I Want That Scandinavian Look!
Wood floors, light blue walls and the blonde finish and crisp lines make this room a Scandinavian delight.
What you want: A bright, airy style that makes you feel like you can breathe easier just by stepping into it. This look is carefully constructed to give the illusion of light and sprang from Sweden's harsh, long winter evenings. The overall look is homey and inviting.
Colors: Color here is viewed as an opportunity to create the brightness of a summer sky with marshmallow clouds and its cheerful vibes. For your base, you'll want something like white, cream or sky blue, complemented with touches of warm yellow and gold, baby pink and bold red, gray and light green. Use these colors to stencil hearts, ribbons, scrolls and gatherings of wheat upon walls.
Keep things as bright and cheerful as a summer day with a Scandinavian-style living space.
Floor: Like your walls and draperies, keep your floors light and bright! Consider blonde or pale woods, or a light hued paint for your floors. If you want to jazz things up, stencil or paint pale designs (like stripes and diamonds) on the floor's surface. And don't forget your floor coverings! In this case, pick up an eco-friendly sisal rug, like the kind found here, for a natural, attractive covering that protects your floors and family's feet.
Lighting: Wall sconces are the key to your success with this look. Choose relatively simple, small sconces with a tin, gold or brass finish and place them in sets along your wall for artful framing and light play. Plain table lamps and unfussy chandeliers also help add light to an already bright interior. Check out GREENCulture's wide selection here for a perfect lighting accessory.
Furniture: Keep your furniture uncomplicated and clean for the Scandinavian style. Curvilinear designs reign in blonde woods like birch, beech, and alder and may come painted white. Legs are often tapered or fluted and tables sometimes bear scrolled borders for extra style. For the bedroom, opt for upholstered head and footboards, or go for basic wood in a canopy bed, trundle or daybed style. Keep in mind there should be nothing imposing or ostentatious about Scandinavian furniture, considering it takes its cues from country and folk styles. For ideas, browse GREENCulture's large furniture site here.
The Helsinki Dining Collection radiates Scandinavian practicality and charm.
Accents: Much attention is paid to walls during the Georgian era, which were awash with neoclassical elements and paneling. While the walls themselves were relatively plain in solid colors, elaborately molded cornice and frieze hug the tops of the walls and come with classical motifs like urns, ribbons, and acanthus leaves. Sometimes moldings even made their way onto the ceilings for an extravagant touch. Paneling called dado provides texture to the lower half of the wall, which is supplemented with crown and baseboard molding. Later in the era, designers become more adventurous with walls and included floral patterns or marbleized finishes. Chinese wallpapers were also chic back in the day, and the look can be easily replicated today!
If you want to dress up walls, keep things uncomplicated. You can use moldings, some restrained stenciling and uncluttered floral patterns on your walls. Match any florals you do use to freshly cut flowers displayed in pitchers, vases or on wreathes for windows and bookcases. Flowers that match the Scandinavian color scheme include yellow daisies, pink roses and white flowers.
Lastly, don't feel the need to fill up every space with knick-knacks and accessories, as it can work to undermine the light, airy feel you've worked to create. Use mirrors to create the illusion of even more open space and to reflect light, and use light colored accents like blue and white china, silver and glass to add shine and style.
