Busting Open 6 Nordic Design Myths
Is it really all white walls, organic materials and ‘hygge’? Houzz Sweden takes a crack at the clichés of Scandi style
Scandinavian style continues to be popular and well-received by international critics as well as consumers, and in the Nordic countries, the massive interest in interiors and home design doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. The fascination with “hygge,” the Danish term that we all bandied about last year, also proved that the Nordic lifestyle has more of a global appeal than ever. But what’s Nordic design really about today? As the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, where some of the region’s biggest designers show their latest products, wraps up, we take a look at six of the most common perceptions — and myths — about Nordic home life.
1. It’s all white — everywhere. Yes, people in the Nordic countries do love their simple, all-white interiors. Maybe it’s because white always looks good and is an easy option, or perhaps it’s because our autumns and winters are so dark that rooms painted in too somber a hue would make people depressed for five months of the year.
Wrong! We love color too! In the past few years, we’ve seen a rainbow of shades replace the white and gray on the walls of our homes. The gorgeous pastel colors in this picture look like ice cream flavors and would brighten up any abode. More and more, people in the Nordic countries are realizing the power of a strikingly colored wall. Plenty of stylists and designers have led the way and painted their houses dark blue, pastel pink and verdant green, throwing caution to the wind.
2. Minimalism rules. Pared-down, simple homes are still popular and probably always will be in the Nordics: There’s something about unadorned interiors that really appeals to Danes, Swedes, Finns, Icelanders and Norwegians. We’re fond of combining black and white, perhaps in different patterns, as well as shades of gray. This looks great with wooden floors, another Nordic design staple. Adding green plants truly makes monochrome interiors sing.
And yet there’s also another side to Scandinavian design, one that delights in colors and patterns, and has more in common with the Arts and Crafts movement than with minimalist Nordic design. Svenskt Tenn, the classic Swedish company whose designs and products you can see here, is known for designer Josef Frank’s warm, vibrant patterns. The colorful designs abound in Nordic homes, where they soften up pared-back interiors. If you’re in London this spring, the Fashion and Textile Museum is showcasing Frank’s works through May 7.
3. We adore wood and organic materials. At least three of the Nordic countries are covered in forests, which was an influential factor when it came to creating our furniture: Traditionally, wood has been used for practically everything. Now that other materials are available, we continue using the organic stuff as a nod to our love of nature.
4. There are design icons in every home. We’re very proud of our designers, and many of them are global names: Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Josef Frank, Lisa Larson, Carl Malmsten, Alvar Aalto — the list goes on. And if you’re in a Nordic household and see a lamp or chair that you recognize, chances are it’s an original. We tend to prize design and innovative ideas, and want to support the people who come up with them, rather than buy knockoffs.
Nevertheless, you’ll see a lot of original designs in Nordic homes that don’t cost as much as that Poul Henningsen lamp. We also pride ourselves at finding future classics early, and design democracy is at the heart of that well-known superstore brand’s business ethos — love it or loathe it. Emerging designers often look to our past designers for inspiration, but part of the charm with Nordic design is that it is constantly reinventing itself.
5. We live close to nature. If you know the Nordic countries only from books or TV shows, you may think that we all live in picturesque countryside villages or a windswept archipelago. It’s true that there’s plenty of woodland and solitude, and the locals have a close relationship with the nature that surrounds them. The environment can be harsh and unforgiving but also stunningly beautiful, so naturally it plays a big part in Nordic culture.
What you may not know is that 94.2 percent of Icelanders, 87.5 percent of Danes, 85.8 percent of Swedes, 84.2 percent of Finns and 80.5 percent of Norwegians live in cities, towns or metropolitan areas, according to statistics from the United Nations. (The figures are based on what the countries themselves count as urban areas, though, so we’re probably not talking Manhattan-like densities.) Our love of architecture is great wherever we live, as can be seen in this house designed by Elding Oscarson architects in Landskrona, in southern Sweden.
6. Hygge is something you can buy. Since the Danish term hygge, which sort of means “cozy warmth,” exploded globally in 2016, there has been plenty of advice about how to achieve hygge in your daily life. Sadly, a lot of it focused on the attire and accessories you supposedly need to feel cozy — sheepskin slippers, tea, an open fire and so on. Hygge became a catchphrase used by brands to get people to shop.
No way! To quote a Houzz article from 2015, in which we spoke of hygge: “Hygge is spending time with the ones you love, in a home that is filled with light and well-loved items that fill you with everyday joy when you use them. You can’t buy hygge, nor can you get someone to create it for you. It is the Nordic state of contentment that can be found only at home.”
So avoid buying things for your home you don’t need, and aim to appreciate the everyday pleasures you find in it instead. Now that’s a Scandinavian cliché we don’t want to bust.
More
9 Life Lessons From Nordic Style
Bye-Bye, Minimalist White — The New Nordic Style Is All About Color
So avoid buying things for your home you don’t need, and aim to appreciate the everyday pleasures you find in it instead. Now that’s a Scandinavian cliché we don’t want to bust.
More
9 Life Lessons From Nordic Style
Bye-Bye, Minimalist White — The New Nordic Style Is All About Color