Living room in a Scandinavian style: features and design options

Your home may not have a dining room, separate bedroom or study, but it certainly does have a living room. This is a place where relatives and friends or household members gather after a working day. Therefore, it is important to make such a space as cozy and comfortable as possible.

Today, the Scandinavian style is gaining more and more popularity in interior design. It is rightfully considered one of the most versatile, suitable for both a country house and a small studio apartment. Let's talk about all the nuances associated with this style.

The main laws by which the interior design is built in the Scandinavian style are brevity, environmental friendliness, simplicity and the use of natural materials. There is a lot of air and free space in such halls. There is no flashy décor or ultra-modern furniture, but that does not mean at all that such a design looks boring. On the contrary, the rooms acquire a special lightness and charm. Let's summarize the main points.

• Color spectrum. The main color of the Scandinavian style can be called white, and in large quantities. For accents, shades of turquoise, red, blue, yellow, green or brown are used.
• Materials. We use exclusively natural raw materials or their quality substitutes.
• Furniture. Solid, high-quality, sometimes even massive wood furniture is used. In this style, she does not look clumsy at all. The upholstery is mainly made of linen and cotton. Sometimes suede is used. No satin or velvet.
• Decor. The Scandinavian style is not distinguished by an abundance of accessories and decorative elements. Most often, these are a few neat details that match in style and color. But you can also use complex decor, if you approach it wisely and not overdo it.

Since simple and harmonious are the main principles on which the Scandinavian style in the interior is built, it is worth using plain light materials in the decoration. This is the perfect solution for rooms of all sizes. The big one will not get smaller, but the small one will visually increase slightly. In addition, by doing so, you will create a beautiful background for furniture and decorative items.

Most often, the floor is covered with wood, ideally natural. But on the modern market there are many options for high-quality laminate that perfectly imitate real wood. It is best to use bleached wood, as well as materials in light brown, warm chestnut shades.

The walls must certainly be carefully leveled and prepared for further finishing. You can paint them, cover them with paper or fabric wallpaper. Typically, in Scandinavian interiors, the walls are exclusively white. Rarely do they come with color accents. By the way, window openings are made in a single color so that they do not contrast with the general background.

Leave the stucco and intricate baroque patterns. The Scandinavian style does not tolerate decorations on ceilings, even more complex ones. The maximum is a neat plinth.

Since the Scandinavian style implies comfort and practicality, a beautiful and comfortable sofa is most often located in the center of the living room. The color of its upholstery or pillows can just become an accent color in the room. For example, the walls and floor will be white, the furniture will be light brown, and the sofa will be turquoise, green, pink. Opposite the sofa, most often they place a TV, an audio system and other modern equipment, because now you can't do without it. Make sure that the equipment fits harmoniously into the interior. Massive black "boxes" will hardly decorate your Scandinavian living room.

You can also put a small coffee table next to the sofa. Ideally, light wood or clear glass. If you want to combine the living room with the dining room and put a large dining table there, then, if possible, give up the small coffee table.

It is worth putting shelves in the hall on which to place souvenirs, books, decorative elements. These should be simple open structures, completely opposite to the huge post-Soviet "walls". When arranging books and souvenirs, also avoid clutter. In general, all laconic furniture should be made of natural materials of a light shade. A large table can be covered with a linen or cotton tablecloth, or you can do without textiles at all. If you have the opportunity to purchase folding furniture, be sure to do it. The challenge is to leave the space as free as possible.

The main thing in the Scandinavian style is white, as well as all natural, natural shades. In order not to make a mistake with the palette, be inspired by natural motives. It can be the sea coast, cloudy skies of the northern countries, trees, open spaces. To decorate the room, put accents of red, blue, silver, pistachio, olive, plum shades. Here are some examples of the use of different colors in Scandinavian design.

• White. Living room furnishings, furniture and decor are white. A maximum of one wall can be complemented with one color.This is the most traditional version of this style.

• Beige. If you don't want to use only white, try decorating the room using sandy, milky, beige tones. They also visually expand the space, leaving a feeling of lightness and naturalness.

• Lilac. Soft and beautiful lilac will perfectly complement the interior in white or beige tones. Such a room will look especially beautiful in combination with green plants.

• Brown. One way or another, this color should be present in any Scandinavian interior. This is the color of trees that goes so well with any other shade.

• Green. Be sure to use muted soft shades of green. You can use them to make accents in textiles or decoration.

The Scandinavian style does not imply an abundance of accessories, while it simply needs to be diluted with decorative elements, otherwise it will look boring and uninteresting. But this must be done wisely. To create home comfort, you need to use textiles. Small pillows, soft blankets, carpets. Choose products made from natural fabrics: linen, wool, etc. Suitable decor for a Scandinavian living room will be candles, wicker baskets, frames with pictures of your family or friends. Figurines made of plaster, ceramics, wood are also suitable.

If you have a narrow small living room, stick to strict minimalism in everything. Think carefully about ergonomics, use only functional interior items. If a spacious hall can be decorated in an unusual color scheme, then make a small space exclusively in light colors. It is important to work out the shade palette as competently as possible.

If you still do not want to stop only on white, use pale pink, light lilac, beige and the like. Only the floor can be made dark. To visually expand a small space, make it as light as possible. Do not cover windows with heavy curtains.

• This is a cozy, elegant, classic example of a Scandinavian style interior. Large windows let in a lot of light, create a feeling of airiness and freedom. Minimalistic wooden furniture is fully in line with the design. An imitation of a fireplace adds coziness, high shelves with books fulfill not only a practical, but also an aesthetic function. The blue color is in perfect harmony with white and gray, and the bright pillows on the sofa do not knock out of the composition at all. On the contrary, they harmoniously complement it.

• This example also shows that the discreet Scandinavian style of the living room can look completely boring and very stylish. Light discreet finishing of the floor, walls and ceiling, gray furniture upholstery - everything is harmoniously combined. Due to the fact that the color of the shelves matches the shade of the walls, they do not clutter up the space and leave a sense of order and lightness. Color accents are placed with the help of bright elements on paintings, plates, pillows.

• This interior design option perfectly demonstrates that a simple and laconic style can be bright, lively and attractive. Solid light walls, ceiling and floor have become an excellent backdrop for bright textiles and decor, the shades of which resonate with the flowers in the vases. The stove has replaced the fireplace, and the laying of firewood gives the living room a special homeliness.

Now you know almost everything about the Scandinavian style in the interior of the living room. Get inspired and decorate your home to your liking!

In the next video, you will find 8 rules of Scandinavian interior design.