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interiors can adapt to current trends, grow with new solutions and decorative techniques, but rarely become outdated.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 decorate 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 slow coffee pauses and reading books still appear in typical Scandinavian interiors.

Just as lagom, the trend that exploded worldwide last year. Lagom translates as 'Swedish lifestyle', where rational and ecological consumption is prioritized. While hygge is comfort, lagom is moderation in everything.

We have 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 Scandinavian style should be warm and beautifully draped. In the Zigzag throw, there is still more to admire: 100% cotton and cute brushstrokes in the design.

Simple appearance and lamp color complement gold accents to make it clear: Scandinavian style is not as simple as it seems.

When buying a bookcase, pay attention to restrained models with simple hardware so that the 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 also be placed in the living room to put magazines and various small things, and also used as a planter for a large flower pot.

Scandinavians are not afraid of a large number of pillows on sofas – and they are right. When choosing the right pillows, find a place for one of fur – this will immediately add warmth to the living room. In this model it is artificial – no animal was harmed.

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

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

A Scandinavian-style living room is unthinkable without plants. Therefore, stock up on ceramic pots, for example, in a neutral shape in the color of cappuccino.

Scandinavian modern

End of the 1950s – mid-1960s – time of the peak of Scandinavian design: Arne Jacobsen creates the iconic egg chair, Alvar Aalto creates the tulip chair, Hans Wegner creates 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 hostess. If you can't afford to splurge on original furniture, it's not a big deal: choose quality replicas or items stylized for the 50s–60s.

Arne Jacobsen, 1958 year

Hans Wegner's Wishbone chairs

Tulip chair by Alvar Aalto in interior

Elements of Gustavian style

King Gustav III ruled Sweden for a short time, but he left behind a light and bright Gustavian style or Northern Neoclassicism. Some of its techniques are actively used in modern Scandinavian settings. Buying a tiled fireplace and Swedish clocks by Morah is not everyone's strength, but high skirting boards, gypsum ceiling roses and light classical chandeliers 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 known for eco-friendliness: natural materials and shades can be found in every Scandinavian interior. If this is the floor, it is almost always light and matte, which is not only eco-friendly and beautiful but also practical: footprints and small stains are almost invisible.

Plant motifs

Minimalism and monochrome have taken a back seat, yielding to expressive decoration and complex decorative techniques. A common solution among Swedish decorators is plant themes on wallpapers, engravings, curtains and cushions on sofas. Inspiration can be drawn from the works of Scandinavian artists, potters, and textile brands. Decor with Nordic patterns 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, illustrations for the book on lagom 'The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life' by the founder of the popular interior design blog My Scandinavian Home, Nikki Brandmark, were also created by Petra. Petra draws for Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Louis Vuitton, Cacharel, Selvedge and IKEA.

Kauniste – a Finnish textile and home accessory brand. Young Scandinavian artists work on the design of its products.

Wallpapers with patterns from William Morris's archive collections are highly esteemed by Swedish designers. Although Morris is English, the plants in his drawings are very similar to northern ones.

The Finnish fashion house Marimekko is already more than half a century old. The same period has passed for the brand's signature print with red poppies Unikko.

Decorative pillow, 299 rubles, Hoff

Decorative pillow, 299 rubles, Hoff

Decorative pillow, 179 rubles, Hoff

10 Simple Tips, Observed in Scandinavian Living Rooms

Swedes pay attention to details, and this helps them create comfort from readily available means. We suggest learning this valuable quality from examples in our selection.

Multilayered textiles.

Weaved furniture and decor.

Living greenery.

Pictures and canvases in frames on the floor.

A pouf or a sideboard instead of a coffee table.

Mix of classic details and ultra-modern.

Clean brick wall.

Handmade ceramics, clay decor.

Organizers and mood boards.

Complex shelving and storage solutions.

Careful: Anti-trends!

When decorating a living room in Scandinavian style, avoid solutions that everyone is tired of. 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 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, sandy and mustard shades into the living room's interior.

FRAME DIVIDERS

If the living room design includes loft motifs, such a divider will only enhance 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 a divider.

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

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 on us by hanging their portraits in every second living room in Scandinavian style.

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

To avoid messing up the composition of a mixed gallery, take one color as the basis and ensure it repeats in each image. Also don't forget to frame all of them and use uniform passepartouts.