Scandinavian style is one of the design trends that seems to have surprisingly long longevity. It gained global appeal around the 1950s and has been a style staple ever since with stores such as BoConcept and Ikea making it accessible at every price point.
Craig Ritchie, Communication and Interior Design Manager at IKEA Group, explains: “Scandinavian style is characterised by three key components – functionality, simplicity and beauty. Although simple in design, clean lines are often incorporated with understated elegance and warm functionality, which creates a very homely feel.”
Nordic people want the very best quality pieces but want them to look as good as they perform – and this all ties in to the Scandi Style. Let’s look at each of these components in more detail:
Simplicity
The key marker of Scandi Style is the minimalist approach. Though many find it difficult to exercise restraint when it comes to décor, this is a necessity in achieving the modern Scandinavian look.
In Scandinavian countries, much like parts of the UK, the winter days are short and the dark evenings are quite long. Therefore, one of the most important functions of the Scandi Style is to maximise natural light in the home and keep it there for as long as possible. The light, often white, wall colours help ensure that natural light bounces around the room.
Generally, you won’t see darker paint, flooring or furnishings because they absorb the light rather than reflect it. Instead, look for furniture with warm wood tones and sepia hues which help create the bright and sunny look in a subtle way.
Functionality
To give the maximum reflection from the bright parts of the room, there’s less clutter that could take away from it. This means each object in a room is chosen with care and often always a functional purpose. Items that aren’t useful are often removed so that the simple, minimalist design can be achieved.
The phrase ‘form follow function’ mentality says that an object must first perform a function and that the aesthetics can be shaped around that. However, Scandi Style says that form and function should go hand in hand, with neither being sacrificed.
Beauty
So much of the Scandinavian style is based around bringing the outdoors in and finding a connection to nature even when you can’t be outside. Natural beauty is found by decorating with an abundance of live plants and other greenery.
A Scandinavian home also plays with pops of colour, bright accents, and a mix of textures to create a bright and cosy aesthetic. The simplicity of the majority of this style allows for a few statement pieces to truly shine in a space.
How Windows and Doors can Help Achieve Scandinavian Style
Many people look to their windows and doors to create this bright open space that is so entwined with Scandi Style. There is no better way to achieve the Scandi aesthetic in your home than with a staple in many Norwegian home – NorDan Windows and Doors. Stylish, contemporary and modern, NorDan windows look amazing, but they also perform exceptionally, with a 60-year life expectancy.
With Norwegian design and Polish craftmanship, there is no tension between function and form with both being tended to in equal measure.
From our hurricane resistant StormGuard windows to our secure HomeGuard entrance doors and more, NorDan products are manufactured to the highest standards, able to provide robust weather protection, safety, security and high energy efficiency.
NorDan’s range of functional and stylish products is sure to satisfy the requirements of any housing project big or small, creating bright open spaces that bring the outdoors closer to the home.
