Characteristic features of the style
When recreating a Scandinavian interior, you should adhere to the following design features:
- Light colors, visually expanding shades and dark details.
- Natural materials.
- Visual lightness of furniture, simplicity and severity of lines.
- Practicality, ergonomics and a small amount of decor.
The photo shows a bright kitchen with snow-white furniture and wood trim.
Scandinavian style is suitable for both spacious and small kitchens, as well as for rooms with an asymmetrical layout.
Floors
A massive laminate in light colors that imitates a wide board, as well as a covering made of bleached boards - a typical option for Norman interiors. In addition, it is appropriate to design the floor in cool shades and colors.
If the room turns out to be too light, including a contrasting accent, such as in a “checkerboard” tile floor, will be quite successful.
Photo from source: pinterest.ru
Choosing the right colors
The Scandinavian style was formed under the influence of the climatic conditions of Sweden, so colors close to natural ones are used in the interior. The basis is light colors: white, gray, beige. Accents are black, graphite and brown.
The photo shows a gray Scandinavian-style kitchen with the addition of black and white details.
Pure colors are almost never found: dusty blue, pistachio, mint and pale lemon are appropriate. Dark blue tones often serve as a background for a white set, but can also be used in decor. Depending on the amount of natural light, both warm and cool shades are used.
In the photo, the blue walls in the kitchen interior are in harmony with white furniture and a brown floor.
Color spectrum
The favorite color of the Scandinavian style is white with all the court shades. Ivory, boiling white, ecru, linen, cosmic latte, marshmallow, smoky - this is only a small part of its retinue, not to mention the possibility of combining them.
Walls of this color will be a wonderful backdrop for wooden and accent elements of the interior.
But Scandi, as we have already said, is very democratic, so light beige, gray, olive, blue and even soft pink walls will not be a violation. One of the walls or the partition dividing the kitchen-living room will be decorated with an accent wall with a floral print on a white or other light background.
In Scandi interiors, black and white zigzag, zebra or checkerboard patterns are often found on vertical and horizontal planes.
In second place after the main color in terms of the amount of space occupied is light wood, with a clear visibility of the wood texture.
The kitchen work surface, parquet flooring, dining table, book table and other “horizontals” will be complemented by wall panels, cabinets and bookshelves of the same color and texture.
Third place is occupied by black or dark brown elements - chairs, coffee table, lamp shades and household appliances.
And finally - rich accents. Our northern style especially loves yellow inserts, but they can be supplemented or replaced with another bright color - blue, red, light blue, purple, green.
- For accents in the kitchen, utensils, appliances, furniture, aprons and fresh fruit are used.
- Bright elements of the living room will be sofa cushions, furniture upholstery, carpet, cords and lamp shades, and other details.
These photos demonstrate how they enliven the kitchen combined with the living room.
What finishes and materials are suitable?
Scandinavian-style kitchen design involves the presence of environmentally friendly materials in both furniture and decoration. The Scandi style reflects the features of a rustic way of life, so plastic is rarely found in interiors.
Traditionally, the floor is covered with wood: for example, a board. But it is difficult to care for, so all sorts of imitations come to the fore - high-quality laminate and linoleum, which are difficult to distinguish from wood.
Ceramic tiles remain the most practical coating for Scandinavian kitchens. A light coating is more preferable, as splashes are less visible on it. For comfortable use, a warm floor is laid under the tiles.
The photo shows a kitchen, the plank floor of which has been treated with a special white wax.
There are no strict requirements for decorating kitchen walls in the Scandinavian style: wallpaper, paint, and brickwork are used. In a small kitchen, it is recommended to avoid active prints. The most advantageous option is plain wallpaper, light washable paint or plaster.
The main requirement for the ceiling is laconicism and white color. The Scandinavian interior does not tolerate clutter: a multi-tiered plasterboard structure will look inorganic. It is worth choosing a simple finish: painting, whitewashing or matte stretch ceiling.
When designing an apron, the main thing is to remember practicality. The partition between the cabinets and wall cabinets should be easy to clean, but have an attractive appearance. Glass, imitation wood and ceramic tiles are suitable. The apron can be contrasting, matching the headset or the floor.
Kitchen set
The design of the cabinets and cabinets is laconic: the facades are most often chosen to be white, and the wood-look countertop adds warmth and coziness to the set. The color scheme of the kitchen set is usually in light wood shades, smoky and sandy tones. Since the Scandi style strives for naturalness, gloss is rarely used for facades.
Fittings without unnecessary details and decorations can blend in with the facades or contrast with them. An alternative to smooth doors in the Scandinavian style are milling and moldings, but they are used sparingly.
A small kitchen is usually arranged in accordance with a linear (straight) layout, when furniture and appliances are placed in one row. It takes up little space, but is not always convenient for cooking, as it violates the rule of the working triangle.
A more practical option is a corner layout: such kitchens are made to order. With an L-shaped arrangement, even in a narrow room there is still room for a dining area. If the kitchen is large, the kitchen unit can occupy three walls: this layout is called U-shaped.
The photo shows a corner kitchen in a Scandinavian style with white facades and a wooden countertop.
In a double-row arrangement, the sets are placed along opposite walls. This solution is for those who cook a lot and have a separate dining room, or a square-shaped room allows you to fit a dining table between the work areas.
The most advantageous option for a spacious kitchen is an island layout. An island cabinet in the center of the room can act as a dining table, bar counter, additional storage space and work surface.
Lighting
Northern style provides for the presence of several light sources. You can use several types at once. A chandelier looks good above the dining area. It can be metal, glass or wood.
You can glue an LED strip under the wall cabinets, and place a table lamp or floor lamp in the seating area. The main rule is functionality. Each of the lamps should illuminate a specific area, and not just stand for beauty.
Deciding on furniture and kitchen appliances
Furniture found in the Scandinavian style is characterized by functionality, clear lines and natural materials.
Lunch group
The table in the dining area is usually made of wood: in Scandinavia, the most popular material for making furniture is pine. It is not considered expensive and has a pronounced texture. Its shape depends on the size of the room: long rectangular or round tables will fit into a spacious kitchen, square or folding tables will fit into a small kitchen.
Sofas and soft corners are extremely rare in Scandinavian kitchens. Comfortable wooden chairs with thin legs, decorated with cushions, and the famous designer Eames Wood chairs are used. Restored retro chairs add a special charm to the interior: a collection of various models looks homely and cozy.
The photo shows a spacious kitchen with a balcony, the dining area of which is decorated with a round table and elegant retro chairs.
Storage systems
To make using the kitchen as convenient as possible, Scandinavians use a variety of ideas: they hang cabinets to the ceiling, increasing the usable area; They install rails with hanging baskets so that the items necessary for cooking are always at hand. Open shelves are also a controversial but interesting solution: they add coziness and space.
The photo shows a Scandinavian kitchen with open shelves, the filling of which serves as a kind of decor.
Appliances
Built-in appliances look most harmonious in a Scandinavian interior. If this option is not suitable, you should opt for chrome-plated products. Particularly popular in modern kitchens are Smeg refrigerators with a design from the 50s.
Tabletop
The countertop deserves special mention because it serves as one of the beacons of attention in the kitchen.
Ideally, the countertop in a Scandinavian interior should be stone or solid wood. If your budget does not allow you to choose these materials, you can make a countertop from waterproof chipboard with a special coating. Printing on film perfectly imitates either dark stone or light wood.
Choosing curtains and decor
The use of textiles in the kitchen is a way to make a laconic interior more homely. Curtains for the kitchen are chosen from natural materials: cotton and linen, but they may be completely absent. An alternative to curtains, which add coziness but absorb natural light from the windows, are blinds, roller blinds and Roman blinds.
House plants, posters, and chalk boards serve as decoration. The main thing is not to overdo it with decorative elements, since tiles on the apron and original dishes on the shelves can serve as a bright accent.
In the photo, classic Scandinavian decor is a collection of posters, and soft pillows and a rug in the form of a skin fill the style of the kitchen with coziness.
Window decoration
Photo from source: pinterest.co.uk
Thick and heavy curtains in the kitchens of Scandinavian countries are completely inappropriate. Maximum - blinds.
There are very few sunny days in Scandinavian countries. And local residents are trying in every possible way to make up for this deficiency with large panoramic windows without curtains. In addition to this, a large number of lighting fixtures are installed.
If your personal preference still remains curtains, it is better to use short, roller, Roman and clip-on curtains, models made of natural, light and translucent fabrics that will not block the penetration of daylight.
Window frames that have been artificially aged or made of bleached wood are excellent for Scandi.
Photo from source: hallofhomes.com
What lamps are suitable?
Natural light is especially valued in northern Scandinavia, and its shortage forces residents of the countries to use as many electrical appliances as possible. Chandeliers, wall sconces, and pendant lamps above the dining table are suitable for lighting a Scandinavian-style kitchen.
Lighting sources help to zone a kitchen-living room or studio apartment. To create more coziness and a feeling of hygge, Scandinavians hang garlands with warm light and place candles.
Grey
The climate of the northern region is very harsh. And gray is the color that perfectly conveys this. Associations arise with thick fogs, rocks, fjords, fast rivers in the mountains, heavy clouds...
Rough or glossy kitchen surfaces with a black, metallic, silver tint look interesting.
A gray Scandinavian kitchen looks great with elegant backlit cabinets, pendant lights, white stone countertops and a splashback. The “Cedar” catalog contains wonderful imitations of marble.
Photo from source: digsdigs.com
Tabletop Cedar 7024/1 Imperial Marble
Photos in the kitchen interior
Although seemingly made in the same style, rooms can look different. To save on repairs, you can combine it with loft elements, adding concrete textures, aged wood and leaving communications open.
In the photo, the Scandinavian style in the interior of a bright kitchen is harmoniously combined with loft elements.
Natural planks or log walls will look great in the interior of a dacha: Scandinavian style easily harmonizes with country.
Glass inserts on the facades and moldings make the Scandi style more elegant, bringing it slightly closer to the classics.
Fans of Scandinavian interiors can customize the distinctive features of the style to suit themselves: the main thing is that the kitchen is functional, cozy and full of light.
The photo shows a bright interior with a turquoise accent wall and an abundance of plants.
Nordic design is loved by many because of its ergonomics, lightness and calm atmosphere; besides, the Scandinavian style is equally beautiful in kitchen interiors of any size.
You can't combine incompatible things
The laconicism of the Scandinavian style does not accept the frills, frills, flowers, napkins of the Provence style, expensive finishing elements and luxurious furniture of the classics and other “palace” styles. It is inappropriate to use rich Venetian plaster, stucco, gilding, carvings, silk and velvet fabrics in Scandi.
Note!
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Scandi does not go well with elements of country or Russian rustic style: you cannot use heavy, rough wooden furniture, a lot of carved wooden elements, or bright decorative handicrafts.
