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Decorating
How Do I... Give my Open-Plan Room a Scandi Feel?
With its lashings of white and pale timbers, the Scandi look is one we can't get enough of – here's how to work it
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and garden questions. Here, Agnes Sweijer, interior designer and director of of Sweijer Design, reveals how to give your open-plan, kitchen-living room-diner a serene, Scandinavian vibe.
Image by Simon Whitbread
Does the Scandi look work well in open-plan rooms?
Open-plan living-kitchen-diners are great for entertaining and socialising, but they can be hard to decorate. They can easily feel disorganised and disconnected, and this lack of decorative cohesion can make anyone who steps inside them feel uncomfortable.
Scandinavian style done right is perfect for open-plan spaces. With its white base and a less-is-more approach, it creates a natural sense of flow between the three zones, while leaving plenty of breathing space for guests to relax and move around.
Some people feel the Scandi look is too cold and minimalist for a social area such as this, but I disagree; you can easily warm up the scheme with raw natural materials such as timber stools, leather seating, woollen throws and stone accessories.
Does the Scandi look work well in open-plan rooms?
Open-plan living-kitchen-diners are great for entertaining and socialising, but they can be hard to decorate. They can easily feel disorganised and disconnected, and this lack of decorative cohesion can make anyone who steps inside them feel uncomfortable.
Scandinavian style done right is perfect for open-plan spaces. With its white base and a less-is-more approach, it creates a natural sense of flow between the three zones, while leaving plenty of breathing space for guests to relax and move around.
Some people feel the Scandi look is too cold and minimalist for a social area such as this, but I disagree; you can easily warm up the scheme with raw natural materials such as timber stools, leather seating, woollen throws and stone accessories.
What are the key elements of a Scandi scheme?
- Timber flooring: This is a key starting point in Scandinavian design. Consider oak, pine, ash or beech. You can brighten up a dark room by giving timber floors a white or light-grey wash.
- Wooden furniture: Seek out dining tables, side tables, consoles and dressers in warm timber.
- Leather: Add touches of dark leather in seating, sofas or ottomans to cosy up a predominantly white scheme and introduce a splash of colour.
- Photography or graphic art: This is a great way to draw the eye where you want it – say the living or dining room – and away from where you don’t. Stick to black or natural frames and simple, graphic imagery.
- Light drapes: Maximise natural light by opting for lightweight window coverings in materials such as linen. Opt for soft colours such as white, beige, grey or dusty pink.
- Greenery: Scandinavians will often add plants to bring a splash of colour into a room – plus it’s a great way to introduce nature to the space. Rather than traditional floral arrangements, try something different, such as an arrangement of sculptural, dried reeds or beautiful branches.
How do I choose the right white?
- White paint with yellow undertones has a warmer feel.
- Blue undertones in a white paint give it a cooler feel.
- Spaces with a lot of natural light tend to look quite warm, so choose a cool white to level this warmth out.
- Rooms with limited natural light that rely on artificial lighting from lamps tend to be on the cooler side (although the warmth of the bulbs you choose will have an impact), which you can balance out by choosing a white with slightly yellow undertones.
- Adding in grey? Pair cool-white paint with cooler greys; and warmer whites with warmer greys.
Can you share some styling tips?
- Edit, edit and edit again: Your open-plan room setting should only contain those pieces you use and love.
- Choose quality over quantity: Scandinavians believe in investing in well-made furniture that will last – and ideally look better with age (such as a beautiful leather armchair).
- Don’t be afraid of negative space: It gives furniture and accessories in your open-plan room space to breathe and stand out.
- Layer up natural materials: Think leather, linen, timber, wool, concrete and stone.
- Choose Scandi-style colours: Consider moss and forest greens, deep blue, dusty pink and navy, and amber.
- Become a colour-layering pro: To layer colours successfully, start by choosing a colour that contrasts with your base colour, such as moss against a white base. Then layer up accents in different shades of moss to create subtle tonal variations.
How can I give the kitchen in my open-plan room a timeless, Scandi feel?
- Choose natural stone: Select a material such as marble for your benchtop and take it up the wall as a splashaback. It will give your kitchen a raw, natural and clean look.
- Consider black or natural stained-timber cabinetry: It’s a wonderful way to showcase the grain of the wood while at the same time adding some colour to the kitchen.
- Streamline cabinetry details: Think flat cabinetry fronts and simple, standout handles.
Image by William Mallat
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Find an interior designer near you
Scandinavian design is about more than just colours and forms – it’s more of a philosophy and way of living. The core principles are simplicity and functionality, with a focus on clean lines, natural materials and sustainability.
It creates a timeless look and a calm feel. And it’s one that translates particularly well to Australian homes as we have a strong bond with nature, enjoy an indoor-outdoor lifestyle, and sustainability is important to us.