Scandifornian interior design is a popular style that’s gaining popularity with homeowners everywhere. The look is simple, clean, and modern but still has hints of the outdoors—like in country homes or log cabins. Let’s talk about what Scandifornian design is and how you can bring it into your home.
What is Scandifornian Style?
Scandifornian style is quite distinct (unlike the traditional interior design) and unique as it takes inspiration from Scandinavia’s clean, minimalist designs (Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark) and sunny California warmth. The term was coined by professional interior designer Natalie Myers. The Scandifornian interior decor is characterized by its use of muted colors and neutral tones, as well as its lack of clutter. Because of their long, dark winters, Nordic people spend a lot of time indoors. Therefore, they devote much attention to planning and decorating their homes.
The major difference between the Scandifornian style and other styles is that for a room to be considered Scandifornian, it must have an open floor plan where each room flows into one another without any walls dividing them. This allows you to create an atmosphere where your space feels spacious and open even if it’s small in size or has limited square footage due to its location (for example, if your home has only one level).
In addition, most people who follow this trend choose not to have any objects covering their ceilings because they believe that doing so “closes off” their rooms visually—thus making them look smaller than they actually are.
Another feature that sets this interior decor apart from others is its heavy use of wood tones such as cherrywood cabinets paired with white quartz countertops; stainless steel appliances; light-colored marble floors; metal lighting fixtures that hang above dining tables or end tables instead of lamps with shades; and metal framed mirrors instead glass covered ones mounted directly onto walls next door each other (which makes them look like frames).
Elements of Scandifornian Design
Scandifornian interior design is clean and simple, with soft, organic shapes that are light and bright. Natural materials are used to create a warm atmosphere while keeping things simple.
Open floor plans are the norm in Scandinavia, so you should make sure to leave plenty of space for this type of layout in your home. If you already have an open floor plan, consider adding windows or doors to expand it.
Look for furniture that has clean lines and simple construction; most Scandifornian designs will use wood or metal as the primary material (although glass can also look very nice!). You’ll want to avoid furniture with overly ornate details—you don’t want anything too busy or cluttered-looking when all those natural elements come into play.
Tips to Bring Scandifornian Style to Your Home
1. Light and Bright
Light and bright is a trend that has been around for a while, but it’s still popular in Scandifornian interiors. This style means using light colors and lots of windows to create an airy feel. It can also make your rooms feel larger because it makes your walls appear farther away from you.
Light and bright can be achieved with paint, furniture, and lighting. Some common light Scandinavian interior designs include gray or beige walls with white trim; white walls with natural wood trim; cream-colored walls with darker wood accents; mint green walls with white trim; salmon pink or reds mixed with blues or whites.
Other ways to create the look include using large mirrors or artwork in various sizes on the wall at different heights (e.g., above the couch), grouping together mismatched pieces of furniture in complementary shades of fabric (e g., navy blue sofa covered in blue-gray pillows next to an orange chair), adding pops of color through accessories like throw blankets or vases filled with flowers.
2. Natural Materials
One of the most important design trends in modern Scandifornian interior design is the use of natural materials. While it’s true that some Scandifornian decorators might use marble or stone in their homes, this isn’t a rule—it’s more common to use wood and fabric instead. Many designers who specialize in interiors will have beautiful pieces available that incorporate these materials into their furniture and accessories.
Scandinavian and California designs embrace outdoor living and bring the outside in to create a more holistic experience.
Some of the most popular pieces include:
- Tables made from solid wood
- Jute rugs
- Indoor plants
- Chairs with upholstered seats
- Sofas covered with soft fabrics like velvet or suede
- Sideboards that incorporate metalwork details (such as brass)
3. Minimalism
Minimalism is the art of less. It’s about removing clutter and focusing on what’s important. Minimalism can be applied to any room, but it’s especially important in the kitchen and bathroom.
Scandifornian character is conveyed through natural materials and organic details, all of which are carefully incorporated in a clean, uncluttered manner.
There are two things to keep in mind when designing with minimalism: first, you want your home to feel spacious and comfortable; second, you want to ensure that every piece has purpose and meaning (or at least looks like it does). If a piece doesn’t add anything positive to your space, don’t put it there.
4. Organized and Clean
The organization and cleanliness of Scandifornian interiors is a hallmark of the style. The interior designer’s job is to create an environment that feels comfortable, welcoming, and orderly while also being aesthetically pleasing. This can be achieved by using several techniques.
For starters, keep everything in its place. A place for everything and everything in its place is the motto here. This means that you should have designated storage areas for all of your items—from clothing to books to everyday kitchenware—so that things aren’t just thrown about haphazardly on tables or countertops throughout your home.
It also means keeping your furniture organized, so it doesn’t take up too much space or feel cluttered when you’re sitting at it or looking around from where you’re standing near it (i.e., don’t stack things up on top of each other).
Keep things clean and tidy at all times by wiping down surfaces regularly with disinfectant wipes; this includes table tops as well as light switches, door handles, etcetera.
5. Homey and Handmade
As you look through the world of Scandifornian design, you’ll notice that many interiors have a homey feel to them. This is because, in Scandinavian countries, it’s common for people to make things by hand. You can also add this kind of charm to your home with handmade items from flea markets and thrift stores—or even by making some yourself!
Don’t worry if you don’t have time or skill to make anything from scratch; there are plenty of ways to create the same effect using recycled materials instead.
6. Blonde Wood
One Scandinavian decorating idea is to use blonde wood or whitewood in the floors and furniture. For example, birch, maple, and ash are all suitable since they are blond in color.
In addition to making your home look stylish, wood decor can make a room feel warm and inviting. Unlike some decor trends, wood furniture and fixtures are classic, so they will never go out of style.
7. Add Classic Mid-Century Details
Mid-century modern design elements, such as brass, terrazzo, and walnut, are common in Scandinavian interior design. Additional features include floor-to-ceiling windows, rock fireplaces, open living spaces, and wood paneling made of blonde or white wood.
Conclusion
There are many practical benefits of Scandifornian interior design, and embracing these concepts will allow you to express your creativity in new and exciting ways. If you’re interested in adopting some of these design principles for yourself, it’s relatively simple—just look for homes in Denmark or Sweden. You’ll quickly get a sense of how Scandifornian interior design is done; from there, it’s simply a matter of making it your own.
We hope this guide has helped you understand what Scandifornian style is and how you can incorporate it into your home.