By Zephyr and Stone

Scandinavian house design has gained popularity in Australia in recent years, and we believe it’s here to stay.

Renowned for its simplicity, clean lines and soft tones, the Scandinavian style house show us that less really can be more. Their pure, pared back aesthetic creates a sense of calm and order and promotes a feeling of well-being, whilst the Nordic preference for open-plan living spaces centred around family friendly kitchens, makes them the perfect fit for the Australian way of life.

Want to recreate or incorporate the Scandi Style in your own home? Here are our top 5 tips…

Scandinavian dining room with round dining table and black bar stools and engineered wooden floor — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Dining Room With Feature Black Rattan Pendant Light

Pale Timber Floors

Scandinavians embrace natural elements in their homes, and this is evident in their preference for hardwood floors. Timber floors are either whitewashed or constructed of pale timbers to reflect light - which helps during the long, dark Scandinavian Winter months. Pale timber floors are often found in every room of Nordic homes, apart from the bathroom. Yes, even the bedrooms and kitchen floors are timber!

scandi study nook with grey joinery and timber flooring and floating shelves — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Study Nook

Engineered timber wood floors are a great solution if your existing flooring is not timber or existing hardwood flooring can be sanded back and whitewashed using a product like ‘Palm Beach White’ stain from Porters Paints. This flooring gives you the pale whitewashed look that’s key in a Scandi house. Then add large textured rugs to instantly add warmth and softness to any space.

Scandinavian living room with light timber joinery and leather egg chair — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Living Room

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Colour

Scandinavian houses are a lesson in neutrals. Walls are generally kept white or pale grey to allow furniture and art to take centre stage. Light walls also brighten up the space, which helps contribute to the bright and airy feel in Scandinavian homes.

So what colours are classified as neutrals? Try sticking largely to whites, greys, blacks and browns, and if introducing colour, consider doing this with furnishings or accessories and stick to colours associated with nature. Colour can also be introduced through natural timbers, used in furniture and accessories.

High contrasts are also a hallmark of Scandinavian design. This can be achieved by incorporating pops of black or darker hues. This helps to create a dramatic statement and prevent the largely muted palette to appear too washed out. In our Scandi townhouse, we achieved this contrast with black tapware, window frames and lighting as well as selected furnishings.

Scandinavian kitchen with light timber island bench with black bar stools and grey kitchen cabinetry — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Kitchen

Materials

Scandinavians value the importance of nature and incorporate natural materials throughout their homes. Materials such as rich leather, woven textiles and natural fibres are vital to recreate this look.

Scandinavian style is all about layers, so incorporate as many natural finishes as you like. Timber is utilised not only for flooring but also decoratively, for furniture and as cladding on walls or ceilings. This adds warmth, and texture and creates definition, all important elements to add to the largely white and muted Scandi palette.

In our Scandi townhouse, we incorporated timber feature cladding to the dining room and master bedroom wall, painted in a pale grey colour. We did this using Glosswood Raw Paulownia Designer Lining. This panelling adds much needed texture and creates beautiful clean lines, a concept that is celebrated in Scandinavian house interiors. A timber batten feature on the staircase completes the design.

Scandinavian style bedroom with grey carpeting and timber wood side table — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Master Bedroom With Timber Bedside Tables

Functionality is of utmost importance to Scandinavians, and their homes are a testament to this, built using honest materials and featuring quality craftsmanship. Their preference for minimal ornamentation means their designs have to be innovative and include clever storage for hiding clutter.

Integrated, simple joinery is ever-present and cabinetry is often free of handles or unnecessary decoration. Practical storage solutions are incorporated into every room, creating spaces that look clean and visually relaxing.

scandinavian ensuite bath with grey tiles, black tapware and light timber vanity — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Ensuite

Minimal Furnishings and Accessories

When it comes to furnishing your Scandinavian house, strip things back and keep them simple. Scandinavian homeowners give careful consideration to a handful of valued and well-made items, which contributes to the airy and uncluttered feel of their homes. All decorative items should have a practical or aesthetic purpose and work in harmony with the rest of the space.

The Scandinavian design celebrates clean lines, from the Architecture, right down to the furniture and accessories. A statement piece of furniture is celebrated and it is not unusual for Scandinavians to spend a month’s salary on a treasured chair or sofa, that takes centre stage in their pared back home.

Scandinavian style living room with dark grey sofas and light grey floor rug — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Living Room

So when selecting furniture look for well-made pieces and choose quality over quantity. When your key pieces are in place, start incorporating textiles such as sheepskins, rugs and throws. These materials add layers of texture and a feeling of warmth, both important considerations in a minimal home.

Scandinavian decor is all about natural simplicity. Smooth rounded edges and clean lines feature heavily in Scandi decor, just as in the homes themselves. So scale back on accessories and ensure any decor is intentional. This will limit unnecessary clutter and help create the light and minimal style often found in Scandi houses.

Scandinavians believe it is important to include living elements in the home, and usually incorporate either foliage or plants in most rooms. Fresh flowers also feature regularly and are not considered a luxury, but a necessity.

Scandinavian laundry light timber laundry cabinetry and marble fish-scale backsplash laundry tiles — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Laundry featuring fish scale backsplash

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Natural Light

The use of light is an important consideration in Scandi houses. Scandinavians design their homes to let in as much natural light as possible, and generally leave their windows bare of window coverings or opt for light fabrics such as sheer curtains. This allows natural light to fill their homes, which is a priority for Scandinavians during the long, dark Winter months.

Scandinavian bathroom with white freestanding bathtub and black tapware and shower shelf — Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Bathroom

Scandinavian homes often incorporate several types of lighting to create mood and provide adequate illumination. This layered lighting scheme is preferable to a single source of light - think wall lights and pendants, as well as downlights. Floor and table lamps should also be incorporated to provide ambience and task lighting. Candlelight is also considered a must, for adding a sense of warmth and a soft glow to a space.

Watch our “5 Tips to Creating a Scandinavian Style House” Real Estate Lifestyle video for a tour of our Scandi townhouse.

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