Bringing Sweden Home

Written by William Mansell

Scandinavian design, what images do you get? Many people around the world turn to Sweden & Scandinavia when it comes to design, and it’s clear to see why. As a designer, I am constantly inspired when creating interiors. Here are some tips for ‘bringing Sweden home’ & making your home extra Swedish, whether living in Sweden or not.

In short the design principles of Scandinavian design are simple; interiors are minimalist & clutter free, creating impact from a select few objects that are functional, sustainable & aesthetic.

Paired back colour palette

The go to White, black & pastels often with pops of vibrant colours. White is great for reflecting light, especially on the darkest of days, while black provides a visual contrast. Other colours can be added throughout to brighten & liven spaces up.

Natural materials

Used in flooring, cladding, furniture & accessories, woods add much needed warmth to interiors as well as strengthening the connection to nature. Soft furnishings like reindeer or sheep skins and plants also help.

Geometric patterns & graphic prints

Whether through wallpapers & art or cushions & blankets, in small pops, geometric patterns are great for adding visual interest throughout every room in the house.

Signature pieces

A signature piece of furniture is often at the heart of any great Scandinavian interior. Typically beautifully crafted & more expensive, items such as a slim, wooden low sideboard or an Arne Jacobsen Egg chair propel an interior to greatness.

When I say Sweden, you say IKEA! The first place people think of when talking Swedish design is IKEA. Created by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943, the furniture store has revolutionised flat-pack culture and made furniture & other interior products available to the masses at great prices. With a large product range, IKEA has allowed people to create entire spaces on budgets.

While IKEA is the talk of the town, there are so many other places you can visit to buy Swedish design or simply collect inspiration. Notably Stockholm is home to many chain & independent stores, so check some out!

DesignHouse Stockholm, Svenskt Tenn & Design Torget are amongst my favourites offering beautiful products & furniture in the higher price bracket, however they are worth the money, especially for those well crafted signature pieces.

Scandinavian design at other stores

• Clas Ohlsen – Low price range
• Lagerhaus – Low price range
• Design Torget – Mid-High price range
• DesignHouse Stockholm – High price range
• Svenskt Tenn – High price range

Find out more here.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve made your home extra Swedish or how you plan on bringing a slice of Sweden home!

About the Author

I’m a wannabie Swede, currently living in the UK, hoping to soon call Sweden home! A designer, creator and all-round Swedish fan, I am highly interested in the culture, music, design, nature & of course Fika! When I’m not travelling, I also love to watch Scandi noirs, listen to Swedish music & I watch Melodifestivalen every year! These have all helped me to develop my Swedish language skills!