Scandinavian Decor

Let's compare and contrast the decor of Scandinavian cultures.

What Scandinavian people all have in common, is a long dark winter. Since they have such a shortage of sunlight, they do everything they can to capitalize on every ray. This is achieved with: huge windows; high ceilings; white, cream, or very pale colored walls, floors, and furniture; blond, bleached, or painted wood; crystal; and light reflective metals, like silver and mirrors. The use of wool and cotton are cozy in the cold climate, and filmy transparent drapes, both on windows and canopy beds, help preserve the ambient light in an ethereal shimmer. Fire places, long candlesticks, chandeliers, and sconces are important in Scandinavian decor. They celebrate light.

There are a few features that distinguish one Scandinavian culture's designs from another. Examples of this include:

Swedes and Norwegians use more natural materials and objects in their decor than Danes, who are more likely to represent nature in wall treatments with silhouetted tree and leaf patterns. Swedes and Norwegians are more likely to use stones, seashells, and drift wood as accent pieces in their decor.

The narrow tapering furniture legs that make Swedish tables and chairs look as if they are pointing at the floor are often fluted, and leave lots of space between surfaces so furniture appears light and airy. Swedes like carved border designs on wood furniture. Other Scandinavian cultures tend to use more solid and lower set designs. The Danes use more deep upholstery. The Norwegians may cover the entire chair in white fabric slip cover. What they all have in common are more or less clean lines and simple curved edges rather than sharp points. This makes Scandinavian furniture a bit less painful to bump into than that of some cultures. Swedes also use benches built into the wall and covered in flat cushions and bolsters.

When Swedes and Danes use an accent color, it is often blue. This is reflected in the use of seat cushions in Sweden, which are often white with blue stripes or plaid, or even solid blue. They chose blues that look like the sky in their summer time. The Danes display their porcelain tableware which is white with a royal blue design, scalloped edges, and fluted outer surfaces. The Swedes will often use red and gold sparingly as an accent color too, and stencil designs on white painted furniture. Blue cabinets with white stencils are unmistakably Scandinavian. Rugs may have a floral design, but they will show more of the pale colored back ground and less of the design. This goes back to the theme of light and airy decor.

Danes contrast the white walls with dark or teak furniture as an accent, while the Swedes prefer their furniture to be as light colored as the walls. They both prefer wood floors, but while the Swede will go for the lightest wood floor, the Dane will play up contrast with a darker wood for the floor, and possibly match it to the color of the teak furniture. The Norwegians seem to be half way in-between the Swedish and Danish decor, using more contrast than the Swedes, but keeping the dark accents to smaller surface areas than the Danes. The result is lighter and airier than the Danes, but possessing more distinction than the Swedes.

The Finns, who are influenced by the Swedes, have surprisingly more wood paneling, and the wood is not as blond as that of the Swedes. This is interesting, as Finland in farther north, and one would expect them to crave light more than the Swedes do. However, Finland's forests are a major influence on their designs. They make use of wooden saunas and lots of wooden accessories. Also prominent in Finnish Design is the use of antler and bone, bear skins, and decor patterns that look like petroglyphs. These are all in homage to the indigenous Laplander culture. Finnish artisans are celebrated for their distinctive blown glass, which is used in home decor.

Norwegian decor has a nautical theme, making it perfect for a beach house on the coast. Generous use of white or off-white canvas on furniture looks like sailcloth. This is not surprising, as the Viking culture relied heavily on sea faring.

Icelandic decor is influenced by the volcanic topography of their landscape. Volcanic rock that had gas bubbles in it when it cooled is lightweight and soft enough to cut into lacy designs in modern furniture and accessories. Volcanic rock is also used for floor tile.

Greenland, ironically named, is under snow most of the year. This must explain why they paint the outside of their houses in primary colors that look like flairs sent up to catch the eye of search and rescue teams.

Each of the Scandinavian cultures have folk craft patterns that are knitted into sweaters and repeated in themes on wooden detailing in home decor. Embroidery is often framed as wall art in Danish homes. Wooden horses and straw woven "love knots" bless walls, doors, and mantle pieces.

Finally, the original Scandinavian cultures know not to clutter their space. They use decor sparingly to create a beauty that is highlighted by lots of light airy space on the walls and floors. In this way, they share an aesthetic with the Japanese.