Rustic Scandinavian Design- The 5 Key Elements

Do you want to declutter your home, but still create a warm and cozy atmosphere you can enjoy with friends and family? Then the Rustic Scandinavian design is the right design choice for you.

The essence of Rustic Scandinavian design is finding coziness and contentment in the simple things in life. It is centered around nature and surrounding yourself with things you truly love, so you rather spend time at home than anywhere else.

Rustic Scandinavian interior design blends the modern simplicity of Scandinavian décor with inviting organic and rural accents within your home. Simplified, it means taking a normal Scandinavian design style and injecting layers of older elements together with a nature inspired color palette.

Here are the five key elements of Rustic Scandinavian Design:

1. Declutter first- Too many things crammed in a space simply undermines the beauty of a room and makes it less comfortable. Peel away everything that does not speak to you and only add back objects that establish a connection with your home. Embracing what you truly love will make your home feel like your sanctuary, and your place to retreat for comfort and calm.

2. Mix Old and New - It’s all about what type of story you want to tell in your home. Contrasting modern design with antiques and wood accents brings an artistic feel into a home. There is something comforting when bringing old and new together - a reminder that our homes are a reflection of ourselves, our memories and stories.

Rustic Scandinavian Kitchen Nook

Work with simplicity and add contrast.

Declutter your space first and contrast modern design with antiques and thrifted finds. The modern silhouette of the lamp, the simple lines of the watering can, and the fresh mix of patterns add contrast and visual interest.

3. Bring nature inside - Incorporating natural materials and objects are essential when embracing this design style. Try surrounding yourself with fresh flowers, house plants, twigs, moss, rocks and lots of wood. Organic elements calm us – reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, and anger, and when paired with modern design pieces they soften a space and improve our sense of well-being.

4. Stick to an earthy color palette - The Rustic Scandinavian color palette has its base in nature, evoking feelings of contentment and creating calm. All muted colors work beautifully together, but the most common ones include shades of greens, soft whites, grays, greige, rust and browns. The scheme tends to work most successfully when three or four key shades are chosen and repeated to create a sense of flow.

natural home, limewash paint

Bring nature inside

Here, a fallen tree branch was rescued and brought inside. The earthy limewash walls, and muted textiles serve as a calm backdrop to the focal features of the room.

5. Incorporate a layered lighting plan. In Scandinavia the winter months are long and dark. Hence, Scandinavian design is centered around maximizing natural daylight through large windows and by removing blinds and curtains. Natural light sources such as open flames and candlelight are also essential for creating a laidback and restful mood. When it comes to artificial lights, a combination of a pendant, wall lights and table lamps will create a more soothing and cozy ambiance than a single overhead fixture.

Maximize the natural light whenever possible

Natural light and a layered lighting plan

Let the light in whenever possible, and add window lamps for a cozy ambiance on rainy days and at night.

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