5 ways to make your living room more Scandi

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Searching for living room decor that’ll make your Netflix binge sessions that much more enjoyable? Turn to Scandi style. 

When done ‘right’, Scandinavian-style living rooms emit cosy and warm vibes without any of the stressful clutter. A Scandi-chic living room would include the perfect mix of sleek lines and contemporary furniture pieces, mixed with soft textures, snug throws and ‘sinkable’ rugs. Add natural touches such as warm wood and splashes of indoor green for the full effect. 

If that sounds up your alley, read on to get inspired by 5 simple Scandi decor ideas that can transform your living room.

Scandi style living room idea 1: muted paint colours 

A muted and neutral colour palette made up of whites is one of the main characteristics of Scandivanian decor. The countries where this style of design comes from tend to have long, dark winters and white is often used to make the most of any natural light and brighten rooms up. 

To start creating your very own Scandi style living room, opt for cool off whites such as White 01 or White 02 on the walls. You could even paint your floorboards white if you want to maximise the light and open up a smaller, darker space. 

Scandi style living room idea 2: keep it simple 

Creating a Scandi-chic space is actually a lot easier than many may think - the ‘less is more’ approach is key here. Keep clutter to a minimum for a soothing living room that reflects the primary principle of Scandi design: minimalism. Every piece you select for your space should be functional with clean, modern lines. The warmth and ‘homey’ factor will come through with the textures and the lighting. But more on that later.  

Scandi style living room idea 3: have statement pieces

Although Scandi style is simple, it doesn’t have to be boring. Add impact with a few statement pieces, such as a mid-century modern sofa —a slim and comfy sofa with contemporary elements like angled wooden legs. A furniture piece that combines warm wood and metal would also look right at home in your Scandi style living room. 

Add small bursts of colour or statement pieces to bring in contrast and make things a little more interesting, but keep it minimal and clutter-free all the way.

Scandi style living room idea 4: play around with textures 

Time to start adding on the cosy. 

Bring the snug factor to your living room by accessorising with soft and plush textiles in different textures, such as rugs, cushions and throws. Scandinavian style is all about creating a warm and inviting space (which may have something to do with those long, dark Nordic winters), and texture is a way to add both warmth and interest. 

Scandi style living room idea 5: layer your lighting 

The lighting of your living room has a huge impact on how it looks and ‘feels’. For true Scandi style, layer your lighting to create an inviting space. Lamps are a great way to do this, and you can get some lovely, modern table and floor lamps to complete your look. 

Use these to light up different corners of your room and keep overhead lights to a minimum. Unless you’re working with dimmer switches that can be adjusted to amp up the cosiness. Cosy is the key here. 

Love Scandi decor? You may also be interested in the similarly minimalist Japandi interior style, which is a lovely blend of Scandi and Japanese home decor influence. Or if you want to stick a little closer to home, find out more about how UK interior design trends are influenced by other countries.