The nordic style (or also called “scandinavian style”) was born at the beginning of the 20th century in the Nordic countries made up of Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Denmark, where the winters were (and are) really long and cold, and the hours of natural light were very scarce. From these climatic characteristics born the need to design comfortable, cheerful and warm interiors so that the long hours sheltering inside the house would be more enjoyable.
The nordic style is characterized by 5 key aspects: its simplicity, functionality, the use of wood as the main material, textiles and light colors to give light to the space.
In this article we will tell you everything you need to know about the scandinavian decor and its characteristics to be able to apply it 100% in your home.
Simplicity in the nordic style
Simplicity in the nordic style is one of its most important characteristics, because its spaces shouldn’t be visually overwhelming and should invite you to spend long hours in it. This has led it to position itself as one of the main decoration styles chosen by users to design the decoration of their interior spaces over the years.
If you want to recreate this decor in your home, you must remember that simplicity is a key point. A nordic or scandinavian decor space has a clean aesthetic, with fine and refined lines, and furniture that resists the passage of time. In turn, if you want to recreate a nordic-style space, you must free it of all excess furniture or decorative elements. In this way noise and visual weight are minimized, obtaining a space with simplicity in which it’s pleasant to stay.
Functionality as a premise
A distinctive aspect in the nordic or scandinavian style is, without a doubt, functionality. In a nordic-style space there are no elements that have no function. All the elements that make up the space, from furniture to decorative elements, coexist in the space mainly for their functionality and then for their secondary attributes.
This premise also helps reduce visual noise, because this style leaves aside several elements that have no functional purpose, generating a cleaner space free of excesses.
The use of wood
In nordic or scandinavian style spaces, the use of wood as the main material prevails. This is because, in the context in which the nordic style emerged, it was the most predominant material in nature and, therefore, the one most used in the design of furniture and houses. In turn, wood provides great warmth and becomes necessary to create warm and welcoming spaces to take refuge in the long and cold winters.
Wood can be found in furniture, floors and various elements, and it’s important that its shades are clear and warm. In turn, the wood should look as natural as possible, with almost no finishing processes, if you want to achieve an interior in the best nordic design.
Textiles that denote comfort
One of the great secrets of the scandinavian style is the use of various textiles to achieve a cozy and warm atmosphere, where you want to be and denotes comfort. The different textiles in the home are an essential element in the decoration of any interior, but even more so in a nordic one.
In order to achieve a scandinavian design in your home, you must pay attention to aesthetic details. Bedding and blankets with which to keep warm in the cold and long winters, cushions, rugs and curtains (which also provide movement) are some examples of the aesthetic details where you must include textiles and they can’t be missing in a scandinavian design interior.
Light colors
One of the main issues to face when the nordic style emerged was the lack of natural light, so artificial lighting became a fundamental part of the design of the home.
One of the great keys to gain light is, without a doubt, the use of light colors (white, grey, beige and even some shades of green). Light colors generate a bounce effect that intensifies clarity and are the colors used by the Nordic style par excellence. White color, for example, is the brightest color, since it reflects up to 80% of light, making a space look brighter and even larger.
You can use this advice on room walls, ceilings, floors, furniture and even textiles, and you will see how the light in your space multiplies.
The nordic style has become a trend in current interior design. However, it is not a surprise, this style aims to use natural materials such as wood, with almost no finishing processes. At the same time, it discourages excessive consumption (to minimize the noise and visual weight of the space) and encourages a conscious purchase (taking into account that the product must fulfill a function).
At Ekohunters we encourage interior design trends committed to respecting and caring for the environment. On our page, you can find all the sustainable products necessary to design your home in the best nordic style.
