Swede Style: 4 Scandinavian Design Spin-offs to Try

The feasibility and affordability of the Scandinavian design are what makes this style so popular in Singapore. Loved for its simple, fuss-free aesthetics, light-filled interiors as well as its functionality, it’s a theme that translates well here. Unfortunately, it is also incredibly ubiquitous. Seeing home after home adopting similar palettes and silhouettes are making us yawn. If you think like us and want something a little different for your home but aren't too keen in venturing into something too out there, try these Scandi reinventions instead. They feature elements of the Scandinavian design, just with a slight twist.  

1. Scandi Boho

This look is for all you free-spirits out there. Adopting the Scandi Boho style – a juxtaposition of two very different and opposing designs – is all about loving the details. Invite plenty of textures and patterns, but keeping all of that in check with a simple colour palette. Design: Three-D Conceptwerke Tip #1: Start with a white foundation White keep things looking fresh and bright, so essential in a Scandinavian design. And it provides you a clean canvas for you to do interior design magic. If you’re not a fan of white, you can also go for other neutrals like dusty pink or light grey. Tip #2: Flood the daylight Invite lots of natural light into a Scandi-bohemian space – all the better to showcase your artefacts! But it's functional too: having lots of daylight can circumvent a dark and dreary space. Tip #3: Curate, curate, curate Loving the details ≠ incorporating everything you love. You may be tempted to throw everything from your travels into your home, but it’s important to curate the pieces so that your space isn’t overwhelmed with too many elements. When it comes to choosing your bric-a-bracs, pick according to colour family or variety e.g. Moroccan flair. Design: Three-D Conceptwerke

2. Nordic Noir

Otherwise also known as the dark Scandinavian style. Scandinavian interiors tend to be bright and cheery, compensating for the lack of daylight in the Nordic nations. This Scandi offshoot, however, is all about being dark and dramatic. Inspired by Scandinavian noir fiction, which is known for their bleak landscapes and morally complex atmospheres (haha), this look is at once compelling and classy. Design: Third Avenue Studio Tip #1: You don’t have to paint the walls black Scandinavian noir isn’t always about painting the walls black. You can go for a dark navy blue, strong maroon or cement screed. You can even choose to go light – like white! – but remember to keep the rest of the elements e.g. furniture, furnishings or fixtures dark if you’re channelling the noir. Tip #2: Take the easy way out If colour coordination is too complex for you, just take the easy way out: go black and white. It’s a classic palette that is elegant and contemporary. Tip #3: The key is in the silhouettes Like the classic Scandinavian style, clean and minimal should be your mantra in Nordic noir. No fussy profiles; rather, think angular and structure. Let the black, a powerful colour, speak for itself. But because nordic noir comes with the connotation of a certain melancholy, temper the harsh lines with soft textures like carpets, throws or curtains. Design: Third Avenue Studio

3. Rustic Scandinavian

Unlike the more contemporary classic Scandinavian style, this rustic spin-off is more traditional. It’s a homey look that features woven baskets, country-style fabrics, natural materials and other shabby chic finishes paired alongside more modern aesthetics. Design: Starry Homestead  Tip #1: Keep to a clean overall palette  Because the rustic style is big on details and textures, you should adopt a cleaner overall palette, reminiscent of the Scandinavian style, to balance things out. Inject greys and browns to warm up the look. Tip #2: Use wood, preferably reclaimed or distressed Wood holds a strong presence in a Scandinavian home. But if you’re going for the rustic Scandinavian style, use reclaimed or distressed wood on the surfaces of your home like the flooring or feature walls. Or you can incorporate the weathered wood look on your cabinet fronts and furniture. Tip #3: Balance it out Don’t go overboard with the scruffiness. Pair it with cleaner and modern materials and silhouettes. Combine a country-style farmhouse table with Panton chairs, for instance. Or go for a butcher block countertop with modern white cabinets in the kitchen. You can also choose to keep large surface areas in a modern shade or finish to complement the rusticity of the rest of your details. Design: Starry Homestead 

4. Hygge

Hygge isn’t a style as much as a lifestyle and mind-set. For the uninitiated, the idea behind hygge has been trending since 2016 and has recently been accepted into the Oxford dictionary so it totally makes it an official term now. It’s a Danish concept that embraces the feeling of cosy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple, everyday things in life. There’s also a focus on positivity, togetherness and spending time with people that matter. Design: Lemonfridge Studio  Tip #1: Invite plenty of warm and soft textures Cosiness is inherent in the concept of hygge, and there’s nothing cosier than soft textures. While the thick woollen rug might not be exactly suitable for the warm and humid climate in Singapore, you can still opt for rugs made from materials like cotton or jute, which don’t retain heat or moisture. We love the ones from Departures & Arrivals. Other soft texture options include cushions, throws and curtains. Tip #2: Create a social atmosphere A hygge home is also very much about casual gatherings and intimate get-togethers. Make sure your hygge home is conducive for that. Go for touches like extendable tables that let you seat more when required, armchairs that face the sofa rather than the television to encourage conversations, or island counters where you get to entertain your friends while you cook. Tip #3: Enjoy the small things in life Create small nooks and crannies throughout your space that let you enjoy the small things in life e.g. a cosy reading corner next to your favourite window for you to indulge in your favourite book, a wall shelf plastered with family photographs that make you smile every time you walk by it, or a breakfast bar in the kitchen where you can sip your cup of joe before heading out for the day. Design: Lemonfridge Studio  Which of these Scandi spin-offs are you willing to try?   

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