Small apartments are quite complex in terms of design. When there is a need to conveniently place everything you need and give your home an original look, you should pay attention to the Scandinavian style in the interior of the apartment. Very bright, simple and functional, it will make you feel free even in the smallest room.
Here we have collected photos of 15 modern apartments in the Scandinavian style to study its various features and manifestations. Get ready to see breathtaking one, two and studio apartments after taking a quick look at this amazing style.
Secrets of decorating the Scandinavian style in the interior of an apartment
The northern countries, which gave the world the Scandinavian style of interiors, are characterized by long winters, premature twilight and a lack of sunlight during the day. Therefore, the abundance of bright white color is the first thing that catches your eye when looking at the Scandinavian style in the interior of the apartment. In combination with it, natural beige, brown, green and gray-blue tones are usually used, which bring balance, harmony and comfort to the house.
Among other characteristic features that distinguish the design of an apartment in the Scandinavian style:
- Minimalism in the choice of furniture;
- Colorful textile decor - carpets, pillows, bedspreads, etc. (but not furniture upholstery!);
- Popular elements of the loft style are brick walls, bohemian and vintage decor, industrial lamps;
- Open shelves with books and decor;
- Loft bed, which helps save space;
- Warm wood accents;
- Numerous indoor plants;
- Candles and fireplaces.
Let's see how these components of the Scandinavian style were used in 15 real modern apartments!
The main features of the Scandinavian style
Colors
Scandi style today is not limited to any rigid color scheme. Yes, white and gray traditionally remain dominant for Scandinavian interiors, but the palette can be absolutely anything.
The trend, for example, is rich dark tones: indigo, wine, emerald, charcoal black. No less popular are complex warm shades: chocolate, caramel, ocher.
Delicate, pastel shades are still holding their own. But pure bright colors should be used with caution: by choosing them as focal accents, there is a risk of simplifying the situation.
Photo: Stadshem
Photo: Stadshem
Materials
When choosing finishes for a Scandi interior when renovating, everything is quite simple: focus on natural materials - wood, stone, cork, metal, glass, ceramics, linen, cotton (or their skillful imitations). Try to avoid overtly unnatural textures and artificial materials.
Photo: Stadshem
Photo: Stadshem
Furniture and decor
When choosing furniture and decor for a Scandinavian-style interior, consider the basics of Scandinavian philosophy:
- the environment should meet exactly your needs and your lifestyle;
- laconic shapes and silhouettes will help create an interior that is timeless;
- focus on functionality and practicality;
- don’t forget about the little things that give you positive emotions (for example, family photos and items brought from trips);
- invest in the “base” - decoration, appliances and those pieces of furniture that you are definitely not going to change for many years;
- unobtrusive inclusions of retro style are on trend;
- an abundance of indoor plants - too;
- Festive and seasonal interior decor is relevant for Scandi style (for example, decorating a house for the New Year or spring).
Photo: Entrance Makleri
Photo: Entrance Makleri
Photo: Entrance Makleri
Photo: Entrance Makleri
Photo: Alvhem
Photo: Alvhem
Two-room apartment in Scandinavian style
When there is little space in the house, some rooms have to be combined. In this stylish two-room apartment, the dining area has been moved into the living room, freeing up the kitchen. But if you need a quick snack or coffee, you can do it at the stunning window bar.
Strict straight lines and black elements make the Scandinavian style of this apartment more modern and bold.
Scandinavian style in the interior of an apartment of 40 sq. m.
The owners of this apartment preferred a more classic and warm Scandinavian style, although they also moved the dining room into the space between the kitchen and living room. The pastel color palette and tiny but extremely cozy bedroom are what we especially liked about this 40 sq.m. apartment. m. What about you?
Also read: Design of one- and two-room apartments of 40 sq. m - the best for 2020
Scandinavian style in the interior of a studio apartment
Once you remove the partitions, the apartment seems to grow in size. The kitchen, living room and hallway are in one interior, and only the bedroom and bathroom are closed by a door. It's a pity that the owners didn't share photos, but we were able to appreciate the industrial elements and bright vintage refrigerator that give this Scandinavian-style studio apartment a special charm.
Interior items
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When you select items for interior decoration in the Scandinavian style, it is very important to start from what material the product is made of. You need to remember that in order to respect every little detail in the interior and then get a visually aesthetic picture, you should select objects from natural materials. It can be wood, porcelain, metal, glass or clay.
Much depends on what kind of furniture you have in your home, what colors predominate and whether there is contrast. These items do not have to be placed completely throughout the apartment; they can be collected on one shelf.
Remember! When creating an apartment design, you initially need to select large things and only then small details. For example, you first need to decide on the furniture, the color of the wood, and only then select a beautiful vase that will decorate the coffee table.
Interior design of a two-room apartment in Scandinavian style
There is no doubt that relaxing and working at a desk in this huge bedroom is a pleasure! Wooden floors with grasscloth wallpaper balance the dazzling white walls, while lush chandeliers highlight the height of the ceilings. But the kitchen in this Scandinavian apartment is quite small, although cozy. What is more important for you: a spacious kitchen or a bedroom?
Scandinavian style in the interior of a one-room apartment: division into two zones
This Scandinavian-style studio apartment has windows on both sides of the house. On the left side of the interior there is a beautiful kitchen with a balcony, and there is also a bathroom. On the right, the designers have conjured up a combined bedroom-living room that will be memorable for its warm metallic accents. Gorgeous!
Design features
Colors
Scandinavian-style studio design is most often decorated with just a few light colors. The main tone is white. It makes the studio apartment visually more spacious and brighter. White surfaces that reflect natural daylight help northerners compensate for the lack of sun. Sometimes gray or beige is used, especially when decorating children's rooms, but the shade should be very light. To ensure that in such a white environment the eye has something to grab onto, the Scandinavian-style studio apartment uses several bright accents - details in the following colors:
- Dense blue;
- Yellow;
- Red;
- Black;
- Turquoise.
For example, details can be simple bright or complex light decorative elements, discreet decorations, elegant green plants. To “heighten” the situation, dark colors of the floor can be used - even black; however, its more common finish would be white or light wood. Additional colors:
- Natural wood tones;
- Stone shades;
- Sand shades.
Colors and kitchen table
Light
For studio lighting the following are used:
- Sconce;
- Floor lamps;
- Candles;
- Tall floor lamps with light shades.
Of course, chandeliers can also be suspended, but they must be compact and inconspicuous; A common option is a single elegant light bulb.
Textile
Scandinavians love to decorate their homes with small rugs - for example, in the form of a skin or a bright homespun rug. The textiles used for decoration are natural fabrics:
- Cotton;
- Linen;
- Jute.
Modern Scandinavian apartment with loft bed
A loft bed is an excellent solution for small apartments that do not have room for a separate bedroom. In the best traditions of the Scandinavian style, the living room (and at the same time the bedroom) of this apartment is bathed in white, but the kitchen unexpectedly pleases with red-brown tones with hints of pink. Open shelves, modern lamps and fashionable gray-brown upholstery of upholstered furniture give the home design a special charm.
Beautiful studio apartment in modern Scandinavian style
Soft gray-blue and green tones combined with white walls and wood bring the charm of a winter forest to the design of this apartment. The simplicity and minimalism of the furnishings are not at all striking, thanks to a shelving unit with open shelves, exquisite wicker chairs and numerous indoor plants. A cowhide-shaped rug highlights the living area, and modern spotlights on the ceiling help illuminate every corner of the spacious studio.
How do you like this way to separate the hallway?
Also read: Stylish modern hallway design - fresh ideas
Scandinavian interior of a small apartment
The next small Scandinavian-style apartment on our list is notable for its eclecticism. While Scandinavian style sets the overall mood, you'll also notice a Persian rug on the floor, Japanese prints on the walls and a bold, modern papier-mâché light fixture. The rest of the furniture is elegantly minimalist, with only the fireplace and herringbone parquet flooring bringing back memories of times gone by.
Color scheme: light background and bright spots
In the color palette of Scandinavian interiors, three undisputed leaders can be distinguished:
- White . It is thanks to it that a visual feeling of spaciousness and lightness is created, which is very important for small apartments. You can use all shades of white – from bright snowy to muted creamy.
- Calm blue or even sky tones. These shades will also create the effect of visually expanding the boundaries of space. But do not choose too cold tones - they can make a small home uncomfortable.
- Light yellow . Its active use is explained by the fact that shades of yellow are associated with the sun's rays, so valuable to the Scandinavians.
A Scandinavian-style interior should be designed in light colors.
Also pay attention to other unobtrusive tones: light gray, beige, cream, light mint, light brown.
However, one should not think that the Scandinavian interior consists exclusively of light shades - there is also a place for bright spots here. This is the highlight of the style: it is calm, but not boring. Picture and photograph frames, blankets, pillows, and small poufs can be used as colorful spots. At the same time, do not forget that colorful ones are not acidic. It is better to choose deep, rich colors from the natural group.
Advice. There should not be too much bright decor, otherwise it will overload a small apartment. Remember that a Scandinavian interior is not a colorful kaleidoscope, but a space with original, neat inclusions.
Minimalist apartment design in Scandinavian style
This tiny kitchen and living room just had to come together into one room! No partitions, minimal furnishings and large windows make the space feel bright and spiritual, while the ceiling design, patterned floor tiles and cheerful red-orange accents add an invigorating decorative effect.
Color
The combination of colors in the interior of this style is aimed at expanding the available space, which is only possible if light colors are used. The white color in the interior , with which the walls were decorated, not only contributed to the presence of this factor, but also made it possible to solve the problem of poor lighting due to the high reflective effect.
The floor and flooring are decorated in light wood tones, which made it possible to give the room a clear geometry that had a positive effect on the visual boundaries of the usable area. In addition, the apartment has become much lighter and more comfortable than before these changes. It is worth noting that these actions, in addition to the worthy external characteristics that appeared after their implementation, allowed us to save a sufficient amount of money.
Scandinavian style apartment with creative decor
Animalistic and floral decor is an integral part of Scandinavian interior design. It helps to bring more life, bright colors and dynamism into the apartment, which is simply necessary during the long Scandinavian winters.
In the photo of this home we see fun natural motifs that are combined with stylish modern furniture. The bedroom area is on a separate platform, and floor shelves for books highlight the transition into it from the kitchen-living room.
The best planning solutions
It is best to change the layout in small-sized apartments, since most often it initially does not represent anything good and needs to be redone. A good option is a studio kitchen, when both rooms are combined into one. This implementation visually expands the space, while allowing not only to rationally use the available space, but also to let more light into the apartment from outside.
Scandinavian style in the interior of an apartment of 25 sq. m.
Scandinavian style in the interior of an apartment helps even in situations where it is very small. The kitchen, bedroom, living room and hallway fit here in one room with a single shelf-partition. But who will say that this interior is cramped and unattractive?
Bright apartment in Scandinavian style with loft elements
When the size of your apartment doesn't limit you, Scandinavian design can shine in all its glory. This space simply fascinates with its bright colors and original decor, which are emphasized by the light background.
Taking a closer look, you will notice that the living room of this two-room apartment is characterized by a marine aesthetic - from the blue and white palette to the sea fish on the windows and ship patterns on the sofa cushions. The life of the Scandinavian countries has been inextricably linked with the seas since the ancient Vikings first set out on their campaign.
But the bedroom and bathroom follow the best modern trends - geometric shapes and bright tiles have been leading design trends in recent years.
Scandinavian style in the interior with natural accents
This refreshingly light interior combines organic and industrial motifs for the perfect compromise between Scandinavian and urban style. Traditionally, a studio apartment has simple furniture, but unusual decorative elements surprise us at almost every turn. Just look at the lamps (by the way, did you notice the lamp on the wall?), the window sill-shelf, the knitted decor in the bedroom and the pattern on the kitchen walls!
Also read: How to create a Scandinavian style in the interior
Cozy one-room apartment in Scandinavian style
It’s worth softening the shades a little and a small Scandinavian-style apartment takes on a luxury effect. Instead of the usual sterile white, the walls in this interior were decorated with creamy white paint, which combines stunningly cozy with the taupe palette. Black and white photos, industrial lamps and wicker chairs bring a touch of nostalgia to the design.
Features of the Scandinavian style
Despite all its uniqueness, the Scandinavian style of the northern countries of Europe is quite restrained, however, you should not think that the furniture and the general interior should have too pale tones. Suitable tones here are beige, white, light gray and mint. True, most often the latter option is not used; people settle on gray-beige color. Thanks to the interesting combination of such shades, a certain lightness is obtained.
Particularly important in the Scandinavian interior is the use of natural materials, as shown in the photo. These include leather, wood, stone, ceramics. Moreover, these materials can act both as decorative elements and be used in furniture itself. An interesting solution would be to use cotton for decoration, but it, like all other natural materials, should also be framed in light colors, which will allow it to be combined with other features of the interior.
When it comes to furniture, minimalism is an important point. You will have to forget about buying large modular walls, since they are completely unacceptable in the Scandinavian style. And, in principle, there is no place for such furniture in a small apartment. Excellent materials for making furniture would be birch or beech, and the upholstery should also be made from the natural materials mentioned above. In principle, spruce and pine are also allowed as furniture materials; the main thing here is to bring the interior as close to naturalness as possible.
It is worth paying attention to the shape of the furniture; it should be as organic as possible. For example, you can use clear geometric shapes in the form of rectangles, but it is also acceptable for some furniture to have rounded features. The most important credo of the Scandinavian style is to combine everything skillfully and competently.
Since the main thing in design is naturalness, it should also be used in creating the floor. It is advisable that it be parquet rather than laminate, since it is more natural. The floor deserves a white carpet. It is also advisable to make the ceiling perfectly white, regardless of further furnishing plans. Wallpaper for walls can be a little brighter than the rest of the design, but it is advisable to have a single tone, without transitions. Subtle prints are also available.
Windows and doors should also be made of wood, especially frames. Plastic windows in the interior design of a small apartment in the Scandinavian style will not be entirely acceptable. You can decorate the walls yourself or order special collages with family photos from a photo studio. It is advisable that these are black and white photographs that will go well with the overall design style.
Small apartment in Scandinavian style with a brick wall
When the design of an apartment is based on the Scandinavian style, mixing and adding elements from different directions is not at all difficult. Using the example of these apartments, we can note that a small-sized Scandinavian-style apartment very hospitably embraces modern and vintage, industrial and rustic elements.
The loft bed helped free up space here too, without depriving the owners of a cozy place to sleep.
These are the last photos of a Scandinavian style apartment for today. Please indicate in the comments the serial number of the apartment that you liked the most! Thank you!
Advantages of Scandinavian style
The main advantage of the Scandinavian direction is that it is very flexible. It can be used both when decorating large and small apartments. The surprising thing is that the color palette that characterizes this style is not so wide, but you can come up with many different options for how to decorate your apartment.
When decorating small apartments in the style invented by the Scandinavian countries, you can use carpets and other bright textiles as decorative elements : for example, it could be a blanket, decorative white skins and other little things that can create comfort in any room.