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Swedish living room


27 Scandinavian Living Rooms for Nordic Inspired Design

The appeal of Scandinavian living rooms reaches much farther than the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Around the world, many people adore Scandi style home decor. Our guide is here to help bring you inspiration as you design your dream Scandi living room. These nordic living room ideas will help you create a beautiful living room that works for every member of your home.

The living room is one of the most important rooms in the home. It’s where we spend time with our loved ones, watch movies, sip our morning coffee, and perhaps enjoy some quality time alone. At a minimum, your living room should have a great sofa, a practical coffee table, and perhaps an accent chair or side table. Beyond that, you’ll need to consider whether you want a living room rug, a table lamp, overhead lighting, a television, and more.

If you are interested in Scandinavian interior design, you already know that this style of Nordic decor is influenced by minimalism and practicality.

Scandi decor is all about using furniture that takes a simple form and decorative objects that are also highly functional. There’s rarely any frivolity to nordic style homes – everything is simple and has a purpose.

These gorgeous Scandinavian living rooms will exemplify the core Scandinavian decorating principles. You’ll find simple gray sofas, creamy white decor, and pops of Scandinavian blue.

Pampas Grass Coffee Table Centerpiece

Pampas grass is a very popular neutral decorative accent that you can use almost anywhere in your home. Here three stems have been placed in a spherical glass vase to create a Scandi coffee table centerpiece. A good tip is to always use flower stems in groups of odd numbers – 3, 5, and 7 for example!

@emmamelins

Faux Fur Stool

A faux fur stool adds extra seating and serves as an interesting accent piece in this Americanized Scandi living room design.

Samantha Gluck

White Slipcovered Sofa and White Coffee Table

This is an example of a nordic-inspired living room design – a white slipcovered sofa, black floor lamp, beige walls, and round white coffee table work together harmoniously.

entrancemakleri

Pink and Blue Colorful Throw Pillows

You can incorporate subtle pops of color in your living room like this space which has pink and blue throw pillows tossed on the sofa.

Jess Frazer Styling

Block Marble Table

Scandi living rooms often feature solid block marble coffee tables.

vaningen.se

Black Wall Sconce Lighting

Black minimalist lighting fixtures seem to be the most popular choice for Scandinavian home lighting decor.

@emmamelins

Beige Sofa

This warm Scandinavian living room has lots of charm.

Sara Medina Lind

Black and White Striped Rug

vaningen.se

Minimalist Line Art for Walls

Minimalist line art of various sizes works to form this beautiful gallery wall. This is one of my favorite Scandinavian living room feature wall ideas!

@casa_pedersen

Nesting Coffee Table

vaningen.se

Black Leather Butterfly Chair

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Geometric Glass Coffee Table

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Gray Velvet Sofa

The gray velvet sofa in this living room gives it an upscale and sophisticated vibe.

vaningen.se

Black Marble Coffee Table

The black marble coffee table in this living room is eye catching, but so is the black and white accent wall. Scandinavian living room paint colors include black, gray, white, and cream.

Unknown

Arc Floor Lamp

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Gallery Wall Art

This is a great example of a Scandinavian living room feature wall with multiple artworks and graphics displayed in black, white and wood frames.

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Gray Sectional Sofa

Scandinavian sectional sofas can provide ample seating for people with large families!

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Beni Ourain Rug

This minimalist Scandinavian living room has a sprawling Beni Ourain rug to keep things cozy and comfortable.

Bo Bedre

Bohemian Scandinavian Decor

Why not include a little boho flair into your Scandinavian home design?

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White Coffee Table

You can’t go wrong with a simple white coffee table in your Scandi family room.

Farah Prochaska

Exposed Wood Ceiling Beams

The exposed wood beams on the ceiling of this rustic Scandinavian living room make for a cozy interior.

@entrancemakleri

Pink Sofa

This is another great example of decorating with muted colors in Scandinavian homes. This pale pink sofa looks beautiful inside this Scandinavian living space.

@wredefastighetsmakleri

Floor Poof

Floor poofs have become a very nordic style design element.

Unknown

Faux Fur Chair

You have to keep warm in the winter, after all!

The Key Item

White Marble Coffee Table

A rectangular coffee table made of marble is the perfect living room companion.

Homey Oh My

Black Leather Sofa

Go bold with a black leather sofa.

Pella Hedeby

Ceramic Vases on Coffee Table

You can decorate with a beautiful ceramic vase on your coffee table. Leave them empty for a minimal look. I love the Matisse Blue Nude print on the wall of this living room, too.

@kielyramosphoto

I would be so happy to spend time in any of these gorgeous Scandinavian living rooms. I hope you enjoyed this post and found the inspiration you were looking for to complete your own design project! We have many more Scandinavian design ideas on Pinterest right here.  

More Scandinavian Decor Guides by Room

Keep reading our other Scandinavian decor and design guides for different rooms in your home: 

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Scandinavian Living Room Design: Ideas & Inspiration

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The Scandinavian aesthetic can be applied to many different spaces. Its love of simplicity, natural elements, and functionality is especially ideal for a living room. Take a glimpse inside some lovely, organized and comfortable living rooms that their inspiration from Scandinavian design and get inspiration for yourself.

As sunlight streams in from overhead skylights, it illuminates the clean lines and carefully chosen furnishings in this lovely top level apartment.

A gallery wall is a great way to add personality to an otherwise minimal design.

Mismatched patterns like plaid and chevron are not exactly a hallmark of Scandinavian design but the subtle colors here make them work together.

On the other hand, yellow accents against black and white, as we’ll see, is quite common. The rustic and unique coffee table here is a nice touch.

Dangling caged lightbulbs are a creative alternative to a chandelier or typical track lighting. Yellow bursts, like these accent chairs, can add more interest to an all white room.

A lovely purple rug brings a pop of color and texture to this bright white living room.

Black, white, gray, and natural wood give this living room a sophisticated air that could be straight out of another era.

Wood and brick are quite common but luxe leather is another way to bring in the idea of natural materials and interesting textures. The indoor plants help bring in green as an accent. The imposing swing arm wall lampyou see here is the Flos Model 265.

A tufted sofa with a smooth throw flips a traditional style on its head.

Scandinavian styling works particularly well with gorgeous wood flooring, whether new or vintage. The unique, circle living room chandelier adds a great touch.

You don’t need a ton of space to execute on these ideas. Complementary shades of teal(in the lounge chair & modern sofa) and ultra smooth lines are perfect here.

Here’s another way to use that trendy bright yellow color, giving this living room a mod feel. The black and white rug adds interesting contrast to the floor.

Use your sofa as a room divider in smaller, open space as seen here.

Light colored wood helps to open up a space on the floor as well as in furnishings like chairs and coffee tables.

If you don’t have gorgeous deep wood floors, consider painting them in whitewash for an artsy loft effect.

A bare wood ceiling gives this otherwise sleek living room a more rustic feel — not everything has to be exactly the same tone to work together.

This small space doesn’t have a lot of room to spare, but a few small pieces keep it cozy and comfortable.

Chevron patterned flooring is one way to bring some creativity to hardwood. Motivational posters are yet another mood booster.

And don’t think you can’t experiment with color combinations if you’re tending towards Scandinavian design. Black, white, yellow, and bright teal might be a surprising set but they work together here.

White painted brick gives this industrial loft a lot more warmth than a bare red option would.

This white living room from IKEA might not be ideal for small children or Merlot, but it sure is gorgeous.

Scandinavian style can still be a bit eclectic when you add something like a real cow skull against a pristine white wall.

Storage is always an issue when it comes to minimalist. Long low shelving is particularly popular.

Tall shelving that displays your personality is another option.

Or store your favorite stories directly inside your coffee table as well as a mid-century credenza.

The low angles of this oversized sofa emphasize the space of this living room.

A single pop of pink (or whatever your favorite color is) can change the whole personality of a room.

Classical elements like arched windows and crown molding can provide a cool contrast to minimalist furniture and other simple design elements.

In a space like this, living room and dining room must be separate but still work together.

Dark colors like maroon and moss can still work as neutrals when done correctly.

An accent chair in that same sunny yellow – or any other bright color – can serve to add a lot of interest to an otherwise neutral space.

Different floor textures from multiple rugs adds both comfort and style in this loft.

Natural wood against concrete is the epitome of warm industrial.

And if bright sunny yellow is a little much for you, tone it down a bit.

In an answer to chevron madness, this triangle pattern is just different enough.

Mismatched furniture and a vintage rug are not strictly Scandinavian but the space is still quite cozy.

More long low shelving keeps the eye moving horizontally.

This studio apartment with lofted bed is the ultimate in simplicity with bed, closet, entertainment center and storage all in one.

A touch of artistic whimsy can go a long way.

Minimalism doesn’t have to feel over the top. This living room is particularly comfortable and kid-friendly.

Easter egg pastels give a space a delicate, feminine whimsy. The nesting coffee tables you see here are the Muuto Around tables.

Take inspiration from different eras, like this mod and mid-century space that fits perfectly into contemporary spaces.

Black and white stripes truly never go out of style. You don’t have to go as big as this room, but a throw pillow or blanket can be a good choice.

The minimalism of this style is offset by the whimsy of the oversized owl drawing. The large unique floor lamp adds a special touch.

Checked floors and whitewashed walls are a bit upscale dorm in this space.

Here’s a yellow option that’s a more neon and therefore gives the space a trendy, youthful glow.

Massive windows don’t offer much privacy but in the penthouse you don’t need it.

And a final entry into the black, white and yellow category is this dreamy mustard colored sofa.


Recommended Reading:
50 Scandinavian Chairs To Help You Nail The Nordic Look
50 Scandinavian Style Dining Rooms
50 Scandinavian Style Bedrooms

Swedish-style living room

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Swedish-style interior is simplicity, minimalism, naturalness, rationality and functionality. Characteristic features of the style: natural materials, cozy textured textiles, large windows, a lot of natural light, a good lighting system, the prevalence of light shades. Laconic, comfortable, optimistic, unusually bright and fresh style is gaining more and more fans.


Space organization

One of the main rules in the Swedish interior is the space and comfort in which it is pleasant to be with family and guests. In the living room there should be a feeling of security, peace, but at the same time not isolated from modern realities. The Swedish-style living room is a place where guests can relax and feel the atmosphere that reigns in the house.


The Swedish style of the living room implies a minimum of furniture and the formation of a free and voluminous space, not overloaded with details. Usually the living room is combined with the kitchen and dining room, forming a room on the principle of a studio.

Swedish interior style is airy and light. The set of furniture in the rooms is minimal - despite the small size, the Swedish-style living room will not seem cramped.


A compact sofa with rectangular outlines, covered with gray or ornamented textiles, a simple dining table without frills, metal chairs of the original form and a kitchen set in white or wood tones - that's the whole atmosphere. Coziness adds a fireplace or stove.


Colors

The Swedish interior is characterized by a special, light presentation. It is unlikely that another style can boast such a variety of white palettes, which helps to visually expand the boundaries of space and positively affects the emotional state of a person.


The achromatic color scheme of the interiors symbolizes a sparkling snowy landscape, inclusions of emerald and blue - coniferous forests and the sky, light beige tones - the warmth of wood.


The craving for calm tones is due to the national characteristics of the Swedes, secretive on emotions, but this does not mean that richness and brightness of colors are alien to them. The Swedes are happy to fill their homes with bright accessories and decorative elements. The main colors of the Swedish decor are all pastel shades: cream, creamy, milky. Contrast is given to the interior with more saturated tones: black, brown, burgundy and blue. From the bright palette there are orange, red, pink, yellow, purple and green.



Julia Sementsova

Head of the studio

Each of our projects reflects the needs, taste and lifestyle of our client

Finishing

Living room in the Swedish style - natural, elegant finishing materials.


The ceiling must be white. At the same time, it does not matter what kind of finish is used - drywall, wallpaper for painting, stretch ceilings. As an additional touch, an imitation of stucco molding is used in the form of a ceiling plinth or a stucco rosette in the center.


The walls are painted with light paint, finished with light decorative plaster, snow-white vinyl wallpaper with an unusual texture or wallpaper for painting. Quite often in the Swedish interior there are fragments of brickwork - it can be terracotta-colored clinker tiles or tiles in white, gray or black, corresponding in size to bricks.


Swedish-style interior flooring is a deck board or piece parquet made of light beige softwoods: pine, spruce, larch, cedar. Types of masonry flooring: herringbone and deck pattern only. The skirting boards are high and straight - of the "euro" type, painted white - not to match the floor, but to match the walls. Modern designers are increasingly replacing the floorboard with pastel-colored ceramic tiles.


Furniture

Since the task of creating an interior is to free up as much free space as possible, furniture is selected accordingly.

Basic color for furniture set - white or light. Cabinets should occupy a minimum of space, be built-in or corner; where possible, it is recommended to use open shelving and shelves instead of cabinets. Upholstered furniture is light, low and compact.


Swedish-style cabinetry is made from the same wood as the flooring – it almost blends in with the floor. The design of furnishings is uncomplicated and functional - all facades are smooth. This feature allows you to successfully imitate Scandinavian furniture using plywood and chipboard.

Slight tone unevenness, knots and sapwood - minor wood imperfections welcome; everything should have the most natural and natural look.


The white walls of the living room will be an excellent backdrop for the same snow-white sofa, which can be covered with a colorful blanket and decorated with many pillows. Chairs are purchased with the sofa, their upholstery should be somewhat darker than the sofa. In the center of the furniture composition, you can install a coffee table, which can be wooden or pleasing to the eye with decorative forging.

Window and door decoration

Large window and door openings are an important factor in allowing light and air to enter. Windows in the Scandinavian style of design are large-format openings with a white batten that divides the glass plane into identical squares.


Curtains are almost never used in Swedish interiors - windows should be as open as possible to allow light to enter the room. Instead of curtains on the windows, it is better to hang blinds. If curtains are present, then these are light curtains of a flowing style made of fine wool, linen, white cotton.

Swing, hanging or glass sliding doors - options to visually expand the space. The door frame should be painted to match the wall so as not to stand out from the general background.


Lighting

Modern Swedish interiors welcome a large number of different lighting fixtures, they can have a variety of concepts, shapes and colors. These can be floor lamps with adjustable height, spherical pendant chandeliers, chrome or fabric shades with floral patterns, sconces, table lamps, combined lighting.


Swedish-style recessed fixtures are almost never used, most often the room is illuminated by a ceiling chandelier of modern laconic design made of stainless steel, copper or painted metal. Ceiling, floor and table lamps in a Scandinavian home are always spectacular focal points of an interior composition due to the shape and texture of the metal.

Real candles in candlesticks or large wax candles in false fireplaces are an integral part of a cozy atmosphere and a special atmosphere.


Swedish living room decor

Swedish style decor - posters, photo collages, rugs, fresh flowers. Lighting fixtures, textiles and surface finishes also act as decoration.


Fabric upholstery of upholstered furniture, decorative pillows and floor textiles in the form of colorful striped runners, woolen carpets and round rugs with eye-catching ornaments act as accents.

Rectangular, round or oval floor carpet to match the upholstery or rug. Swedish living room interior design includes decor in the form of round ottomans, ornately shaped mirrors, paintings or photos in simple white frames, colorful floor vases and lamps with a compact lampshade.


Both decor and surface materials should be natural and emphasize the natural texture.

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Swedish interior - cozy tidiness

We live in an incredibly dynamic time, and maybe that's why we want to see our homes concisely decorated, comfortable and visually fresh. A real oasis in the everyday bustle of city life will be the Swedish interior, because it was this style that managed to combine and harmoniously combine all of the above qualities.

Swedish style implies maximum use of white color in the interior

The Swedish interior is characterized by a special, light presentation, which, perhaps, cannot be found in any of the other styles. It is unlikely that any of them can boast such a variety of white palette, which, in addition to helping to visually expand the boundaries of space, also has a positive effect on the emotional state of a person.

The progenitor of the Swedish style was the artist-designer Karl Larson, who in 1880 decided to decorate his modest house in Stockholm in an unusual white color, slightly diluted with a minimal amount of bright colors.
Many years have passed since then, but Swedish-style interiors have not lost their relevance, so it is worth getting to know them better, especially for those who are on the verge of a grandiose renovation.

bright accents in a living room decorated in a Swedish interior

Contents

The main stylistic features of the Swedish interior

You need to start acquaintance with this unusual interior, of course, from its typical characteristics. So, the main features of the Swedish decor are:

1. Easy to design;
2. Light wall tone;
3. Wooden or ceramic floor;
4. Replacement of window blinds with blinds;
5. Often wooden furniture;
6. Lots of cushions;
7. Colored bedspreads;
8. Pictures on the walls;
9. Presence of floor carpets;
10. Large floor vases with original painting.

stylistic feature of the Swedish interior - paintings and portraits on the walls0186

As already mentioned, the interior in question is remembered for its light palette with the advantage of white tones.
Craving for calm tones is due to the national characteristics of the Swedes, secretive to emotions, but this does not mean at all that richness and brightness of colors are alien to them.

Swedes are happy to fill their homes with bright accessories and decorative elements.
The main colors of the Swedish decor are all pastel shades: cream, creamy, milky. Contrast is given to the interior with coarser tones: black, brown, burgundy and blue. From the bright palette there are orange, red, pink, yellow, purple and green.

Swedish living room interior in white and green tones

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Swedish-style house

Decorating a Swedish-style house is a pleasure, the main thing is to know where to start.

Ceiling

As a general rule, finishing is started from the ceiling surface. In a Swedish interior, it can be covered with wallpaper and then painted, leveled with plasterboard and again painted in a suitable color or hidden under stretch ceilings, without fail in white. The finishing touch will be the finishing of the ceiling perimeter with polyurethane skirting boards, exactly imitating stucco molding.

wall and ceiling decoration of a Swedish living room in a single color style

Walls

Wall decoration in a Swedish house can be done with light decorative plaster, snow-white vinyl wallpaper with an unusual texture or the usual wallpaper for painting. Modernity has made some adjustments to the Swedish style, and today more and more often in such interiors there is a system of combined wall decor. It looks something like this: three wall surfaces are covered with white plaster, and the rest is highlighted with textured wallpaper in bright green or deep red.

Floors

The floors in a truly Swedish interior are covered with a long plank of natural wood painted in traditional white. But since not everyone can use such an expensive coating, and even such floors require increased attention in their care, modern designers are increasingly replacing the floorboard with ceramic tiles, of course, in pastel colors. As for the color part of the decor, here they do not deviate from the traditions of style.

a wooden floor with a small rug is the best solution for decorating a living room in a Swedish style

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Swedish interior in a living room

How the decor of a Swedish room will look like, you already have a rough idea, but what to fill the interior with is still an open question. The white walls of the living room will be an excellent backdrop for the same snow-white sofa, which can be covered with a colorful blanket and chaotically decorated with many pillows. This will create the concept of a light "creative" mess.

Of course, armchairs are purchased with the sofa, but their upholstery should be somewhat darker than the sofa one. In the center of the furniture composition, you can install a coffee table, which can be wooden or pleasing to the eye with decorative forging.

a red chandelier as a striking decor element in a Swedish living room

In principle, for a Swedish interior it does not matter what exactly it will be made of and what form it will be given, the main thing is that it should also be white .

On the floor of the living room can be a rectangular or oval carpet, the color scheme of which matches the tone of the upholstery or sofa rugs. They decorate the living room of an intricate shape with mirrors, paintings in modest white frames, floor lamps and painted vases, poufs, window blinds.

Traditional Swedish style living room with light-coloured ceiling and walls, black sofa and rug that matches both the furniture and the base color

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Swedish-style bedroom

Since the heart of the bedroom is the bed, it is the main focus of furnishing the room. It should be made of wood, ideally solid wood. Made of durable material, it will serve the owners for many years and, moreover, will perfectly fit into a stylish Swedish interior. The bed frame does not have to be painted white, it can remain a natural shade.

All other furnishings: bedside tables, chest of drawers, wardrobe, dressing table can also be made of unbleached wood. Wicker chairs and soft pouffes are more than appropriate in the Swedish bedroom. The ceiling and walls of the bedroom are covered with light paint, but the floors here can have the color of natural wood.

Decorate the bedroom in the same way as the living room. Here, too, they hang pictures, mirrors and add floor vases, lamps with compact lampshades, fresh flowers and hide windows behind blinds.

Swedish bedroom interior

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Swedish-style bathroom

A Swedish-style bathroom should have a touch of light austerity. The ideal order reigning in it will give the room a visual uninhabitedness, which in this case will only emphasize the pedantry of the Swedish interior. In such a bathroom, you will never see jars of creams, toothpaste tubes, perfume bottles, deodorants and other trifles - all this is sure to be hidden on the shelves and in the drawers of the bathroom set.

But the general background of the Swedish bathroom is represented not only by a light palette. Additional shades often appear here, such as gray, black, brown. This, of course, is pleasing to the eye, but still, the leadership remains with the white, beloved by the Swedes, because his leadership is one of the most important stylistic conditions. If there are windows in the bathroom, decorating them with curtains is out of the question initially, because for a wet room this is nonsense. Here, too, they use stylish and comfortable modern blinds familiar to the Swedish interior.
From sanitary ware, a rectangular bathtub and a sink with chrome-plated fittings and faucets will perfectly fit into the decor.
Dilute the design with stylish sconces, colored towels and a compact vase with cute flowers, standing somewhere near the washbasin.


restraint and simplicity in the Swedish bathroom interior

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Swedish kitchen

The Swedish kitchen is content with a typical set of furniture, without pretentiousness and other frills. A kitchen set, a dining table and comfortable chairs are all that unpretentious Swedes need.
Kitchen walls are usually covered with moisture-resistant paint, of course, white, and the furniture present may well be in the same spectrum. Only the dining table is allowed to slightly contrast with the decor. It may be gray or brown. But the chairs in the Swedish kitchen interior can be not only traditionally wooden. Modern plastic models will also feel quite comfortable here.

modern swedish style kitchen

The kitchen is perhaps the only room in which open shelves are welcome in decor, because they provide quick access to the right products and utensils. Naturally, impeccable order should reign on them, because the Swedish style is characterized by special neatness, and besides, the white design requires it.
It is impossible to ignore the luxurious, by stylistic standards, kitchen decor. It has a lot of flowering plants planted in plain light pots, wall planters, glass panels with photo printing, decorative plates, white blinds and, of course, a chandelier that imitates palace candlesticks in design.

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Conclusion

Despite its apparent simplicity, the Swedish interior makes an exceptionally positive impression. It is always fresh and relevant, and yet this trend has been around for almost a century and a half!

Photo gallery - Swedish interior design:























red chandelier as a bright decor element in the Swedish living room