Scandinavian Interior Design Hacks for Your Living Room
The living room is arguably one of the most important rooms in a house and we dare say the most “lived-in” room especially in lockdown. It should be a cosy and inviting space and one of the best ways to achieve that is to simply keep the space minimalistic and clutter-free – a la’ Scandinavian style.
A Scandinavian design has a distinct yet effortless sense of style that exudes simplicity and functionality. Although the aesthetics look great when photographed – it’s also incredibly inviting and comfortable – everything you’d want for your living room.
One of the many design principles of a Scandinavian décor stems from their passion for nature by incorporating natural elements such as light and bright wood, nature-inspired sculptural pieces, house plants and natural textiles. This appreciation for nature comes from the Scandinavians love for being outdoors, or as they call it friluftsliv - a concept that was popularised by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in the 19th century, when he created a character that searched for solitude in the nature. Loosely translated as ‘open-air living’, the Nordic’s regard this as an essential part of their lives.
You don’t need to live in a Nordic country to embrace the Scandinavian’s philosophy of outdoor living – you can create your own mini outdoors in your living room at home.
Get the look:
Hack #1: Use furniture built with natural materials
Let’s start with your base – the furniture. Scandinavian style furniture is usually made of wood and other natural elements. The shapes of these furniture are also easy to identify; simple, minimal and restrained. Many furniture pieces like chairs, tables, stools, etc will have a tapered shape and are left in a natural wood tone, or painted in a muted shade to make your interior feel more natural, clean and fresh.
To emulate the Scandinavians love for nature indoors, opt for furniture items that have a wooden frame and a neutral colour palette.
Recommended Products:
KELLY Armchair
Hack #2: Bring nature inside with greenery
Adding house plants and greenery indoors can promote wellbeing and lowers stress levels. Plants have air-purifying qualities where they absorb CO2 and release oxygen back into its surrounding, whilst filtering out harmful chemicals. Real plants like fern and cactuses are great for green-fingered beginners. For areas with little natural daylight, you can opt for faux or artificial plants. In addition to being easier to care for, they also look just as good as real plants – you get the visual perks, but not the air-purifying benefits.
Mix up your style of plants to enhance your space and improve the overall layout. You can use a combination of hanging plants, short or tall plants, and stone or ceramic pots to add texture and interest.
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MONTERA Plant
FIDDLE FIG Plant
MUSH Ceramic Décor Pot
TALE Stone Décor Pot
Hack #3: Add hygge element
Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) is a concept that focuses on cosy and comfortable living to create happiness, satisfaction and a sense of well-being. It is a fundamental part of the Scandinavian design pillar. You can incorporate hygge into your living room by creating a cosy, harmonious and relaxing atmosphere – through throw pillows, plush cushions, rugs, soft candle lighting etc.
Hygge design elements are simple, comfortable and subtle. They always deliver an amplitude of warmth with a good blend of details to provide one of the best aesthetic, comfort and practical balances.
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Hack #4: Create pools of lighting
Aside from natural daylight, a typical Scandinavian design demands clever use of lighting by creating pools of light to brighten up the space. Concentrate on lighting areas of a room, rather than the whole room. You can achieve this by playing around with different types and style of lighting to create a striking focal point. For instance, hanging a central light low in your living room gives a much softer, focused light rather than a harsh light at full brightness.
To create gentle background lighting, consider using table and candle lamps with plenty of detail to create pools of warm and inviting light in corners of the room.
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Using these hacks as guide, you should be able to transform your home into your own personal oasis. For more Scandinavian inspired furnishing, you can visit our website https://online.majuhome.com.my to shop or walk-in to our showrooms from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm.
Disclaimer: All images used above are for illustration purposes only.
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