Exploring Scandinavia

Over the last year, homeowners around the world have been spending more time indoors as we practice social distancing while fighting off COVID-19. While it is not the ideal situation, it has resulted in many people looking around their houses with an eye on updating the decor. Whether you are purchasing a new home or you are just looking to spruce up your existing space, here are the 2021 Scandinavian interior design trends you need to know.

Popular Scandinavian designs include minimalist but functional spaces, neutral colors that bring out the brightness of any room, and a focus on lighting for those darker days. Below we will discuss some of these trends to give you a better idea of how you may improve your own home in the new year.

Start with Neutral Colors
Before we get into the trends, it is important to mention that you don’t have to go big by redecorating or remodeling your home all at once, especially if money is a concern. Instead, you can go room by room and make adjustments as time and funds allow. To make the process easier, it is recommended that you create a budget that takes into account all potential costs, including materials and labor. Once you know for sure that you have the funds to continue, do your research about how to best go about the project and bring in friends to help if possible.

As with previous years, the color trends of Scandinavian design continue to be earthy and neutral tones. In fact, earthy tones are a trend around the globe right now because they mimic the feeling of being outdoors while you are in your cozy home, which is especially important for those working from home. Neutral colors have many other benefits as well, including creating the illusion of a larger space and providing a wider appeal to buyers, so if you ever plan to sell your home, you will be ahead of the curve.

Some of the hottest neutral tones in style right now include the hues of India yellow and dead salmon. Gray is also making a big comeback. Warm and rustic colors like natural clay, earthy brown, and even the muted desert pink are very popular. The trick is to work these colors together in the walls, floors, and furniture. If you like a little more brightness, look for a natural blue, which is also a big hit this year.

Simple Style
The central core behind most Scandinavian design is simplicity, both with the neutral tones and the furniture that fills the rooms. Going forward in 2021, this simplicity will be paired with function, especially for storage. The idea is to get rid of any filler so you only see what you use and clutter is virtually non-existent. To meet this trend, ottomans in neutral colors in the living room should store accessories like remote controls and magazines. In the bedroom, nightstands can store medication and other knick-knacks.

In the family room, simple furniture including couches, chairs, and loveseats should stay with the trend of neutral colors of creams, greens, and light pinks. Thick cushions provide absolute comfort but also grace in design, as is the case in the models shown here. While the trend is simplicity, you don’t want to have an empty room. Instead, go for a couple of seating options with a couch and chair and a side table and main table. For tables, the latest trends show birch plywood and beech construction to be the go-to.

Simple style is important in the bedroom as well. Bright white bedding is king right now, as are storage compartments underneath for clothing and other items you don’t want laying around. Big open windows are key here as well to bathe the room in that welcoming morning light. White flooring completes the bright appearance.

Lighting is Key
As 2021 surges along, strong and stylish lighting will continue to be a big trend. There are only so many hours of daylight to play with, so smart design choices will maximize the lighting during the day and keep your space well-illuminated during the darker hours. Large windows in all rooms continue to be the trend. Out are heavy drapes, and instead, undressed windows, or at most, light sheers are desired.

To help that natural light illuminate your rooms, other design trends are seeing a resurgence. One is the use of ornament candle holders that are easily mounted on a wall in the living rooms and bedrooms, which make for a classy yet traditional look that is functional and impressive to guests. The use of mirrors is also key to bounce both natural and artificial light around the room. While hanging mirrors are always a given, mirrors that sit on the floor and lean against the wall are also seeing a resurgence.

Standalone lighting is also popular these days, especially fixtures that create pools of light throughout the residence. Floor lamps of simplistic style provide great light and are made even better when paired with a dimmer. Bowed and arching lamps are great choices as they are unobtrusive, and they can be easily placed behind a couch to provide general illumination or task lighting for reading.

In essence, Scandinavian interior design is all about maximizing natural light with strong fixtures partnered with neutral colors and simple furniture choices. The new trends discussed here will make for a wonderful and comfortable residence.

2021 Scandinavian Interior Design Trends You Need to Know, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Beau Peters. Beau is a creative professional with a lifetime of experience in service and care. As a manager, he has learned a slew of tricks of the trade that he enjoys sharing with others who have the same passion and dedication that he brings to his work. When he is not writing, he enjoys reading and trying new things. Check out his website Stories by Beau Peters.

Feature image (on top): Photo by Røros Tweed