Colour Tips For The Best Scandinavian Interior
Photo via Home Stratosphere
The Scandinavian interior design style is a popular design choice (one of my favourites), and for many reasons. It’s a style where simplicity meets sophistication, and functionality meets beauty. Defined by clean lines, minimalist decor, and natural elements, Scandinavian interiors exude a sense of calm and tranquility; a harmonious balance between form and function.
Picture this: walls bathed in soft, diffused light, furniture crafted from warm, natural wood, and aesthetic accents. Every element serves a purpose, every detail is carefully curated to create an environment that is both inviting and effortlessly chic. In Scandinavia, the concept of hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is central. It encapsulates the feeling of cosiness, contentment, and well-being. It is heavily present in Scandinavian interiors, from the importance of natural light to the choice of materials that evoke a sense of connection to the natural world.
In this blog post, we'll discuss more this popular interior design style, especially the best colours and tones to create your own stylish Scandinavian haven.
The power of light and airy colours
Photo via Art Facade
In Scandinavian interior design, light and airy colours are essential to create spaces that feel open, inviting, and serene. These hues are strategically used as a backdrop for the understated elegance and sophistication that defines Scandinavian interiors.
White as the ultimate neutral
White is central in Scandinavian interiors. It acts as a blank canvas, allowing other design elements to shine while infusing the space with brightness and spaciousness. White walls serve as the perfect backdrop for showcasing natural materials, sleek furnishings, and personal accents. Choose a crisp white for even more brightness, or a softer white like Benjamin Moore’s White Dove or Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster for more warmth.
The versatility of light grey
If you want a bit more than just white, consider a light grey. Whether used as a wall colour or incorporated through furnishings, light grey infuses a sense of sophistication and tranquility into the space. It offers a subtle contrast while maintaining a cohesive and harmonious aesthetic.
Soft neutrals
In addition to white and light grey, soft neutrals such as beige, ivory, greige, and light taupe play a pivotal role in adding a Scandinavian touch to your interior. These gentle hues exude warmth and cosiness, creating a space that invites relaxation and contemplation. Whether on walls, upholstered furniture, window treatments, or accent pillows, soft neutrals add a touch of luxury to the overall design scheme, elevating the atmosphere and creating a haven of comfort and style.
By embracing white, light grey, and soft neutrals, you can create a sanctuary that is as inviting and soothing as it is inspiring.
Incorporating subtle accents
Photo via Poles and Blinds
Choosing a neutral colour for your walls like white, beige, or light grey, gives you ample room for infusing subtle accents to add personality and visual interest to the space. These subtle touches play an essential role in elevating your Scandinavian aesthetic while maintaining harmony and balance.
Soft pastel hues
Soft pastel hues, such as pale pink, powder blue, and mint green, offer a beautiful way to introduce colour into your predominantly neutral space. Whether incorporated through textiles, artwork, home decor accessories, or accent walls, these gentle shades add a hint of warmth, playfulness, and contrast to the space. Imagine a blush pink throw blanket or a collection of mint green decor pieces, these subtle accents can instantly bring life into the room and create a more inviting, soothing, and personalised look.
Sleek black accents
Incorporating black accents can add depth and contrast to the space, creating a striking visual impact. Whether in the form of black metal lights, matte black hardware, bold graphic prints, or other home decor elements, black accents provide a sense of sophistication and modernity. By introducing these darker elements sparingly, you can create a sense of visual balance and drama that enhances the overall design scheme.
Incorporating subtle accents is a key step for adding personality and visual interest to your space. It will help break down the monotony of white walls and avoid a boring and cold look. These subtle touches can truly turn a simple neutral space into a stylish and inviting sanctuary.
Embracing Natural Elements
Photo via Still and Bloom
Introducing natural elements into your space is essential when designing a Scandinavian interior. Wood, natural stone, woven fibers…these natural materials are grounding and rich. They infuse interiors with a sense of warmth and reconnection to nature.
The warmth of wood
Wood is a central element of Scandinavian design, loved for its warmth, versatility, and timeless appeal. It can be in the form of light oak, rich walnut, or pale birch, these wood accents create a warm, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere. Think of gorgeous hardwood floors, sleek furniture pieces, wooden beams, or handcrafted home decor elements.
Stone and concrete
In addition to wood, natural stone and concrete are other great materials to add texture and visual interest to a space. From sleek marble countertops and minimalist concrete walls to porcelain or ceramic tiles, these materials bring a sense of earthiness to a room, grounding the design and adding a touch of drama. You can use them sparingly as focal points or throughout your home, they will add character and visual interest to your Scandinavian interior.
Woven textiles and natural fibers
Woven textiles and natural fibers are useful to soften the clean lines and minimalist look of Scandinavian design, adding warmth, texture, and visual interest to the space. Think cosy wool blankets, boucle armchairs, linen curtains, woven rattan chairs, and jute area rugs. These natural materials bring richness and depth to the room, creating a more inviting and comfortable environment.
The natural materials presented above create a sense of harmony and connection to the natural world, central to Scandinavian design style, and help bring comfort and beauty into your space.
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Scandinavian design celebrates simplicity, functionality, and the beauty of everyday living. Whether you're drawn to the clean lines and its minimalist aesthetic, or the warmth and texture of natural materials, there is something comforting, grounding, and timeless about this design style that resonates with us.
Choose colours that reflect your personality and style, and incorporate elements to create a space that feels uniquely yours. If you are struggling to choose the right paint colours for your interior, get in touch with me. I offer a custom colour selection service and I would be more than happy to help you transform your interior into your dream home.
Thank you for reading and happy decorating,
Manon xx
