Scandinavian Style on Display at Stockholm Design Week

It’s the latest in home design, and everyone’s talking about it (and likely badly mispronouncing it). It’s hygge, straight out of Scandinavia, and it’s taken the design world by storm. (The correct pronunciation, for the record, is hue-guh – not higgy, or hoogah, or hieg.)

Hygge is a Danish word used to describe that feeling of coziness and comfort, wellness and contentment. It describes that inexplicable sense of security and ease that you feel when walking into a safe, treasured place, or that homey atmosphere that your friends somehow got just right.

With Scandinavian design – minimalism, lightness, bare floors – all the rage today, it’s no surprise that people everywhere have embraced hygge.

Hygge was prominently on display at Stockholm Design Week, because where better to celebrate Scandinavian style than Sweden? Get your hygge on and start living that ideal feeling. The latest, freshest trends, direct from Stockholm, will show you how:

Natural, neutral hues

Scandinavian design is largely light, airy, and inviting. Light neutral shades and natural materials are a hallmark of the style; they make your home appear more open and inviting.

Fresh plants

Greenery in the home creates a sense of freshness and life, an invigorating force. A live house plant helps purify the air and fosters an environment of vibrancy and connection with nature.

Excellent lighting

Scandinavian countries have limited daylight for several months of the year, so their homes tend to feature well-placed, purposeful layered lighting. They also treasure the natural light and let in as much as possible, so their design features minimal window treatments.

Comfort

Scandinavian furnishings are streamlined and minimalist, but they feature rounded edges and cozy textures that are inviting and comfortable. Hence the hygge – these homes are designed to be snug and secure.

Pale wood

Keeping with the light neutral theme, flooring is typically pale wood, as are furnishings. These woods are natural and neutral, providing minimal visual weight and maximum light.

Function and tidiness

“A place for everything and everything in its place” is not a Scandinavian phrase, but it should be! Furniture is cleverly designed to maximize storage space and floor plans are laid out for an open, uncluttered appearance, often featuring designated spaces with dividers (some of which are soundproof for functionality and productivity!).

Metallic accents

All that light, open space can easily get boring and sterile if you’re not careful. Warm it up and add visual interest with strategically-placed metallic accents, especially warmer metals like copper and brass.