How to Decorate a Living Room in Scandinavian Style: 20 Affordable Ideas

Scandinavian interiors can adapt to current trends, grow with new solutions and decorative techniques, but rarely become outdated. In this post we tell about modern living rooms in Scandinavian style and how to arrange your own living room without budget holes.

What solutions will always be relevant? The philosophy of hygge and lagom

Throws, candles and quiet joys in the spirit of hygge like unhurried coffee breaks and reading books still appear in typical Scandinavian interiors.

Just like lagom, the trend that exploded worldwide last year. Lagom translates as 'Swedish lifestyle', for which rational and eco-friendly consumption is the priority. If hygge is comfort, then lagom is moderation in everything.

We've selected a base for a Scandinavian living room on the Hoff furniture store website

This corner sofa folds into a full-size bed, and practical items that do two things at once — this is very Scandinavian.

A throw for a living room in the Scandinavian style should be warm and beautifully draped. The Zigzag throw has even more merits: it contains 100% cotton and cute brushes in the design.

Simple appearance and lamp color are complemented by golden accents to make it clear that Scandinavian style is not as simple as it seems.

When buying a bookcase, pay attention to subdued models with simple hardware so that its design does not distract from the main thing — what will be inside.

Where to put a laundry basket? Not necessarily in the bathroom! It can be placed in the living room to store magazines and various small items, and also used as a planter for a large flower pot.

Scandinavians don't fear a lot of cushions on sofas — and they're right to do so. When choosing suitable cushions, find a place for one of fur — this immediately adds warmth to the living room. In this model it's artificial — no animal was harmed.

A footstool in the living room is a versatile item. It can be used to seat guests or place a cup of coffee.

We definitely like this newspaper rack made of water hyacinth — both in appearance and eco-friendliness.

A living room in Scandinavian style is unthinkable without plants. Therefore, stock up on ceramic pots, for example, neutral-shaped in capuccino color.

Scandinavian modern

End of the 1950s – mid-1960s — time of the peak of Scandinavian design: Arne Jacobsen creates the iconic egg chair, Eero Saarinen — the tulip chair, Hans Wegner — the Wishbone chair. Several pieces of furniture with recognizable design from that era will hint at the style of the living room and good taste of its owner or mistress. If you can't afford to splurge on original furniture, it's no big deal: choose quality replicas or items stylized for the 50s–60s.

Arne Jacobsen, 1958 year

Hans Wegner's Wishbone chairs

Tulip chair by Eero Saarinen in interior

Elements of Gustavian style

King Gustav III ruled Sweden for a short time, but he managed to leave behind a light and bright Gustavian style or Northern Neoclassicism. Some of its techniques are actively used in modern Scandinavian settings. Not everyone can afford to buy a tile stove and Swedish clocks by Moras, but a high wainscoting, gypsum ceiling rose and a light classical chandelier are quite affordable solutions.

Chandelier 'Carolina', 55,999 rubles, Hoff

Chandelier V1253/5, 5,199 rubles, Hoff

Chandelier 'Aurora', 4,499 rubles, Hoff

Light matte wood

Swedes are eco-friendly: natural materials and shades can be found in every Scandinavian interior. If this is the floor, it's almost always light and matte, which is not only eco-friendly and beautiful but also practical: footprints and small stains are barely visible.

Plant motifs

Minimalism and monochrome have moved to the second place, yielding to expressive decor and complex decorative techniques. A common solution among Swedish decorators is plant themes on wallpapers, prints, curtains, and cushions on sofas. Inspiration can be drawn from the works of Scandinavian artists, potters, and textile brands. Decor with Nordic patterns and motifs will help make the living room truly Scandinavian.

Works of Swedish textile designer Emma von Bremen will appeal to fans of monochrome interiors. The graphics of the Swedish artist and illustrator Petra Börner clearly show Nordic motifs. By the way, the illustrations for the book about lagom The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life created by the founder of the popular interior blog My Scandinavian Home, Nikki Brandmark, were also designed by Petra. Petra draws for Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Louis Vuitton, Cacharel, Selvedge and IKEA. Kauniste — a Finnish textile and home accessories brand. Young Scandinavian artists work on designing products. Wallpapers with patterns from the archives of William Morris are highly respected by Swedish designers. Although Morris is English, plants on his drawings look very similar to northern ones. The Finnish fashion house Marimekko is more than half a century old. About the same time, the brand's signature print with red poppies Unikko.

Decorative cushion, 299 rubles, Hoff

Decorative cushion, 299 rubles, Hoff

Decorative cushion, 179 rubles, Hoff

10 simple tricks, spotted in Scandinavian living rooms

Swedes are attentive to small details, and this helps them create comfort from readily available materials. Let's learn this precious quality from examples in our selection.

Multilayer textiles.

Weaved furniture and decor.

Living greenery.

Pictures and canvases in frames on the floor.

A footstool or sideboard instead of a coffee table.

Mix of classic details and ultra-modern elements.

Clean brick wall.

Handmade ceramics, clay decor.

Organizers and mood boards.

Complex shelving and bookcases.

Careful: anti-trends!

When decorating a living room in Scandinavian style, avoid solutions that have become annoying. For example, these.

TOTALLY WHITE ROOM

In Sweden, walls are still painted in this color, but much less frequently now, alternating with other colors or filling the space with furniture and decor in vibrant shades.

WHAT TO REPLACE: dark, saturated tones — graphite, blue, green or salmon. In addition, the cool Scandinavian palette has significantly warmed up, so it's safe to introduce terracotta, sand and mustard shades into the living room interior.

FRAMEWORK PARTITIONS

If the design of a living room includes loft motifs, such partitions only intensify the industrial atmosphere of the room. If there are no loft elements in the interior, it's better to find a more calm and uncluttered alternative for such partitions.

WHAT TO REPLACE: slatted or venetian constructions. They also let in light and help zone the room. Another option is a solid glass partition.

BLACK AND WHITE POSTERS WITH FAMOUS PEOPLE

Natalia Vodianova and Scarlett Johansson, of course, are good, but not in such numbers as designers tried to force upon us by hanging their portraits in every second Scandinavian-style living room.

WHAT TO REPLACE: family photos, macro shots, illustrations from old textbooks and even postcards. A fresh Scandinavian trend is large-format paintings or photos. They are hung on walls or simply placed on the floor.

To avoid mistakes in arranging a mixed gallery, take one color as the basis and make sure it repeats in every image. Don't forget to style all of them in frames and matting in a unified style.