Simplicity, elegance, functionality and minimalism are the main characteristics of North European style – Scandi.

Scandinavian style derived from Sweden, where long, cold and dark mornings, as well as evenings, are having an effect on day-to-day life, health and well-being. It was thought of in an effort to keep light in homes for longer. It first came to prominence in the 1950s, as Arne Jacobsen kickstarted the trend with the concept of functional architecture using colour and raw materials. Part of what makes it so aesthetically pleasing is its lack of clutter. You won’t find any unnecessary items laying around Scandinavian-style rooms; instead, everything has its place with no clutter to be found.

The main colour in Scandi designs is white that comes in different shades. Very bright walls, white furniture and even a white wooden floor mean that more light is being reflected, ultimately enlargening spaces and visually brightening interiors giving them a characteristic freshness.

People in Scandinavia like to live in harmony with nature and so they chose natural decor, which reflects their eco lifestyle. This also means using raw materials in interior decoration, mostly natural wood, flax, jute, cotton or stone.

There are four main types of Scandinavian style: Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish. All four have a common theme which is inseparable white colour and brightness, but they differ in the detail.

Danish

Danish style stands out thanks to its romanticism and subtlety. Danish design has become synonymous with timeless style, so is easy to incorporate into any home.

Homes in Denmark adopt spacious floor plans, clean lines and minimalistic furnishings. Importance is set on windows and lamps, light-coloured fabrics, and other accessories including candles. Furniture pieces such as dining tables, side tables and chairs are kept sleek, simple and practical.

Swedish

The Swedish design is rather rigid and harsh. Minimalism is key here, hence there aren’t many accessories that could clutter the rooms and create chaos in design.

Apart from calm and muted tones, Sweden is well known for its traditional crafts, including glass. Furniture design combines straight lines and gentle curves.

Finnish

Finnish style stands out thanks to its use of geometrical sharp forms and angles.

The white colour is often accompanied by dark or bright accessories, such as wall-mounted graphics, lamps or other elements.

The Finnish style commonly uses industrial accessories, pallets or hand made recycled goods.    

Norwegian  

Norway boasts its own unique design identity; durability, beauty, functionality, simplicity and natural forms.  

Norwegian architecture is often referred to as democratic, as it adopts the notion of being made available to everyone through products that are accessible and affordable. Its designs offer a quirky mix of cutting-edge, modernism and traditionalism.

JDW Architects
We hope that this article helps you when creating your own, unique Scandi-inspired space. For more information about JDW’s planning processes, take a look at our about page, view our projects here, or call us on 016 3324 5020.