offer three options for placing a desk in the living room.
1. The table is placed in the farthest corner of the room - the optimal solution if you rarely work at the table in the living room. And if you want to make it almost invisible, make the table and shelves a lighter tone, and place a beautiful shelving unit or screen next to it as an accent.
2. If you work at home, for example as a freelancer, then you will need a large and massive table with an extended window sill, which is perfect for working with a computer. If the shape of the living room itself is elongated and narrow, such a table will visually expand the room.
3. If the workplace is built into the cabinet itself. This option would be ideal for creative people, who often make such a mess on their desks. Therefore, here you can do this - you’ve done your work and that’s it, you can hide your workplace in the closet.
Desk in the interior
Scandinavian style in the living room interior: what is it characterized by?
Light and neutral colors are the main base in the Scandinavian style. The main colors include white, beige and light shades of gray. Natural materials in the form of wood are one of the most important features of the arrangement. Stone also plays an important role. Ergonomic shapes - convenience and comfort - are the basis of interior design in the Scandinavian style. Practical and functional furniture and accessories make the apartment harmonious. Expressive patterns - geometric designs combined with bright, contrasting colors enliven and highlight the character of Scandinavian style. Fabrics play a very important role in a Scandinavian living room. This trend loves natural materials such as cotton, linen or jute. Thick woven rugs are also good additions. The purpose of accessories is to make a damp Scandinavian interior more comfortable. A characteristic feature of living room decorations is practicality and an emphasis on light colors.
Finishes and materials
The choice of materials and finishes is largely determined by two ideas of the Scandinavian style: environmental friendliness and the desire for minimalism and simplicity.
Ceiling
It’s easiest to decide on the color and finish of the ceiling: in Scandinavian interiors it is usually white and without additional elements. Simple plaster works great, but sometimes matte suspended ceilings are used (glossy finishes are not the best option).
Even high ceilings should not be decorated with stucco or other decor: this will not fit into the Scandi style at all. The maximum that can be used is discreet white baseboards. Under no circumstances should they be colored: this will neutralize the ability of white to visually enlarge a room.
Idea! Sometimes decorative wooden beams are attached to the ceilings, which will make even a city apartment more “natural.” In the Norwegian style, you can even completely line the ceilings, walls and floors with wood.
Wooden beams on the ceiling make the room cozier
Walls
It is better to decorate the walls in the same color as the ceilings. The simplest and most popular solution in classic Scandi: paint them white. You can choose paint of a slightly different tone, but always light. In this case, even a small living room will seem larger and brighter.
Wallpaper is not often used in Scandinavian living rooms, but sometimes you can consider the option of liquid wallpaper or photo wallpaper. Monochromatic relief coatings look interesting.
It is better not to resort to horizontal and vertical combinations of colors: this can “cut off” the space.
Advice! There are paints and wallpapers on the market that can be easily washed off stains. An excellent solution for Scandinavian style!
An example of decorating an accent wall with imitation brickwork
Floor
The ideal option for a Scandinavian living room is a floor made of natural wood or based on it. This choice makes the room more lively and cozy, adding naturalness. Choose tones that are not too dark; shades of natural and bleached wood look great.
If you are decorating a living room in an apartment, you can choose baseboards or laminate that will accurately imitate natural materials.
Sometimes white floors are chosen for Scandinavian interiors.
The gaps between the beams make the room look larger
Large elements
Sometimes accent walls are made in living rooms, for example, upholstering them completely or partially with a different covering. More often, as you might guess, wood is used.
The ideal option for windows is snow-white wooden frames. It is better if they are the same color as the walls: if they differ even by a few tones, the room will look different.
Plastic windows do not really fit into the philosophy of the Scandinavian style, although this may be appropriate in an apartment. By the way, in Sweden they sometimes use natural stone window sills: you can consider this option.
Advice! It’s great if you can make wide window sills on which you can sit: this will make the living room more comfortable.
A window sill on which you can sit will become a focal point in your home or apartment.
Living room design in Scandinavian style: color choice
Correctly selected colors for arranging a Scandinavian-style living room are of great importance. White, beige or gray should dominate the walls, furniture and possibly the floor. Light colors make the interior brighter and more spacious. Complementing the composition with wooden elements warms up the cool Scandinavian design. This action will emphasize the natural nature of the arrangement.
Stylish accessories play an important role in modern Scandinavian-style interiors. Expressive pastel colors combined with muted white and gray will enliven a Scandinavian interior. Turquoise, blue, mint, green and soft pink are the most commonly chosen Scandinavian colors. If you want to decorate your living room in this direction, first of all keep in mind that the colors you want to use are found in nature.
Current palette
The decoration of the premises is dominated by light colors, which allows you to visually expand the room. White and its shades dominate, complemented by soft tones - from beige and milky to blue and silver.
- Gray gets along well with white; it is often diluted with lilac, cherry or olive flowers, which can be present in furniture upholstery and decorative elements.
- Blue or green contrast effectively with the main color: most often they are found when decorating walls and floors; it is quite possible to have them in individual pieces of furniture.
The contrast of white and black looks very bold. As a rule, these are small inclusions in the form of black photo frames; open shelving is possible. But any shades of wood look most impressive in the interior.
When decorating a room, it is worth remembering that furniture and a few decorative elements look most advantageous against the background of walls, windows and doors painted in the same color.
Living room in a Scandinavian style at home: what materials and fabrics to choose?
Scandinavian-style living rooms are filled with natural materials. This is a calm, spacious and cozy design. When decorating a room in Scandinavian style, emphasize its naturalness. Such interiors of the living room in the house have many elements made of natural wood. This not only emphasizes the relationship with nature, but above all it warms the room.
In addition to wood, natural fabrics also play an important role. These include cotton, linen and jute. Bedspreads and blankets with thick weaving are an excellent decoration for a Scandinavian-style interior. This is not only a pleasant, but also a functional solution. The use of natural materials and fabrics makes Scandinavian-style living rooms harmonious and stylish.
Decor and textiles
You can add character and a certain mood to the living room through original decorative elements. Accessories in the form of metal souvenirs, porcelain, ceramics or plaster products will harmoniously fit into the Scandi interior. On the wall above the sofa, one or more paintings with snow-covered landscapes of Scandinavia and retro images, as well as black and white photographs in thin frames, will perfectly fit.
Airy and weightless curtains that allow natural light to pass through well are suitable for decorating windows. Scandinavian style does not tolerate voluminous draperies, thick folds and bulky lambrequins. Rolled models decorated with ribbons, cords or ethnic embroidery will look laconic.
The photo shows a bright, cozy room in a Nordic style with beige translucent curtains on the windows.
A natural wool rug or a piece with server-like patterns will help make the guest room feel cozy. Furniture can be complemented with bedspreads and blankets with openwork patterns and pillows with silhouettes of black and white mountains.
Plants and flowers placed on tables, bedside tables or windowsills will significantly enliven the surrounding space.
Living room furniture in Scandinavian style
The living room is the central room in every home. It is used for relaxing, reading and receiving guests. That's why it's worth making the room comfortable and spacious. When choosing Scandinavian-style living room furniture, you should first consider functionality and color. White furniture with natural wood inserts is best suited. A Scandinavian-style sofa should be comfortable and comfortable. It is good to choose a corner or armchair in a light color to enliven the bright interior. The sofas are decorated with wooden legs. It is also worth taking care of the correct lighting, which will create the right atmosphere in the living room.
Choosing lighting
Northern landscapes seem dull and dark to us. It is not difficult to guess that there is not enough light there. This means that special attention is paid to lighting in northern interiors.
They install several levels of light so that at least the house is light, warm and cozy. Overhead light is a must-have element. The next level is wall decorative lamps. There are floor lamps on tables or near the sofa and armchairs. And in the reading corner there is a separate table lamp or decorative sconce. All these elements create additional comfort due to their appearance and presence. And when all the lights are turned on, the interior turns into a fairy-tale composition.
From a practical point of view, when choosing lamps, pay attention to the ability to adjust the lighting in height and intensity.
Lighting - practical and beautiful division into zones
Scandinavian-style interiors are spacious, bright and functional. An important element in the design of any apartment is proper lighting. It should not only have a decorative function, but above all be practical. Scandinavian style allows you to combine classic and simple shapes with modern design. The lamps are primarily soft lines and round shapes combined with wooden accessories. This style combines metal elements with wood and fabric. Table and floor lamps usually have shades in white, gray and warm brown. Contemporary Scandinavian lighting takes inspiration from classic, retro and industrial styles.
Color spectrum
The Scandinavian style is dominated by colors characteristic of the area where this trend originated - Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark). The main color of the design should be white. Light gray or light brown (the color of bleached wood) can be used in smaller quantities. Dark inclusions - blue, black - will also help to emphasize the light colors in the design. Appropriate “bright” colors used in the direction are dark mustard and dark turquoise. They allow you to give the overall interior an unusual look and make it unique.
When choosing a color scheme, you should not completely abandon your favorite bright colors. They may be present in the room in small quantities. For example, a red-white or orange-white pillow with a northern pattern will beneficially dilute the light design and emphasize comfort.
Living room in an apartment in a modern Scandinavian style
Scandinavian style arrangements are characterized by minimalism, naturalness and simplicity. The interiors of the rooms are spacious, decorated in light colors and furnished with functional furniture. Modern Scandinavian style combines natural colors with expressive colors of accessories. If you want to harmoniously furnish your apartment, do not forget to be consistent.
Scandinavian style is also an excellent base for creating various arrangements. This allows you to easily combine many styles and color variations. The coolness of the northern countries combined with light colors and geometric patterns will create a cozy interior. When decorating a living room in a Scandinavian style apartment, the most important thing is to maintain simplicity, minimalism and functionality.
Furniture selection
For the relaxation area in the living room, you should definitely choose a comfortable sofa. It is recommended to select models with soft armrests. It can be complemented by a pair of armchairs upholstered in the same fabric or as similar in quality as possible. The sofa itself can be white, light gray, gray-blue. A small coffee table placed in front of the sofa can have an auxiliary shelf or be supplemented with wheels. But it must be made of wood. To store books and souvenirs, it is recommended to purchase a small wooden rack in natural or bleached wood color, painted light gray or white. In a spacious living room, owners can also install a white bookcase with open shelves or hang 2-3 white shelves on the wall. If you intend to install a TV, then you can buy a simple white cabinet (similar to an installed coffee table) for it.
Kitchen-living room in Scandinavian style
The kitchen and dining room are just as important rooms in the home as the living room, so all three rooms can be combined into one. The location of these rooms is extremely important. Scandinavian style is perfect in the kitchen-living room. The interior, decorated in light colors, white furniture and wooden fittings will emphasize the simplicity and naturalness of the overall space. A Scandinavian-style dining room is dominated by light colors and raw materials. The most important piece of furniture in a dining-kitchen-living room is the table and chairs. A Scandinavian style table is usually large and made of solid wood. Chairs are a decoration and addition to the room. It is worth taking care of the right accessories. In this case, lamps, dishes, decorative bowls and vases will be an excellent solution.
Scandinavian-style interiors are characterized by minimalism, functionality and simplicity. All decorations in this direction are made with attention to the smallest details. You will find interesting ideas for decorating the living room in the photo gallery.
Bedroom-living room
It’s rare to find an option where the room is combined with a bedroom, and if you have a large family, this is not the right choice. But if this is a young couple, you have a one or two-room apartment, you might want to take a closer look at this layout option.
As an option for a partition, you can use the previously mentioned rack, dividing the room into zones, while maintaining natural light, as well as additional storage space.
Bedroom design with living room
. A great visual example of how to make a bedroom and living room from a one-room apartment.
