Courtesy of My Scandinavian Home
At the first sign of cooler weather, our homes enter their own form of hibernation. Out comes the chunky knit throw and the candles. We surround ourselves with more lighting and greenery to make up for the dwindling daylight hours and barren trees outside our window. We also, naturally, retreat to one of the coziest places in the home: the living room.
When looking for pointers on how to cozy up a space, look no further than Scandinavia—the area of the globe comprised of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The tenants of Scandinavian design are largely intuitive. Scandinavians create bright, airy spaces to counteract the long, dark days of winter. All-white everything is common, but their palette also includes tan, gray, and black (Occasionally, you’ll see pops of blue, pink, or green in the form of accents). Scandinavians also favor design elements rooted in the natural world—think wood floors, faux fur blankets and rugs, and lots of light-wood accents made from beech, ash, or pine. In general, spaces are minimalist with clean lines and zero clutter.
For inspiration, we handpicked nine stunning Scandinavian living rooms on Instagram to inspire you to create your own sense of hygge at home.
Cool Contrast
We weren’t surprised to learn that a graphic designer calls this Oslo pad home. Here, it’s all about contrast. The rounded furniture complements the strong lines of the ceiling, while a moody accent wall brings drama to an otherwise neutral space.
Gorgeous Gallery Wall
Niki Brantmark’s home in Skåne, Sweden, would be inspirational enough, but she also shares other chic spaces on her blog My Scandinavian Home and in her book Lagom, The Swedish Art of Living a Happy, Balanced Life.