What does Scandinavian style look like?
Why is Scandinavian design so popular? Will it remain popular in the future?
What materials are used in Scandinavian décor?
What colours are Scandinavian style?
How do I add Scandinavian décor into my home? How do I decorate Scandi style?
What Scandinavian lights do you recommend?

When you’re decorating, renovating, or building a home or commercial space, one of the first things we do is search online for inspiration. However, with so many styles and décors out there (not to mention fusions of multiple styles!) it can be difficult to ascertain the style we want to achieve. Due to its ever popular yet timeless nature, we decided to create a definitive how-to guide for achieving the Scandi style in your home or business space. Keep reading to find out more, as we answer some of the biggest questions about Scandi décor.

What are the origins of Scandinavian design?

Alvar Aalto Finlandia Hall

Hans J Wegner Chair

First thing’s first, what is Scandinavian? Scandinavian design, as it’s currently known, originated in the Scandinavian countries – Denmark, Norway, and Sweden – during the 20th century. However, the word ‘Scandi’ has become synonymous with all things Nordic, which also includes Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Åland Islands.

The Scandinavian style itself originated from the functionalistic design that developed in the mid-20th century and was influenced by Bauhaus principles. Encouraged by the growingly industrial technologies of this period, Scandinavian design was informed by the unity of quality craftsmanship and industrial-scale production. It flourished in what we now refer to as the mid-century modern era.

Historically, Denmark has been at the forefront of this design style, with furniture, décor, homewares, textiles, ceramics, lighting, and more being manufactured en masse during the 20th and 21st centuries. One of the first markers of this period occurred in 1914, when the Selskabet for Dekorativ Kunst (Company for Decorative Arts) launched a magazine called Skønvirke (literally ‘beautiful work’). This newly popularised phrase, skønvirke, was used to represent a period of Danish arts and crafts that competed with Art Nouveau and Jugendstil.

What does Scandinavian style look like?

Scandinavian design is characterised by a strong focus on clean lines, minimalism, and an emphasis on functionality that doesn’t compromise on beauty or superior craftsmanship. In a Scandinavian home, you’d see that the vast majority of homes have timber floorboards, as carpet has never been popular.

Moreover, there is a large emphasis on neutral, light-filled colours; this is partly due to the long and dark winters in Scandinavia, so homes are designed to bring in the most amount of light. Wood also plays a significant part of Scandi design – whether in homewares, furniture, décor, or more, Scandi style loves to use untreated light woods such as beech, pine, oak, and ash.

Minimalism is at the core of Scandi design, and clean lines are paramount. You generally won’t find ornate detailing such as cornices or architraves, while the home is similarly decorated with an understated and uncluttered feel. However, despite this ‘simple’ design, Scandi living never feels ‘less than’; rather, it feels like ‘just enough’. In terms of accent pieces, contrasting materials such as metal (often black or copper) are popular, however this is always softened with natural textiles such as rugs, blankets, wood, and sheer curtains.

Above all, in Scandinavia (and Denmark in particular) there is a focus on making a home feel ‘hyggeligt’. Hygge is a Danish word that represents a certain kind of cosiness that can’t quite be translated into English; think cedar scented candles, a fireplace, a large knitted blanket, and an inviting open space filled with family and friends.

Why is Scandinavian design so popular? Will it remain popular in the future?

Despite having been formulated over a century ago, Scandinavian design remains popular due to its timeless appeal. Its focus on superior craftsmanship and functionality, paired with its emphasis on minimalism, means that it will always, in our opinion, remain popular. And whether you want to have a fully Scandi home or office space, or just want to incorporate elements of it, it still looks on-trend, no matter what other décors you fuse it with. As architect Mette Aamodt says, ‘Scandinavian design is timeless because it is simple, beautiful, finely crafted and made with natural materials that appeal on a fundamentally human level.’ So, while a Danish handcrafted wooden chair looks beautifully sculpted, it is equally practical and comfortable – and such is the philosophy of Scandi design.

So, if you’re thinking about adding Scandi style into your home, whether that be Scandinavian pendant lights, Scandinavian light wood floors, or you’re just hoping to create a Scandinavian home interior inspired by light, be rest assured that this choice will not become outdated and will last the test of time in terms of timelessness of style.

What materials are used in Scandinavian décor?

Scandinavian design is inspired by nature, and so it places a large importance on materials such as light woods, metal, glass, leather, linen, wool, cotton, etc. By and large, these materials go hand-in-hand with the current trend towards sustainable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly design. And, with the popularity of high-quality furniture and homewares such as the Hans J. Wegner wooden chairs, and the Poul Henningsen pendant lights, such items will last several generations, and will therefore not have as much of an impact on the environment in a growingly waste-conscious society. These items have been and will continue to be passed from one generation to the next, thereby truly epitomising the timelessness of Scandi design.

Aside from traditional furniture and homewares, Scandinavian décor – in its effort to make a space light-filled and inviting – is inspired by and incorporates elements of nature, so where possible we highly recommend bringing pot plants into your home. An example of this could be a statement Monstera plant, which brings in effortless style and easy low maintenance.

What colours are Scandinavian style?

Scandinavian style features a very understated and minimalist look, so the colour palette features a broad mixture of neutrals, such as multiple shades of white. Accent pieces can be in contrasting colours, such as black metal and copper pieces. Overwhelmingly, the focus is on creating a light-filled space, so bold and overwhelming colour schemes are out, and calm and neutral colourways are in!

How do I add Scandinavian décor into my home? How do I decorate Scandi style?

In the living room, we love the use of soft furnishings to achieve the Scandi style. Think sheepskins, a knitted wool throw, woven baskets (e.g. rattan or wicker), statement candleholders (in Denmark, the candleholders by By Lassen and Georg Jensen have achieved a cult-like status), scented candles (e.g. the Swedish brand Byredo), and figurines (the Kaj Bojesen wooden monkeys are adorable!), but to name a few. These look incredible when juxtaposed with bigger pieces, such as a gas log fireplace or even an Egg Chair!

The kitchen is central to the home, so we recommend creating an inviting and welcoming space. To achieve this, we recommend lots of natural light (offset with accent pieces such as kitchen island pendant lights in triplicates); natural and white wood as a point of contrast; and streamlined cabinets to maintain the minimalist and uncluttered appeal.

For accent pieces, we recommend a wall clock from Arne Jacobsen, a wooden tray from Lind DNA, or even a porcelain vase from the esteemed Royal Copenhagen.

If you’re considering how to style a bathroom, we recommend features such as a floating vanity, timber floorboards (especially in a chevron pattern), contrasting hardware, e.g. in black or copper, a freestanding bathtub, and natural fauna. You can also opt for small accent pieces that don’t overwhelm or clutter the space, such as a white marble soap dish to provide that luxurious yet not ostentatious vibe.

There’s no better place to unwind at the end of a long day than the bedroom, and your bedroom has to reflect a certain… je ne sais quoi? Think scented candles, sheer curtains that let in plenty of natural light, a cosy armchair draped in a white fur throw, and a timber bed base with neutral toned bed linen.

What Scandinavian lights do you recommend?

We thought you’d never ask! First thing’s first, we need to go back to basics, and remind ourselves that there are three types of lighting: general lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. General lighting refers to your everyday lighting, such as flush mount ceiling lights, dimmable ceiling lights, recessed lighting, etc. In contrast to this, accent lighting is used to create a focal point, or act as a feature to the room, rather than the main source of light; think chandeliers, pendant lights, wall lights, table lamps, or floor lamps. And the last category if task lighting, which is used when you want lighting for functional tasks, e.g. reading, knitting, cooking, studying, working, etc.Task lighting is therefore used when you want to create focused, directional, and adjustable lighting.

So, once you’ve got a grip on these three types of lighting, you’ll see how this informs what types of lighting you’ll need for each living space. In the kitchen for example, a popular choice is to hang pendant lights atop a kitchen island, especially in triplicates. For this, we recommend utilising lighting that feature Scandi materials such as natural wood, metal, and glass.

Helsinki Ceiling Light

Wood Top Glass Light

Bullpit Rod Pendant

Heading into the living room, we wouldn’t look past focused lighting such as a floor lamp, which can also act as accent lighting. Install it next to an armchair, or on the side of the couch; this will provide easy access directional lighting for when you need extra illumination, such as if you’re reading or playing a board game. And if you want a living room accent piece like no other, take a look at our Shoreditch Glass Pendant Light.

If you're decorating a home study library this is another area where task lighting is crucial. Desk lamps not only easily provides focused lighting but also adds to the décor of your space.

Minimalist designs and finishes add that seamless Scandi touch to your space.

Or, if you’re looking for something more unique, take a look at our Pipe Lamp. Constructed from a wood lamp base, it has a minimalist angular lamp arm that is available in matt black, copper, brass and white. With its understated design, it looks effortlessly on-trend, and is perfect when accessorised with an LED filament style light bulb.

Tip: Want to get experimental? Try a smart bulb and play with colours as you set the mood for your living space.

In the bathroom, you’ll want to retain a very understated and uncluttered approach. We recommend installing tiltable downlights, which will provide a flood of general lighting for the bathroom. Then we’d add accent pieces, such as our Helsinki Wall Light, which would look fantastic when styled side-by-side of a bathroom vanity mirror. However, with all lights that are used in wet spaces, make sure you check the IP rating first. The IP rating essentially advises of how well an item will withstand the natural elements, such as water, humidity, and salinity. And, above all, we recommend consulting your local electrician to ensure the suitability of a lighting’s placement prior to installation.

Tip: We also have a comprehensive how-to guide on bathroom lighting that explores wet zones, IP ratings, and everything you need to know to get started. You can read it here.

And finally, heading into the sanctity of the bedroom, is where you can get really creative. The sky is the limit – you could use pendant lights instead of bedside table lamps (we love our Wood Top Glass Light for this purpose); you could have a statement floor lamp in the corner of the room, such as our Castiglioni-inspired Arc Floor Lamp; or use tilted wall lights instead of bedside table lamps, such as our Wood Tilt Wall Lamp.

There really are so many ways in which you can customise your living space to create an effortlessly Nordic style. As long as you strive for a minimalist, uncluttered, and luxurious feel, you’ve hit the nail firmly on the head.

For more inspiration see our Scandi-inspired collection here.

Okay, I’m convinced. But I still need help/have some more questions!

If we’ve converted you to all things Scandi and Nordic, and would love to add some (or all!) of this style into your residential or commercial space, but still have some burning questions, don’t hesitate to reach our to our friendly FSV team. We’re always here and ready to assist you with any lighting or décor questions you may have. Give us a call, send us an email, or drop into our DMs on social media; no matter how you get in touch, we’re here and ready to help you out however we can.

We also have a growing range of comprehensive guides, ranging from lighting styles, to Australian architectural styles and how-to guides. Whether you’re a home renovator, a builder, or simply searching for inspiration as you scroll through Instagram and Pinterest as you plan your dream home or office space, we’re sure to have a guide to help you along your way. And if we don’t, simply drop us a line – we’re always on the lookout for new guide ideas to add to the pipeline.