The popularity of the Scandinavian style is due not only to the fashion for snow-white Norman interiors. Nordic design is loved by many because of its ergonomics, lightness, and calm atmosphere. And for owners of a small kitchen, such a discreet design in light colors will be especially relevant.
White kitchen in Scandinavian style
Despite the predominantly light and sometimes very cold color scheme in the design, even a spacious kitchen-living room in the Norman style can be very cozy. The main thing here is to correctly place accents and choose the right decor.
Scandinavian-style kitchen design is inspired by the typical landscapes of the Nordic countries.
The atmosphere of frosty freshness, snow-capped mountain ranges, icy rivers and dense forests is conveyed by the following 5 features of the Nordic interior.
- Light, often snow-white, recognizable color scheme. Color inclusions are also allowed in a natural theme: blue and blue (like the color of lakes and rivers), green and brown (like the colors of the forest), sunny yellow and orange, as well as mint, lavender, coral shades.
Functional furniture with a simple design, strict forms, mostly without decoration, sometimes with rough finishing in the spirit of the traditional furnishings of ancient Viking houses.
- Lots of light. The lack of natural light is easily compensated for by well-chosen colors. They do not spare lamps for artificial lighting, so that it is comfortable to spend time in the evening hours.
- Lots of free space. In a small kitchen, visually more space is created by the right design: color, lack of clutter, unnecessary details, restrained and moderate decor.
- Natural materials and textures: concrete, wood, stone. Glass is actively used in the design of lighting fixtures. Steel and metal surfaces look good in the design of appliances, countertops and even in the design of facades.
Watch the video for 8 design rules:
Characteristic features of the style
When recreating a Scandinavian interior, you should adhere to the following design features:
- Light colors, visually expanding shades and dark details.
- Natural materials.
- Visual lightness of furniture, simplicity and severity of lines.
- Practicality, ergonomics and a small amount of decor.
The photo shows a bright kitchen with snow-white furniture and wood trim.
Scandinavian style is suitable for both spacious and small kitchens, as well as for rooms with an asymmetrical layout.
Features of the Norwegian style
Norwegian style is perhaps the most severe of all known Scandinavian styles. But at the same time, it is quite comfortable and warm in terms of atmosphere. The style is characterized by:
- Use of natural materials.
- Strict functionality. If this is a bedroom, then there should be nothing superfluous here; if this is a kitchen, then only kitchen utensils should be stored here.
- Spaciousness.
- Availability of a properly organized lighting system.
- Using a cool pastel palette.
- The presence of a print with Scandinavian patterns.
- Using simple and clear decor, interesting designer items.
- Ergonomic and functional furniture.
Norwegian style is easy to recreate. Remember three main rules: natural materials, space and functionality. Be guided by them when choosing this or that furniture and materials.
Choosing the right colors
The Scandinavian style was formed under the influence of the climatic conditions of Sweden, so colors close to natural ones are used in the interior. The basis is light colors: white, gray, beige. Accents are black, graphite and brown.
The photo shows a gray Scandinavian-style kitchen with the addition of black and white details.
Pure colors are almost never found: dusty blue, pistachio, mint and pale lemon are appropriate. Dark blue tones often serve as a background for a white set, but can also be used in decor. Depending on the amount of natural light, both warm and cool shades are used.
In the photo, the blue walls in the kitchen interior are in harmony with white furniture and a brown floor.
Color scheme of Scandinavian cuisine
The main interior color is white . With short daylight hours, residents of northern countries strive to bring as many light elements as possible into their homes. This is reflected in the color palette of finishing materials, furniture, and decorative elements.
In addition to white, you can safely use cream, cream, pearl or ivory. Designers also :
- quartz pink;
- mint;
- grey;
- beige;
- pale yellow;
- soft green.
In addition to the classic Scandinavian colors, Falun red is popular . The shade got its name in honor of the copper mine near the city of Falun, where it was found more than two hundred years ago. Falun red symbolizes comfort and family idyll.
Also in the modern Scandinavian style, unusual shades are used - for example, cobalt blue, brick red, citrus yellow. Bright accents look great against white walls. The main thing is that there are no clumsy and heavy elements.
Interesting. The Scandinavian style appeared in the 18th century, during the reign of the Swedish king Gustav III. Classic French interiors were replaced by northern flavor and practicality: heavy curtains replaced cotton curtains, and practical and light tabletops began to be used instead of massive wooden furniture.
What finishes and materials are suitable?
Scandinavian-style kitchen design involves the presence of environmentally friendly materials in both furniture and decoration. The Scandi style reflects the features of a rustic way of life, so plastic is rarely found in interiors.
Traditionally, the floor is covered with wood: for example, a board. But it is difficult to care for, so all sorts of imitations come to the fore - high-quality laminate and linoleum, which are difficult to distinguish from wood.
Ceramic tiles remain the most practical coating for Scandinavian kitchens. A light coating is more preferable, as splashes are less visible on it. For comfortable use, a warm floor is laid under the tiles.
The photo shows a kitchen, the plank floor of which has been treated with a special white wax.
There are no strict requirements for decorating kitchen walls in the Scandinavian style: wallpaper, paint, and brickwork are used. In a small kitchen, it is recommended to avoid active prints. The most advantageous option is plain wallpaper, light washable paint or plaster.
The main requirement for the ceiling is laconicism and white color. The Scandinavian interior does not tolerate clutter: a multi-tiered plasterboard structure will look inorganic. It is worth choosing a simple finish: painting, whitewashing or matte stretch ceiling.
When designing an apron, the main thing is to remember practicality. The partition between the cabinets and wall cabinets should be easy to clean, but have an attractive appearance. Glass, imitation wood and ceramic tiles are suitable. The apron can be contrasting, matching the headset or the floor.
Kitchen set
The design of the cabinets and cabinets is laconic: the facades are most often chosen to be white, and the wood-look countertop adds warmth and coziness to the set. The color scheme of the kitchen set is usually in light wood shades, smoky and sandy tones. Since the Scandi style strives for naturalness, gloss is rarely used for facades.
Fittings without unnecessary details and decorations can blend in with the facades or contrast with them. An alternative to smooth doors in the Scandinavian style are milling and moldings, but they are used sparingly.
A small kitchen is usually arranged in accordance with a linear (straight) layout, when furniture and appliances are placed in one row. It takes up little space, but is not always convenient for cooking, as it violates the rule of the working triangle.
A more practical option is a corner layout: such kitchens are made to order. With an L-shaped arrangement, even in a narrow room there is still room for a dining area. If the kitchen is large, the kitchen unit can occupy three walls: this layout is called U-shaped.
The photo shows a corner kitchen in a Scandinavian style with white facades and a wooden countertop.
In a double-row arrangement, the sets are placed along opposite walls. This solution is for those who cook a lot and have a separate dining room, or a square-shaped room allows you to fit a dining table between the work areas.
The most advantageous option for a spacious kitchen is an island layout. An island cabinet in the center of the room can act as a dining table, bar counter, additional storage space and work surface.
How to decorate a kitchen in Swedish style
Before creating a design project for a Swedish-style kitchen, you need to find out exactly the parameters of the room, think about what you want to see in your kitchen, how often you will spend your time here, will this be a place exclusively for preparing dishes, or will there be a dining area here? .
Swedish style kitchen decoration
Use simple construction techniques in finishing: whitewashing, painting. For example, the ceiling can be whitewashed, decorated with paintable wallpaper, or a simple multi-level ceiling made of plasterboard. In any case, the ceiling should be white.
The walls can be covered with light textured wallpaper, paintable wallpaper, or decorated with textured plaster. In Swedish interiors, a technique is often used when three walls have the same color (for example, white), and the fourth wall is reserved for decorative design (wallpaper with a geometric print, cork, slate, wooden boards).
Floors are traditionally decorated with long wooden panels that are painted white. An alternative could be parquet, ceramic tiles and, in extreme cases, laminate with a light wood look.
Swedish kitchen lighting
Lighting is a design element that can radically change the interior. This element is very important for the kitchen. There should be a separate lamp for the dining area, a cascade of lamps above the work area, and a general lamp for the entire room.
For spot lighting in the kitchen, choose laconic lamps without unnecessary decor. You can hang a round, laconic lampshade above the table; even a chandelier reminiscent of an antique candelabrum can be used as a central lamp. Such a slight disparity in styles will only add charm to the room.
Swedish style kitchen furniture and appliances
A Swedish-style kitchen usually has a minimal set of furniture: compact kitchen units, a dining table and chairs, shelves and containers for storing equipment and food.
Take a closer look at Ikea furniture; this Swedish company has a lot of comfortable and compact kitchen sets. IKEA offers, using modern technologies, to save energy, water, and use food economically. With the help of furniture, you can hide all the equipment so that it does not violate the integrity of the room.
What accessories and decor to choose for the kitchen
There must be plants here: various herbs, indoor flowers. They can be hung in flowerpots, planted in identical clay pots, or in one long rectangular wooden box.
Place bright ceramic plates on open shelves. There is only one condition - they should not stand there forever and gather dust. Every item in the kitchen must “work” in Swedish.
Deciding on furniture and kitchen appliances
Furniture found in the Scandinavian style is characterized by functionality, clear lines and natural materials.
Lunch group
The table in the dining area is usually made of wood: in Scandinavia, the most popular material for making furniture is pine. It is not considered expensive and has a pronounced texture. Its shape depends on the size of the room: long rectangular or round tables will fit into a spacious kitchen, square or folding tables will fit into a small kitchen.
Sofas and soft corners are extremely rare in Scandinavian kitchens. Comfortable wooden chairs with thin legs, decorated with cushions, and the famous designer Eames Wood chairs are used. Restored retro chairs add a special charm to the interior: a collection of various models looks homely and cozy.
The photo shows a spacious kitchen with a balcony, the dining area of which is decorated with a round table and elegant retro chairs.
Storage systems
To make using the kitchen as convenient as possible, Scandinavians use a variety of ideas: they hang cabinets to the ceiling, increasing the usable area; They install rails with hanging baskets so that the items necessary for cooking are always at hand. Open shelves are also a controversial but interesting solution: they add coziness and space.
The photo shows a Scandinavian kitchen with open shelves, the filling of which serves as a kind of decor.
Appliances
Built-in appliances look most harmonious in a Scandinavian interior. If this option is not suitable, you should opt for chrome-plated products. Particularly popular in modern kitchens are Smeg refrigerators with a design from the 50s.
Choosing curtains and decor
The use of textiles in the kitchen is a way to make a laconic interior more homely. Curtains for the kitchen are chosen from natural materials: cotton and linen, but they may be completely absent. An alternative to curtains, which add coziness but absorb natural light from the windows, are blinds, roller blinds and Roman blinds.
House plants, posters, and chalk boards serve as decoration. The main thing is not to overdo it with decorative elements, since tiles on the apron and original dishes on the shelves can serve as a bright accent.
In the photo, classic Scandinavian decor is a collection of posters, and soft pillows and a rug in the form of a skin fill the style of the kitchen with coziness.
What lamps are suitable?
Natural light is especially valued in northern Scandinavia, and its shortage forces residents of the countries to use as many electrical appliances as possible. Chandeliers, wall sconces, and pendant lamps above the dining table are suitable for lighting a Scandinavian-style kitchen.
Lighting sources help to zone a kitchen-living room or studio apartment. To create more coziness and a feeling of hygge, Scandinavians hang garlands with warm light and place candles.
What accessories to add for a Scandinavian-style kitchen?
Art in everyday life is one of the main concepts underlying the Scandinavian style. Its meaning is that household items should not only be practical, but also beautiful. Including kitchen accessories.
Photos in the kitchen interior
Although seemingly made in the same style, rooms can look different. To save on repairs, you can combine it with loft elements, adding concrete textures, aged wood and leaving communications open.
In the photo, the Scandinavian style in the interior of a bright kitchen is harmoniously combined with loft elements.
Natural planks or log walls will look great in the interior of a dacha: Scandinavian style easily harmonizes with country.
Glass inserts on the facades and moldings make the Scandi style more elegant, bringing it slightly closer to the classics.
Fans of Scandinavian interiors can customize the distinctive features of the style to suit themselves: the main thing is that the kitchen is functional, cozy and full of light.
The photo shows a bright interior with a turquoise accent wall and an abundance of plants.
Nordic design is loved by many because of its ergonomics, lightness and calm atmosphere; besides, the Scandinavian style is equally beautiful in kitchen interiors of any size.
Which layout to choose for a Scandinavian-style kitchen?
The layout of the kitchen does not depend on the style of the room, but on its area.
The basic principle in creating a functional space in the kitchen is the rule of the working triangle, which is described in detail here.
However, the basis of classic Scandinavian interiors is the maximum use of space, so the most “close to the original” are the L-layouts and P-layouts of the kitchen space.
