Scandinavian-style houses: beautiful design ideas

A house with notes of Scandinavian design in architecture and interior design has not been called exotic for a long time. At the moment, this is one of the most popular stylistic trends. Fashion magazines and designer shops are full of ideas for decorating beautiful interiors in the style of the peoples of Northern Europe.

After all, it is Scandinavia that brings into the house the spirit of the northern peoples and all those valuable character traits that they possess. Of these, the love of nature, thrift, family and the measured pace of life are especially distinguished. No one else knows how to enjoy life and appreciate every moment as indigenous northerners. Let's try to figure out what are the special characteristics and accents of the Scandinavian style in the interior and exterior design of houses.

Scandinavian design is distinguished by:

• Maximum amount of natural light, as well as finishing materials and decor elements, decorated in light shades of the color palette, which visually enlarges the space. This is also facilitated by the natural flow of different territorial zones of the house into each other. So, the kitchen can be combined with the living room or dining room, preventing natural light from colliding with obstacles in the form of unnecessary doorways.

• Natural materialsused in construction, decoration, furnishings and textiles. If "naturalness" is absent in some aspects, Scandinavia assumes its visual imitation. For example, artificial bricks, fur and other materials.
• Practicality. Any accessory or interior item involves its direct use. Northerners are not adherents of artsy luxury.
• Modesty in decoration and furnishings.

The Scandinavian design of a separate small room or a huge country house with a terrace is, first of all, a mirror of the owner, which reflects his attitude to life, a sense of style and comfort. Despite the traditions laid down in this style, the direction is as modern and relevant as possible.

A touch of Scandinavia in the interior will suit anyone who appreciates the comfort of a home and the warmth of a family home.

Let's take a step-by-step look at the features of the Scandinavian interior in construction and design.

As with any project, building a house begins with its layout. As mentioned earlier, the Scandinavian style looks great on both small and fairly spacious areas. That is why a house can have more than just a mini-layout. Most often, Scandinavian-style private houses have no more than two floors.

In the event that the house is two-story, a separate element of the interior is a wooden staircase connecting the tiers to each other. It can be an accent or, on the contrary, performing an extremely practical function, laconically fit into the interior. For example, spiral staircases with large wooden steps can refresh the space, while standard staircases are a purely practical element that includes storage in the form of boxes built into the steps.

In one-story houses, the attic often plays the role of the second tier.Houses with an attic look special not only for their external appearance, but also for their internal layout. The attic tier can combine a cozy resting place, a children's room with the possibility of access to a spacious minimalistic balcony. The functionality of the attic room directly depends on its quadrature and the slope of the roof.

If the guest is greeted by clothes, then the house is greeted by the facade. It is his artistic and architectural appearance that influences the first impression a house will leave in the memory of a person: whether it will be warm acceptance of it or an incomprehensible rejection.

Also, the facade of the house assumes full compliance with the location of the building. Thus, log cottages are most often found in natural landscapes outside the city, and buildings that look ultramodern from the outside, within the city or metropolis. Another great advantage lies in the versatility and relevance of the Scandinavian style.

Exterior decoration of the Scandinavian style primarily implies practicality, and, of course, laconicism. The northerners are very fond of the phrase "discreet beauty", which is perfect for describing the appearance of most of these houses. Norwegian buildings are a vivid confirmation of this. As a rule, the roof has a simple gable shape, and the facade of the house itself does not differ in many details or accents.

Initially, the house can be wooden, built from logs, chopped by hand, or frame, which in the future also affects the need for its exterior decoration. Wood is most often used to decorate the facade of frame houses. Natural materials are not the cheapest option, but they definitely look decent. Often the wood is covered with dark shades of paint. The most popular are dark blue, burgundy, deep emerald, chocolate shades.

A more economical option is siding the house.

Windows, beams and platbands are also elements of the facade of the building and greatly influence its appearance. A feature of such a house is the presence of high, rough windows, sometimes one of the windows can overlook two floors, thereby uniting them or having a panoramic design. The frames are made of rough wood and are very solid. Platbands are absolutely minimalistic, as a rule, they contrast with the color of the building.

The roofs of Scandinavian-style houses are most often tiled or framed with painted metals. It has a pitched design and generally steep slope angles.

What is hidden inside such a laconic and mesmerizing house? Color, light and general mood are initially set by its interior decoration. Even being minimalistic in many ways, it presupposes the observance of certain rules in creating a single interior style. Let's go through a few important aspects step by step.

A great solution for Scandinavian-style walls is white. It is he who reflects the sun's rays, filling the space with light, which is so lacking in the north.

The first step is white or beige plaster. Most often, the walls are perfectly smoothly plastered and covered with light shades of paints, and the choice of shade can vary from the color of coffee with milk to the tints of pale blue. When choosing, it is important not to put yourself in the framework of exclusively white, but to continue searching for the best option. The Scandinavian style approves of the presence of no more than one or two leading colors, so multicolor should not be allowed.

The choice in favor of paint does not limit the flight of imagination; sometimes, as an accent, certain from the walls is pasted over with wallpaper. For example, the collections of coatings from Swedish companies do not exclude small ornaments and also provide a sufficient selection of perfectly matching designs.

Quite often you can find brickwork or wooden wall decoration, which especially adds comfort to the interior. It can be both wooden panels and wooden planks placed horizontally. The shade of the wood can also vary.

In addition to painting the walls, the ceiling can also be attributed. Most often, it is also performed in light colors. Perfectly aligned, it is complemented by artificial lighting elements such as LED lamps or chandeliers.

Natural wood flooring is very common in this interior style. The wood is covered with varnish or special oils that perfectly emphasize its texture. Such a coating sets off the snow-white walls and makes the room visually warmer, as well as delicate shades of wood perfectly complement the carpet products that add accents. Typically, large pile carpets or faux hides contrast with the color of the flooring.

Unlike wood, which covers most of a home's flooring, kitchen and bath areas are often checkerboard tiles. Ceramic tiles with various patterns perfectly complement the space and divide it geographically, adding variety.

As soon as the interior cosmetic decoration of the room is completed, and the zoning stage is no longer the most important issue, it is time to fill the space. It's time to pick up furniture, combine textiles and other little things that complement the space. It's time to put everything in its place.

Perhaps one of the key elements of the interior. As already mentioned, Scandinavia is the maximum of natural light, which is why the northerners get rid of the curtains on the windows without regret. Light white tulle or natural cotton fabric can be a rare exception.

But what about in the evening? The Danish habit of lighting lots of candles is unlikely to provide adequate lighting. Light sources, minimalistic in their design, come to the rescue. For example, diode chandeliers, distinguished by their ergonomics.

Another advantage of such a light source is the power of the luminous flux and its directivity. Compared to alternative light sources, diode lamps instantly light up and can also have different colors and shades of color, which also helps to play with the design of the room.

The rule is that there should be three light sources in any space. Of these, the main one is the main lighting in the form of a chandelier, the additional one is directional lighting, such as lamps or floor lamps, and the third type is decorative lighting that complements the space and its atmosphere.

Any light source can become a harmonious part of the interior or a separate art object that adds a special accent. So, northerners are not afraid to use many alternatives in lighting: table lamps, floor lamps, wall and ceiling lamps, pendant lamps for terraces and decoration of the adjacent territory. Light sources can be of different shapes and sizes, made from different materials.

Most likely, you have already guessed that the furniture in the Scandinavian interior is as practical as possible and looks restrained and laconic. But these are not the only features of the furnishing of such premises.

The fact is that modern Scandinavian design perfectly combines historical elements and absolute novelties. Thus, a vintage furniture masterpiece of the 50-60s can fit in a room with equal success. from a Swedish flea market and a simple modern floor lamp. Not everyone is a connoisseur of designer antiques and is ready to pay a lump sum for a shabby wardrobe.Someone is trying to equip a nice little country house, and someone is a spacious country cottage.

An alternative solution is the affordable Swedish company Ikea, which maintains the canons of minimalism and practicality. Everything from large furniture, items for a full-fledged arrangement of a bathroom or kitchen to the smallest details of textiles and decor can be easily found in millions of beloved Swedes.

It is the furniture that emphasizes the message that was originally incorporated into the exterior of the house and its interior decoration. Furniture sets accents while remaining as simple as possible. Pretentiousness is not about the Scandinavian style. There will be no bends and unnecessary details on the cabinet handles, on the contrary, maximum simplicity and, of course, practicality.

Often, furniture is made of simple types of wood such as birch, beech, pine: chairs, coffee tables, kitchen sets, spacious cabinets or convenient storage systems in the form of shelving. Wicker furniture remains very popular. These can be wicker comfortable armchairs softened with blankets or pillows, stools, wicker elements in wooden headsets, as well as floor boxes, convenient for storage.

Storage systems and a reverent attitude towards them are, perhaps, a special point in furnishing a room. Northerners, as true connoisseurs of minimalism in everything, also love a clear structure and organization, both in life and in housekeeping.

From here, you can see a special relationship to storage systems, the logic of organizing space in external manifestations, but also inside certain cabinets or storage rooms. Nothing superfluous - the motto of the Scandinavians.

One of the main attributes of the Scandinavian style is the fireplace. It is by no means always practical, but it plays an important role in expressing the value of tradition and brings a special note of warmth to the interior. Fireplaces can be made of brick or cast iron, as well as decorated in a classic or modern style. What exactly your fireplace will be, fully depends on the general style of the room in which it is located.

The decor of such spaces is expressed in accents. Every thing that has a practical use serves as a decor, be it a carpet on the floor or a stylish lamp. Even a voluminous bookcase, complemented by candles and a poster, is an excellent interior solution.

The coldness of the northern Scandinavian nature is more than compensated by the presence of a variety of textiles. It creates additional coziness and fills the house with warmth.

When choosing textiles, it is also better to give preference to natural fabrics. The living room will be perfectly complemented by a pair of cozy blankets in pastel shades. Pillows can be used not only as an attachment to the sofa, but also as separate seats on the floor. If you conditionally zone the reading space, then a pair of pillows with Scandinavian ornaments will harmoniously complement such a corner.

Also, textiles are very popular in table setting. Shared family meals are a special value and procedure for northerners.

The Danish term "hygge" encourages us to listen not only to what we eat, but also how we do it. Any dish on the table should not only be tasty, but also exquisitely served in order to turn every single meal into a little ritual.

If, after familiarizing yourself with the main distinguishing features of a Scandinavian interior, you still lack inspiration for planning your own corner, here are some interesting ideas.

Cozy white living room filled with light.Several types of lighting, multi-layer floor textiles. The special comfort of the room is created by the details that complement each other.

Or sophisticated minimalism, but still the same fullness of light and the use of natural materials.

A spacious room for families or for receiving guests. The fireplace and wood paneling add a special warmth to the space. You can also trace natural materials in everything from furniture to textiles.

Excellent examples of the harmonious flow of one zone into another. The kitchen is adjacent to the living room without conflict. The room looks complete due to the correctly placed color accents. The whiteness and simplicity of the walls and furniture is complemented by wooden elements, bright sofa upholstery, as well as details such as posters and kitchen appliances, which in this case has more than a practical function.

As you can see, Scandinavian design harmoniously fits not only into any area, but also into any type of room, examples of children's rooms are proof of this.

The classic version of the exterior of the house, designed in the Scandinavian style. Blue and white finish, clean lines, laconic design.

Scandinavian simplicity and laconicism are perfect for lovers of classic and modern style. Natural materials, contrasting color combination, strict form. An abundance of greenery will help to add coziness to such a house: houseplants, a well-groomed lawn, green spaces around the building.

An unusual decoration of a pitched roof using landscaping will help to make a small cozy house truly original.

For information on how to decorate the interior of an apartment in a Scandinavian style, see the next video.