The Nordic or Scandinavian decoration is a decorative style born in the early 20th century and comes from countries in northern Europe such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark or Finland. The particularities of this style, happen mainly on the basis of the conditions and the type of life proper to these zones the climate, the landscapes and the typical materials of the place, are key points for the development of the Nordic decoration.
Due to the scarce natural light, the cold winters and the long hours that they spend at home due to the characteristic climate, the main objective of this type of decoration is to create cozy and comfortable spaces, maximizing the luminosity and the warmth of the home.
Over the years, the more purist Nordic decoration has been acquiring new versions more renewed, driven mainly by the strong trend that has acquired in other countries such as ours.
Including industrial elements, antique pieces or more color in the decoration are some of the features that have been incorporated in recent times.
Taking these factors into account, to obtain a Nordic decoration the guidelines are simple:
Order and breadth
The spaces stand out for a great visual cleaning and a clear minimalist tendency, stays little overloaded and very well distributed to augment the sense of spaciousness. The environments are very well cared for and the elements that form it are simple and without too many ornaments. The order is key.
Nordic decoration on white
The scarce hours of light of these areas causes the need to look for more luminous spaces. For this reason, it is important to use neutral and soft tones that help accentuate the sensation of light. White is the predominant color in walls, furniture, and accessories.
In addition to using it as a base and then adding other colors, we can only use it and combine it with the color of other materials such as wood or stone. The Nordic decoration in white color is very elegant and versatile for any space.
Lighting, key factor in Nordic decoration
Taking advantage of the light from the windows and without curtains or resorting to lighter fabrics that let pass much of the natural light also helps to create more pleasant and luminous spaces.
As for artificial lighting, it is recommended to use white light with enough power for a generalized illumination.
The most used lamps tend either to a more industrial style, focus type, metallic and worn colors or a more natural slope like wicker or bamboo lamps.
To create more welcoming spaces, it is also recommended to complement it with some more ambient or decorative light points such as typical light garlands or lanterns.
Nordic style lamps
Within lighting, in addition to enhancing natural light, we can play with the design of lamps to emphasize the Nordic style and use them as a decorative complement.
In the Nordic style, we find very diverse designs that can fit easily into the environments but always tend to simple and natural lines designs. Let’s look at different types that can work well in the Nordic style:
1. Nordic style lamps with an industrial touch:
Focus-type metal lamps work very well in areas such as the kitchen or the living room. We find them in a wide variety of colors. Applying a color stitch on them may be a good choice and it is preferable to opt for matte or low-gloss finishes that best fit the style.
2. Bulbs and spherical lamps:
Light bulbs or spherical lamps are also a type to take into account within this style of decoration. We can present them both alone and accompanied and with the sables in sight if they are of color better! In the bedroom, we can place them as hanging table lamps and look great.
3. Nordic style lamps with natural materials and light colors:
Also, lamps made with natural materials work well within the style. Trunks, natural fibers such as wicker or rattan or wood can be options that add that contact with the nature so typical of the Nordic.
Within this type of lamps of Nordic style also we also find models that combine wood with another material like the cement, the ceramic or the metal.
4. Nordic style geometric and copper lamps:
Metallic finishes such as gold or copper are booming and the Nordic style was not going to be less. Copper is the most commonly seen metallic in this style. In this case, unlike lamps with industrial touches that sought to be larger and more striking, copper lamps pursue a more subtle and discreet effect and therefore tended to smaller pieces such as the famous Copper lamp by Tom Dixon, bells With the interior copper and the exterior in another color or models with metallic structures that do not look so solid.
5. Flexos:
The flexos will also fit phenomenally within the Nordic style. Whether for a floor lamp, table lamp or directly on the wall. One option is to place them in the living room next to the sofa but we can also give a more original touch and choose to use them for the bedroom as a bedside lamp. What do you think of the idea?
Warm floors
In countries where it rains often and it is so cold, it is normal to take off when arriving home to avoid wetting everything and ruining the floors, for that very reason, there is a habit of storing shoes in the hall. With this in mind, it is important to try to look for warmer and more welcoming solutions for the floors. Wood finishes are one of the most typical features, but also carpets can help provide a more pleasant and warm feel without a high expense. They act as thermal insulation and allow to add a note of texture or color to the decoration.
Nordic style carpets
In the Nordic countries, the cold winter influences the decoration, providing elements and details that provide warmer and more comfortable spaces. The use of wood floors and carpets that protect from the cold endorses it but what kind of carpet is well within this style?
Usually, Nordic-style carpets tend to play with few colors, simple and geometric designs, repetitive and structured. Triangles, zig-zag stripes, circles or rhombuses can be excellent options for dressing the floors.
Nature as a source of inspiration
Natural elements of a more winter nature like logs, pineapples or branches can not be lacking in the Nordic decoration.
In the newer versions of the Nordic style, plants also make a dent in the home. A little green in some corner of the room or a beautiful composition of plants in glass jars with different shapes, heights, and sizes, will give a very natural and dreamy air.
The use of plant and animal elements is another essential feature.
Illustrations with forest animals such as deer, bears, foxes, squirrels… and leaflets with collections of insects, birds or flowers of different kinds are very common. The little houses of birds or the trees are also very recurrent elements, as well as any element that remembers to nature, always respecting it.
Natural materials
The Nordic decoration is also notable for the use of natural materials in most of the accessories: fabrics with natural fibers such as linen, wool or cotton that provide delicacy, rattan baskets or bamboo lamps may be some of the basic elements.
The use of wood
With the idea of creating warmer and more comfortable spaces, the wood is introduced in furniture, decorative complements, and floors. It tends to be of clear tonalities, typical of the species typical of the Nordic areas such as: pine, maple, beech or oak.
Functional furniture
The furniture is characterized by a very simple aesthetic and especially functional. The use of auxiliary and versatile furniture or with very practical options that allow maximizing the space is recurrent. The designs tend to straight lines, pure and with smooth curves. The simplicity and simplicity of shapes are repeated in the decoration.
Incorporates classic design
The Nordic decoration is characterized by a sensitivity and appreciation of the beauty of design. And in many occasions mix low-cost elements, very simple, with some more exclusive piece.
Tones of intense color
To counteract the neutral effect of the predominant colors in the environments, touches are used in small complements or furniture. A sofa, a side table, some cushions or pots can be good options. The colors go to taste, from pastel tones softer and more relaxed like a pink stick or a baby blue to fluorine colors more vibrant and daring.
Graphic and geometric elements
Geometric patterns and gratings can not be missing in textiles, walls and all kinds of accessories.
Typographic sheets are also a very common element. They are usually presented in varied compositions playing with frames of different sizes and mixed with some simple illustration of the same chromatic range.
Mix of different pieces and decontextualization
In recent times the Nordic style has evolved to incorporate in some occasions vintage elements or industrial pieces in their decorations. The use of old pieces with renewed air is very characteristic in the current Nordic decoration, giving rise to old consoles of more classic lines in daring colors or traditional armchairs with modern prints.
Objects out of context are also included in the Nordic decor, a staircase as a coat rack, comforters that are buffets or flexos in the bedroom can be some of the elements that we can find.
7 Ideas for Nordic Decor
Having learned the basic theory about the Scandinavian style, I propose 7 simple ideas to add a more Nordic air to your house.
- Total white. The white walls will help you create the perfect setting for your Nordic space. As a blank sheet, you will start from scratch and although at first, you have the impression that everything so white will be empty and little decorated, white is the best ally to obtain luminous spaces and great cleanliness and visual order. Little by little you’ll get rich with details!
- A colored sofa. There is nothing that I like more to break the monotony of a white space than a comfortable sofa of a real nice color. There are options beyond black, gray and chocolate brown and today there is a wide variety of tapestries with incredible colors and innovative fabrics easy to clean! So there are no excuses! How about relaxing green water, a lilac gilded or a sophisticated coral?
- Choices geometric. Make yourself with black and white cushions or gray tones with geometric patterns of stripes, moles, rhombuses, triangles… Have fun and create a daring mix always playing with different patterns in those same tones.
- Typographical compositions. Look for interesting messages, positive phrases or words of encouragement with careful fonts as I explained in the article on lettering. Combine different frames on a wall and as you see, you can also alternate sheets with simple illustrations or geometric motifs.
- Plants. Do not miss it! They help create more natural spaces and are great allies within the decoration. You can choose the style that most goes with you: a fun container with varied cacti, small glass jars with delicate flowers or a leafy plant in a corner of the room, whatever you prefer!
- Fun chairs. The same table but with different chairs will enrich the space and make it more dynamic. Choose interesting models and play with their shapes and colors to add an alternative and different touch.
- Fabrics. Get a carpet that will help you warm the floors and culminate your style. If you are one of those who wants to promote a soberer and natural Nordic style look for a rug in neutral tones that has a nice texture, opt for natural materials. If, on the other hand, you prefer a more casual and casual Nordic style, bet on a rug with some geometric motif like zig-zag.
You see, considering seven things, we can easily adapt our decoration to the Nordic style. I hope you have been useful! Do you dare? Share it with us!
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