How to Make a Monochrome Interior Cozy: A Black-and-White House in Sweden

Among the villas and apartment buildings that have been built in the quiet suburbs of the Swedish town of Borås, this log house stood out a bit strangely, but David and Anna immediately knew what it could become. They felt cramped in their city apartment and wanted to be closer to nature. Their three-year-old son Adam also benefited from living in the countryside.

After purchasing the house, the Johanssons enthusiastically began preparing for their move. They decided to paint the yellow pine facade in black, as has been done for centuries in Scandinavian countries. The black color attracts sunlight – it provides additional warmth during cold seasons.

They made the interior white, as in most Swedish apartments. Thanks to this, it became light, airy, and bright even on gloomy days. The black floor creates a striking contrast with white walls and gives furniture a graphic clarity.

Still, Anna and David are not entirely satisfied with the flooring and continue refining it: they sand and tone it to make it as smooth as a forest pond's mirror.

Other work is also ongoing: the couple plans to install facade lighting in the near future, which isn't easy. The next steps are the bathrooms. David also intends to level the slanted area around the house.

As they fill the house with belongings, Anna boldly combines finds from flea markets and sales with furniture from online stores and doesn't shy away from budget solutions: for example, the Johanssons made their bed headboard themselves.

What the homeowners like most is the tranquility this house brings them. The reason for that isn't just the soothing color combination, but also the life principle they both follow. "We leave all negativity outside," David laughs. "Because happiness is not outside, but inside. It's one of the lessons from Buddha." No wonder the Johanssons put a Buddha statue by the front door!