Including Nordic and Scandinavian Design into the Home
Before I continue with my article I thought I would introduce myself to provide a little insight to who I am and where I am. I'm a
20-something Canadian that has been living in Norway for over 4 years. In that time my ideas and opinions of Nordic and Scandinavian design have expanded and evolved. Let me begin by saying Nordic and Scandinavian design isn't just about wood an minimalism - Its about tradition, nature, and quality! If you admire this design style and want to embrace it in your home without looking like a page out of an IKEA catalogue, here are some simple tips to consider. These ideas aren't highlights from a text but suggestions I've come up with after analyzing my own home.
In our home we decorate with flowers and other plants from our own garden and I seem to have compiled quite the bird-theme over the years. We use elements from nature to decorate and much of the furniture is old teak. (I suppose it would fall under mid-century modern now.) The walls are panelled with wood, all flooring is hardwood, and even our wallpaper choices reflect nature. We enjoy the outdoors and our home(s) reflect our connection whether we realize it or not. We recently renovated our bedroom and chose
this gorgeous wallpaper from the Danish company
Ferm Living (sorry no photos yet) and couldn't be happier. Here are some
photos from our home:
Here are some of my picks for fabulous but also pricey items that really combine elements from nature:
Keeping it simple isn't 100% essential as some would have you believe, but it is very common. We do love colour and pattern but we also like to keep it natural and organized. Walls, flooring, and textiles are often soft shades of white, beige, and brown. A simple shift of soft textiles can effortlessly create natural elegance or a peaceful abode. I hear the term "open concept" far too often but it is true that many of our homes are true to this. Each living space is decorated to be harmonious with the next and unlike some minimalist spaces our homes do not look like cold concrete galleries with items on display. With open concept we carefully plan the layout and flow of the room(s) so that it is not overwhelming and small items become beautiful contributions and not distracting clutter. Textiles and items of focus will stand out that much more when one is conscientious of less is more.
You might not also know it but before Norway struck oil in the 70s it was a very poor country. Furniture was meant to last (decades it seems!) and was always of traditional Norwegian quality. Today we still think long-term and when we make a purchase whether it be a bed, sofa, or even TV we are occupied with its quality. Infact quality often trumps affordability! This may be why we spend so much at IKEA each year because its not often easy to justify spending over kr 5,000 on just a chair! Today we stay true to older traditional style by combining it with the new. Not only does it look charming, but it brings our pride for our homes together with our love for design. If you can afford it I suggest combining older architecture or older furniture with newer textiles and decor. A great example of this is
Camilla Lindemann's attic home office and home.
There was so much more that I wanted to touch on but I suppose that'll have to wait for another day! I hope that if you're interested in Nordic or Scandinavian design this just might inspire you to include it in your home. Before I sign off I would also like to thank Ana for giving me this opportunity to post something at RD.
- "Godt Nytt År fra Candace og familien"
Candace Danylewich
"The girl with the original corrosive heart."
