Crafting a Nordic-inspired garden space for ultimate relaxation at home can be one of the most rewarding experiences for you, your family, and your guests. The unique features of such a design lend themselves well to enhancing mood and relaxation, and uplifting your overall well-being.

But what features do you need to combine to make your space Nordic-inspired? From using plenty of natural wood to water features, here are some of the most common suggestions.

Keep Garden Lines Clean

Nordic design is known for its clean lines and neat outcomes. In the garden, this can be a bit of a challenge when you factor in nature, but nature can be managed with the right attitude, tools, and enthusiasm. You can use a robotic lawn mower to keep the bulk of the lawn neat and tidy. However, you might have to trim edges manually. When you do, make sure you design straight, simple pathways and neat geometric bed layouts without unnecessary ornaments.

Use Natural Wood for a Nordic-Inspired Garden Space

In countries such as the UK and the US, around 68% of homeowners with garden space place furniture specifically for relaxation. As such, you will want to keep the materials in mind when placing furniture, and one of the best materials for Nordic style is natural wood:

• Wood is a key bridge element between nature and domestic spaces.
• Light-colored woods, such as pine and beech, reflect sunlight and brighten a space.
• Locally harvested, sustainable wood aligns with modern Nordic ecological values.

Go With a Neutral Color Palette

Scandi and Nordic styles are well known for being more muted than others. In fact, the more neutral you can make your palette, the better. Neutral colors promote wellness through serenity without bombarding your senses with strong, intense tones. When designing your space, be sure to include plenty of soft, light grays, whites, and creams, as well as deep charcoal, to help keep the garden space as peaceful and serene as possible.

Add Tons of Soft Ambient Lighting

Most design philosophies incorporate ambient light in some way, and Nordic/Scandi is no exception. Soft ambient lighting works similarly to neutral tones, enhancing a space’s serenity without relying on vibrancy to stimulate wellness. When adding ambient light to your outdoor space’s design, consider hanging simple string lights or placing candlelit lanterns along seating paths for a warm evening glow.

Craft a Nordic-Inspired Garden Space with Textiles

Any Nordic-inspired garden space must give careful consideration to textures, textiles, and fabrics. For instance, you can decorate with Swedish textiles to create a warm, cozy feeling that aligns with hygge, but there are some things you must always consider in your backyard.

Selecting natural fibers

A backyard textile selection needs to be more durable than typical indoor materials. In this case, choose durable bast fibers such as linen, hemp, and cotton for a blend that feels honest and raw.

Weather-proofing the space

Of course, your backyard fabrics are exposed to the weather, so they need a bit of extra care. You can treat your textiles with weatherproofing sprays and then store them properly.

Layering according to hygge rules

Nordic decor often follows the principles of hygge, which aim to maximize comfort and coziness. Drape chunky knit blankets, sherpa throws, and faux fur over chairs to enhance the feeling.

To craft a Nordic-inspired outdoor space with textiles, focus on tactile, natural fabrics. It also helps to layer weather-treated cushions, jute rugs, and soft throws. To keep with tradition, ensure the colors are somewhat muted, using an earthy palette to enhance hygge.

Install Hardy Green Plants

There are some iconic plants associated with Nordic traditions that will elevate your Nordic-inspired design to a new level of authenticity and relaxation. Hardy plants such as ferns, ornamental grasses, and small pines are just a few examples. Not only do these look stunning, adding vibrancy and silhouette, but they are also almost zero-maintenance. So, you can just add them in and forget about them as you relax!

How About a Fire Feature?

Fire features are popular in most countries these days. From the gray summers of the UK to the sunny gardens across Australia, features such as fire pits and outdoor fireplaces add something special to garden design. They are also popular within Nordic tradition, especially given the weather! Add features such as a low metal bowl or a modern stone fireplace as a warm focal point that aligns with Nordic design philosophy.

And Water in Your Nordic-Inspired Garden Space?

Water features, such as fountains, can elevate a space, but they aren’t as popular as you might think due to water use. Of course, most use a closed loop to minimize water usage, but adding one can be a major enhancement to the feeling of serenity in your garden:

• Enhanced well-being through soothing sounds, noise reduction, and reduced stress.
• Improved aesthetics through visual focal points, softened edges, and added dimension.
• Practical improvements with wildlife attraction, cooling effects, and fresher air.

Keep Clutter to a Minimum

Just as Nordic and Scandi design traditions keep indoor decor simple, clean and tidy, the same philosophy can be applied to the outdoors. Clutter in a garden not only looks terrible but can also be dangerous, especially around stone steps, fire features, and other hard surfaces. However, using the KonMari method to declutter the garden can be an excellent start if your garden has become a little overgrown. Now all you have to do is keep it up, and you should be fine.

Crafting a Nordic-Inspired Garden Space for Ultimate Relaxation – Summary

Keeping lines clean, tidy, and neat is a good starting point when designing a Nordic-inspired garden space for yourself, your family, and friends. Of course, it also helps to think about your texture selection, as you need fibers that can withstand the weather. And just to be safe, consider how you can begin decluttering the garden space and maintain the area with minimal effort.

Crafting a Nordic-Inspired Garden Space for Ultimate Relaxation, written for Daily Scandinavian by a guest contributor.

Feature image (top): Licensed Image courtesy of Magnific.