Design Battle: Typical Bedroom in Scandinavian Style

Working with Leroy Merlin, we asked Marina Sarksyan and Olga Rudakova to design a Scandinavian-style bedroom for a family couple who prefer working from home. Which designer do you think did a better job?

Project BriefRoomBedroom8.6 sq. mOwnersFamily couplefreelancersPreferencesPlenty of lightScandinavian styleRoom layout of 8.6 sq. m in a 2-room apartment of 41 sq. m in a panel house series 1-335Solution by Olga Rudakova

Olga RudakovaDesignerPrefers simple, functional, and cozy interiors that will last for years

On the layout

Our heroes are a couple of freelancers who work from home or in cafes. Their day is irregular — they can sleep during the day and work at night. I know this lifestyle well, so I designed the bedroom for myself.

A Scandinavian-style interior is not only simple but also affordable. Once the base is set, such an interior can be enhanced with various cute details. In our case, the apartment serves as both a home and an office, so it's important to have the flexibility to change its appearance.

On the style solution

The most budget-friendly and effective way is to decorate the walls with unconventional wall decor. In our case, the bedroom walls are painted in four colors, where the workspace is highlighted with a calm green tone, and contrast is created by white skirting and door. The floor is finished with solid oak boards: this natural material perfectly suits the Scandinavian style.

It's not desirable to clutter such a small room with furniture. On the left side of the door is a full-length mirror, and on the right — an open clothing rack. I chose a comfortable 1600×2000 mm bed with a low headboard, which I complemented with several decorative pillows — Scandinavian style implies plenty of decoration and cozy little items. These are bought gradually and change according to the season or mood of the residents.

On one side of the bed is a stool that turned into a nightstand. Not everyone needs a bedside table, sometimes even a small shelf is enough to put a book, phone, or a glass of water. The workspace in the room is suspended with shelves for books and decor — laptops don't require much space. If desired, the workspace can be replaced with a dresser, but that's a matter of priorities.

And, of course, flowers in pots, a large poster with nature views, and light curtains. Roller blinds for window panels with blackout function are especially valuable when you're going to sleep only before dawn.

You Will Need:Stool Pillow MinskSatine Bed Sheet SeaportPaint for Walls and Ceiling Trend Farbe Color "Moss Green"White MDF Floor SkirtingRoyalty White Interior DoorWall Clock with DotsOak Plank "Prime PF"Solution by Marina Sarksyan

Marina SarksyanDesignerWhen working on interior design, she immerses herself in a new image to create a harmonious and cozy space for the client based on her knowledge and experience

On the layout

I envisioned a young couple of freelancers who love traveling and have a soft spot for Scandinavia, so the bedroom's interior was designed in calm gray tones, and a warm oak parquet floor was chosen. A small amount of green was added to the decor as an accent.

On the style solution

Although the bedroom of our heroes is very small, we still wanted a full-size bed and two neat 30 cm wide nightstands. On both sides of the door, storage systems were arranged: on one side is a wardrobe and on the other — a vanity table. Above are suspended shelves, under which a small mirror with backlighting fits well.

A gray rug with a subtle graphic pattern creates balance with the overall color palette. The bed and nightstands, on the other hand, are chosen in contrasting colors — white and black, above them are pendant lights. Their transparent drop-shaped shades remind me of the color of the sky in Finland, pebbles on the Baltic coast, and raindrops. Plants on the pictures and a floral print on the pillows harmonize with the style.

The mood of such an interior can be easily changed: just add a pink tone to the pillows, hang a Roman curtain in the same color, and replace the green blanket with a white one.

You Will Need:Single-strip Parquet Board Artens "Family"Microfibre Blanket PrestigeFloor Skirting of Veneer, Color - OakWall Clock "Grand"Clima RugCanvas Painting "Monster Leaves"Blackout Roller Blind "Letter"Paint for Walls and Ceiling Trend Farbe Color "Pebble Gray"