Ever browsed through home decor magazines or interior design sites and seen the word “Scandinavian” but not know what it means? Don’t sweat it, there is no proper way to describe what the Scandinavian style encompasses other than bringing you through the essentials that make up a such a space. This style is growing in popularity in the designing field and is perfect for those who desire a quaint, simple, and fresh life. Here at Screed, we love the Scandinavian style so much that we dedicated an entire section of our site to Scandinavian themed light fixtures *cough* check it out *cough*. Read on to find out how you can understand and achieve this chic yet timeless look for your space.

ONE :: Colour Palette

White. That’s it. Simple as that. Just white! For the classic Scandinavian look, go for a space that is 70 percent covered in the colour white and it’s not just any white: it has to be a pristine white. It is all about looking and feeling clean and clear in your space. This burst of white invokes a very light and comfortable feeling in the occupants of the room, giving them no choice but to remain there as long as they can. Also, it won’t hurt to mention how white makes a perfect #selfie or #wefie backdrop. If aren’t too excited about having pure white walls, try going for white tiles and wallpaper to add a little design to broke the monotony of a solid white wall.

Of course, there’s also that 30 percent for other colours. These colours are extremely important to inject life into the space, white can come off as boring or too sterile-looking, so here’s really the opportunity to go crazy with colours! Experiment with ornaments and furnishing with interesting and bright colours such as yellow and turquoise.

Mini Style Challenge! We think these spaces can use a little help from light fixtures. We think our EBBE Modern Abstract Hanging Lamp fits snugly into the space on the left, while our EDEET Half Wood Hanging Lamp will go perfectly with the space on the right. You think you have a better style opinion? Comment down below with other light fixtures you think might float well with the two spaces above.

However, if shocking colours isn’t for you or if you want to more lasting look, muted tones (such as pastel!) are also welcome to the party. In fact, we can amend the white to muted tones ratio to an even 50-50 split as muted tones are an original in Scandinavian designs. For home and cafe owners, you can consider getting a grey sofa fully decked with monochrome pillows to break the whiteness of the space. Rugs are also a great way to add colour and pattern into the space.

Tip: Instead of adorning your walls with paintings, shelves, and boxes, use these interesting light fixtures to fill that black space. We’re currently loving the BJARNE Contemporary Cross Wall Lights and the EDITH Candy Holder Wooden Hanging Lamp. So simple and so chic!

TWO :: Wood

Here’s a friend you won’t miss in a Scandinavian room. I will even go as far as to say wood is more than a friend because without any sort of wooden element, the room will seize to function as a Scandinavian room. How romantic! So don’t separate these lovers by excluding wood! On the other hand, no one likes a clingy partner, right? So don’t overdo it or you might end up with a treehouse (but that’s cool too!). We have some easy rules to make sure you add the right amount of wood to show to right amount of love.

If your large furniture items such as tables and bed frames are fully wooden, make sure to adorn it with accessories and ornaments that are polished and of a solid colour. These large furniture make up most of the wood you need to include in the room. However, if you’re going for little wooden details like dishes and light fixtures, avoiding going entirely wooden for the other furniture. In fact, you can create the illusion of wood by using cork or straw. We are totally digging how cork wall (right) allows the room to remain Scandinavian without being too woody about it.

Without wood the room can come off as too industrial or modern looking. The Scandinavian loses its identity and sense of self when the wood left. Wherefore art thou Wood?

THREE :: Minimalism

Minimalism is the art of striking a balance between simplicity and art. Take a trip to Scandinavian countries and you’ll find yourself marvelling at that the box-like architecture without being too selfish when incorporating clean, straight lines. Replicate that look in your space by going for furnishing with clear lines and shapes. This does not mean straight lines though! Smooth bending curves are also characteristic of Scandinavian interior design. Anyway, there should be a law against have only straight edged furniture in homes – it is totally not child-safe! Think of all the sharp edges! We commonly see in Scandinavian dining rooms with a rectangular dining table and curvy chairs surrounding its perimeters. Light fixtures are also largely used to include form variation in the space.

The following tip is not solely a Scandinavian tip, it’s a life tip! I’m pretty sure you never expected to learn life lessons in an interior design article! De-cluttering you space is important for remaining organized and put together in life. In life! This is serious. Donate unnecessary items to the Salvation Army and organize your remaining items into neat shelving units. Here’s another opportunity to add wood into the room. For items that you are keen on keeping but do not align with the theme, you can always whip out some white spray paint and Scandinavian-fy it!

Another way to achieve minimalism is by going with simple patterns and designs. If you’re going to use wallpapering or patterned covers, go for designs with a regular pattern. Try not to overcomplicate things by throwing in too many colours into your pattern and integrate your pattern with the rest of the space by adding accessories with complementary colours. Marbling and grain are non-regular patterns that would blend comfortably into a Scandinavian room.

Tip: In the right most space stands a magnificent light fixture. Such a light fixture tends to take up a lot of room, especially for a space-constrained HDB apartment. Therefore, opt for a wall light in its place to minimize unnecessary space usage. For a Scandinavian look, try out these light fixtures: BODIL Single Tulip Wall Lamp and the GUNDA Coloured Industrial Street Lamp .

FOUR :: Plants

Scandinavians love their nature – and we can totally see why. They have lush, green landscapes that are so drool-worthy and dreamy. Also, you should’ve gotten the whole ‘nature’ craze from their obsession over wood. Up your nature game by adding some greenies into your space with plants and some petit flowers (baby’s breath!). The plants also play a role in adding colour to the room so don’t worry about having a room that’s too dull! Having plants in your space adds vibrancy and freshness to the living experience. They keep the place cool and the air clean – what more can you ask for?

However, maintaining plants involves some form of commitment like watering and changing the soil. Therefore, some people might be reluctant to adopt plants in their design. What can be done is to have a plant motif in the room which can be in the form of plant photos or plant embossing in varying items. Alternatively, one can go for the low maintenance cactus that only requires watering only once every two weeks! We think this is an amazing deal for something so pretty and just look at how many different kinds of cacti you can choose from! Head down to the plant section of IKEA for a great selection of baby-sized cacti!

FIVE :: Lighting

Apart from the white colour, the brightness of the Scandinavian room won’t be complete without the brightness from the light fixture. Here, we’re strictly talking about white lights as they complement the conventional Scandinavian colour palette. Popular Scandinavian light fixture styles include the Edison bulb, curved pendant lamp, and the old school pot-lid pendant lamp. They each bring something different to the table but all carry the same sophistication and classicality. No Scandinavian room is complete without a key light fixture.

Hey, wait a minute! We spy something familiar. If you like any of the above light fixtures, do check out these items here: Screed’s collection of Edison bulbs, OSVALD Pendant Lamp, and RAGNVALD Modern Chestnut Lamp .

Another feature characteristic of Scandinavian lights is the natural light streaming in from the windows. Windows are another way the Scandinavians keep the natural vibe as it connects them to the outside world. Bare windows are a occurrence as they allow maximum light into the room. However, you can also opt for sheer white curtains if privacy is a concern for you.

Whoa! And there you have it! Hopefully you know what the Scandinavian style means after going through this essential guide. Are you digging it as much as we are? The spaces shown in this article never seizes to invoke a Zen vibe in us, making us feel immensely at peace. Just imagine sinking into your comfy sofa with in a plate of butterscotch cookies and chilled milk in your bright Scandinavian-inspired home… ain’t that the life? Give us a shout-out on any of our social media if you redid your room in a Scandinavian style after this article!