Scandinavian design has so much to offer. Modern and minimalist, the Nordic trend is renowned for it’s stylish simplicity and has become one of the most covetable looks of the past year.
It’s easy to recognise a Scandinavian design: Sleek, bright and airy, with clean lines and earthy, neutral tones. But you don’t have to be a purist to achieve the desired Scandi style. Make the look your own with pops of bright colour, or by adding in touches from different design trends for a simple but effective end result.
Scandinavian design can work in any room. A living room, for example, can be much improved with just a few Scandi touches. Choose a muted colour scheme of greys and pale pinks and add in cosy elements, such as wood-effect wallpaper, textured throws and rugs or bright accessories in warming orange.
A bedroom can become a calming and peaceful zone with a paired-back Scandinavian design. Go for an all-white backdrop to channel the simple Scandi look and add decorative extras, such as patterned bed throws or personal photos.
1/10 Scandinavian design ideas for your home
Make over your kitchen and dining rooms with some Nordic country-style textures. Panelled walls and painted floorboards are the perfect base for a white dining table and colourful dining set. Add blonde wood units to a cosy and colourful kitchen to give a nod to the trend without completely changing the style of your home.
Pink and wood-panelled Scandi living room
For a Scandinavian-style living room that’s cosy too, use wood-effect wallpaper in alcoves to create the look of panelling. Team the weathered-wood look with smooth wooden pieces, such as the pendant light, sideboard and circular tables here, to keep the room scheme refined. Go for striped and plain fabrics for cushions and throws and complete the look with elegant grey and pink ceramics.
Similar wallpaper
Andrew Martin
Similar pendant
BHS
2/10 Hallway storage with geometric yellow rug
Bring a hallway to life by covering one corner or wall with a geometric patterned paper in a tonal grey-green hue. Create a contrast to grey with an accent colour - we love the sunshine yellow accessories used here. This hallway has been made into an eyecatching space with wallpaper-lined fitted shelves that make a useful hub for coats, bags and boots.
Similar wallpaper
Borastapeter at Wallpaperdirect
Similar rug
Cloudberry Living
3/10 Muted pastel bedroom with pink bedding
This stylish bedroom has a luxurious, hotel-suite feel with pale pink bedlinen and a fringed throw in soft grey. To create a restful look, paint walls in a sophisticated blue-grey shade, which looks great alongside light wood flooring, and choose a grey leather and oak veneer bedside table. Raised shelving in black MDF adds storage to this room and a place to display framed photos and books.
Similar side table
BoConcept
Similar pink bedlinen
Loaf
4/10 Scandi living room with nest of tables
Want to know how to create perfect Scandi style on a budget? Here’s the perfect example. Walls look oh-so-stylish with a pale grey paint and natural flooring such as sisal keeps the look light. Go for a modern white sofa and add a burst of colour with indigo-blue and orange cushions. But the showstopper in this room has to be the nest of tables in beautiful blonde wood.
Similar nest of tables
Barker & Stonehouse
Similar map picture
HomeSense
5/10 Rustic dining table with colourful tablecloth
This wonderfully light dining room has a Swedish bench, a rustic table and contrasting Eames-style chair with a glossy white seat and shapely wooden legs. Choose a bright illustrator-style print for a colourful table runner and cover a lampshade with matching fabric. If you are lucky enough to have good floorboards, leave them exposed and either paint or whitewash them for a fresh Scandi look.
Similar table runner fabric
Marimekko at Nord
Similar table and benches
Pale & Interesting
6/10 Grey living room with orange chair
Team cool grey and geometrics with splashes of colour for a stylish Scandi look. Keep this contemporary living room scheme cool with grey walls, a smart modern sofa and wooden furniture. Add warmth to this cool grey background with a vibrant orange chair, geometric print cushions and a rug. Wooden cube tables and details such as the on-trend copper lampshade complement this autumnal look.
Similar chair
Wayfair
Similar cushion fabric
Villa Nova
Similar rug
Ideal Home Boutique
7/10 Scandi panelled living room
This elegant dining room has a refined Nordic look. The laser-cut animal heads are a witty twist on traditional hunting trophies. Paint walls in a calming, neutral shade - here the dark wood display cabinet contrasts with the pale panelled walls. The sleek white and wood table reflects the light beautifully and, combined with Danish-style dining chairs, really pulls the Scandinavian look together.
Similar trophy heads
Lazybone
Similar dining table
Danform at FurnitureMind
8/10 White Scandi bedroom
We love this stylish white bedroom, which ticks all the boxes for simple Scandinavian style. Here walls and floorboards are painted white as a calming backdrop, while a small picture shelf displays decorative prints above the bed. To make this room a little more cosy, the bed is dressed with a colourful geometric cushion and soft grey fringed throw. Nordic-style bedside tables with matching lamps add symmetry.
Similar blanket
Hus & Hem
Similar cushion
Donna Wilson
9/10 Dining room with geometric rug
Go for a bright and punchy Nordic feel in a country-style dining room or conservatory. Combine different textures with panelling on the walls, a shutter-style wooden dining table and woven chairs. Add impact with brightly patterned table runners and simple accessories including white tableware and an oversized glass vase. The lampshade in a quirky black-and-white design is a great decorative touch.
Similar tablecloth fabric
Folia Fabrics at Harlequin
Similar rug
The Rug Company
10/10 Green Scandi Crush kitchen
This freestanding kitchen unit is something of a classic, with blonde wood, white doors and a stainless-steel sink. Here this unit looks perfect against restful green wallpaper, creating a homely, unexpected spin on the usual all-white Nordic style. Pastel-coloured kitchen accessories, a floral apron and gingham tea towel give this a pretty Scandinavian look that would look great even in a small kitchen.
Similar apron and kitchenware
GreenGate at Love from Rosie
Similar freestanding kitchen unit
Ikea
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