Simplicity, functionality and accessibility of beauty— this is what we value Scandinavian aesthetics for. How to achieve the same effect on your own and with modest means? Bright examples and useful tips from a professional
"The architect's job is to make life more comfortable"The most famous quote from one of the fathers of modern design, the Finn Alvar Aalto, conveys the essence of the Scandinavian approach to the design of human space: from cutlery to the interior of the living room. Scandinavian designers taught the world. Humanists of architecture, they put man and his needs at the center of their art - hence the main features of the style. Therefore, if you want to bring a little bit of Sweden, Denmark, Finland or Norway into your home, first of all think about your comfort and that of your family - sacrificing yourself for the sake of style is not accepted there.
Simplicity and lightness
Naturalness and purity of lines, smoothnesstransitions from one space to another. Scandinavian simplicity is the clarity of the veins of a leaf on a tree, the clarity of a summer sky, the transparency of a falling drop, the perfection of natural form. We get rid of pretentious and complex objects, screens, partitions and heavy draperies. The Scandinavian interior is open and interactive. But if a door is needed somewhere, let it be glass.
Ilya Khomyakov, designer:— Light walls, eco-friendly materials, a minimum of decor and a penchant for modern, but not minimalist furniture — what is called midcentury modern, these are the main features of the Scandinavian style. They follow from the philosophy of reasonable use of available space and the lack of sun in the northern countries. Vintage fits in perfectly. Transforming an existing room in the Scandinavian spirit often comes down to the systematic removal of unnecessary elements in order to achieve light and airiness. To begin, repaint the walls white or light. This can easily be done independently; any large construction hypermarket will help with the selection of suitable paint. 4base.ru
Light
“We were very lucky this year – it was summersunny and happened to be on the weekend." The gloomy northern humor often suits us too. There are not much more sunny days in our region than in our neighbors from the far north of Europe. Let as much light as possible into your "Scandinavian" room. Remove all unnecessary things from the windows. If you cannot live without curtains, let there be laconic blinds or a light transparent curtain. Try to use linen, cotton, satin, muslin or muslin.
In countries where winter daylight hours can be longjust a couple of hours, appreciate artificial light. Even bulbs without lampshades fit perfectly into the Scandinavian style - the hottest trend in lighting this year, Ilya Khomyakov, designer: - A very important element of Scandinavian design is the right light. Replace a consumer-grade chandelier with an interesting designer lamp - you can now find many affordable options on the Internet, add floor lamps in key areas, for example, next to the chair in which you plan to read. 4base.ru
Trying to humanize the age of mechanisms is stillis the architect's first duty. Form is a mystery that defies description but brings pleasure to people. The leg of a chair is the little sister of an architectural column. Alvar Aalto, Finnish architect and designer (1898-1976)
Naturalness
The lands of forests and lakes are the realm of the organicdesign. And His Majesty Wood rules in it. If you are lucky enough to have parquet or floorboards, open up your floors as much as possible, even if they are old. Cracks and scuffs will only add charm. Wood is either painted white, preserving the structure, or left in its natural form. Use wooden furniture or even a piece of wood itself, leather and wool.
Ilya Khomyakov, designer:— If you can’t replace the unsightly wardrobe entirely, try replacing its doors with wooden ones and painting the frame the same color as the walls. Even a pair of wooden Viennese chairs found at a flea market will give a nod to this aesthetic. Almost any room can be transformed with little effort, based on these principles. 4base.ru The latest plastics also fit well as accents in Scandinavian interiors. But such items should imitate flowing, wavy natural forms or repeat the contours of the human body.
Color comfort
Neutral colors are black, white, gray and theirModifications tinted with pastel tones are the basis of Scandinavian coloristics. Such a background helps to breathe deeper and feel freer. It emphasizes the advantages of natural materials and increases stress resistance. But to consider the Scandinavian interior "sterile" is a big mistake.
It was the Swedes who in the 50s brought into the world of respectable black devices from the offices of big bosses the bright red cobra, which became a fetish of industrial design.
It was the Finns who came up with bright and cheerful floral designsMarimekko prints, as if they came from the canvas of a five-year-old artist. And they quickly flew from summer skirts to wallpaper and beyond. The ball chair and the egg chair also come from these places.
— Beauty in architecture is, first of all,proportionality, then the material, that is, the ability to distinguish good material from bad. And finally, color. And as a result of all this, the overall impression. Emil Arne Jacobsen, Danish designer and architect (1902-1971)
Neutrality of Scandinavian interior -neutral background, on which it is interesting to place accents, change their places according to the mood and season. That is why the Scandinavian style does not know how to get boring. Pillows, paintings and photographs, throws on the sofa, vases - all this can and should be bright. If you are a fan of the Scandinavian interpretation of country, look for traditional cobalt ceramics.
Functionality
Scandinavians are proud of what they don't produceobjects that people don't need. Function is not sacrificed to aesthetics, but personality is not sacrificed to function either. It is not surprising that the Scandinavian idea has found a second wind in the age of a person running around in circles between their own gadgets. Look around and think. Each piece of your furniture should perform the maximum number of functions. Wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside tables are welcome. And racks, shelves and display cases for accessories are opened as much as possible to look light, as if hovering near the walls.
Eclecticism
Modern Scandinavian interiors are rarelymaintained in one style. The mixture of eras, materials and textures becomes too effective against a neutral background. An old leather armchair next to an ultra-modern chair, a vintage suitcase and a designer sofa, a photo of a rock star and an antique bureau. The main thing is a share of healthy humor and self-irony. Don't have a decent head of a Lapland reindeer to decorate your wall? A photo of a Kamchatka bear is also a great idea! Here are some 60s-style items that can and .
Moominvalley
The crown of Scandinavian philosophy in the interior ischildren's. Simple and functional furniture. Lots of light. Toys and construction sets designed as part of the child's living space and therefore not creating disorder. And absolute accessibility of any object. (If your child has to call you to get a toy from the top shelf, this is an anti-Scandinavian style).
A wall for drawing or at least a board and, of course,all kinds of pillows and poufs. Every parent knows that the child will still play on the floor, no matter how comfortable his table is. The laconicism and ability to transform, inherent in the Scandinavian interior - a real gift for the child: a starting point for the imagination, the beginning of a great adventure. In the land of the Moomins they know a lot about this!
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