Scandinavian living room ideas and inspo.

What’s the best way to design and decorate a scandinavian living room?

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. But if you ask us, the living room gives it a run for its money since it’s likely the most used room in your house. From entertaining guests to lounging around reading a book to watching way too much TV (no judgment here), your main living space has to be both comfortable and functional. Open-concept living spaces may also include an eating area or a full dining room for easy living.

Whether you're in the process of a living room remodel or looking to makeover your existing one, these are the key elements to include in your design:

• Paint or Wallpaper: Select a color or pattern that sets the desired mood for the living room and complements the scandinavian style you want to achieve. We are partial to covering walls, ceilings, and trim in a uniform paint color to create a cohesive look. Or consider an accent wall to serve as a focal point.
• Sofa, Couch, or Sectional: A staple of any living room, the sofa or couch provides a comfortable seating option for relaxation and socializing. The sofa should be the functional focal point of the room. When creating the furniture plan for your living room, start with the sofa as the largest piece of furniture and plan the rest of the room around it. If you have a small living room, you may want to select a sofa with a shallower depth or a L-shaped sectional to maximize your seating space. If you have a large living room, you may want to consider multiple couches to take advantage of your space.
• Armchairs: These individual accent chairs offer additional seating and can be placed strategically around the living room to create cozy conversation areas. In addition to leaving space around furniture groupings, make sure to also leave space around each piece of furniture. This allows people to move freely using various routes within the living room. It's important to strike a balance between creating a cozy seating area and providing enough room for easy navigation.
• Coffee Table: A central piece, the coffee table sits in front of the sofa and provides a surface for placing drinks, books, and other items. Pro tip: The recommended distance between a coffee table and the sofa in a living room is roughly 15-18”. This allows for enough space to move around comfortably and ensures that the coffee table is within easy reach from the seating area.
• Side Tables and/or Ottomans: Placed next to sofas or armchairs, side tables offer a convenient surface for placing lamps, drinks, or other small items. Ottomans are even more versatile and can serve as a footrest, extra seating, or even a side table or coffee table when paired with a tray. Choose side tables or ottomans that are proportionate to the furniture they accompany. The height of the side table should be similar to or slightly lower than the armrest or seat height of the sofa or chair.
• Console, Entertainment Center or TV Stand: This furniture piece typically houses the television and often includes additional storage for media devices, gaming consoles, or to display decorative items. Ensure that the size of the media console is proportionate to the size of the screen it will be supporting. Even if you don’t plan to include a TV in your living room (we support your decision for less screen time!), a freestanding console or built-in shelving unit is great for storage and organization. You can hide (or replace) your TV with a large piece of wall art.
• Area Rug: It’s common to include an area rug in a living room for extra warmth and coziness. If possible, all furniture pieces should “live” on the rug in your living room. If your rug doesn’t really allow for that, then at least the front legs should be atop the rug. This ensures the furniture doesn’t look like it’s floating in the room.
• Decorative Lighting: Combine task, ambient, and accent lighting for a layered lighting scheme. Typically in a living room, you’d want a flush surface mount light or chandelier on the ceiling and wall-mounted sconces or table lamps placed around the room for mood lighting.
• Scandinavian Decor Accessories: Decor in a living room can transform a living area into a vibrant tapestry of textures, colors, and forms, creating a welcoming and personalized environment that reflects your scandinavian style. The strategic placement of books, vases, and candles on coffee tables or shelves infuses the room with character and warmth. Throw pillows and blankets introduce texture and color helping to make the space feel cozier. Wall art helps to ground the space and showcase your personal taste and interests. Mirrors can amplify light, making the room feel more expansive.
• Curtains or Blinds: Window treatments not only help control the light and provide privacy but also serve to tie the room's design together. They offer an opportunity to inject color, texture, and pattern into the living space, making it more inviting and personalized. Whether flowing and sheer for a light, airy feel or rich and textured for a more luxurious look, curtains play a pivotal role in setting the tone and atmosphere of the living room.

Get creative and have fun with your scandinavian living room makeover! If you need an extra hand, check out our step-by-step guide on How To Design a Living Room.

What materials and home decor should I use to achieve a scandinavian living room design?

Scandinavian interior design is known for its simplicity, functionality, and connection to nature. Scandinavia most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Renowned for its minimalist aesthetic and clean lines, it is deeply rooted in the Nordic principle of creating light-filled, airy environments that evoke a sense of calm and comfort.

To achieve a Scandinavian living room, start by cultivating an atmosphere that feels open and bright. Opt for a soft, neutral color palette that includes shades of white, beige, and gray to serve as a tranquil backdrop for your space. White walls not only amplify the natural light but also create a canvas for adding depth and interest through texture and subtle contrasts. Incorporate natural materials like light wood, leather, and wool to create a cozy and comfortable environment. Scandi furniture is elegantly simple and designed with both form and function in mind (and yes, Ikea has brought this Swedish design principal to the masses).

Decor in a Scandinavian home should be understated. You may be familiar with the concept of Hygge, a Danish word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality (it’s commonly used to refer to Scandinavian design). This can be introduced through soft lighting, plush textiles, greenery, and personal touches that make your space feel inviting and lived-in. Floor lamps are characteristic of Scandinavian spaces. The Scandinavian style creates a serene and clutter-free space that's both modern and homely, reflecting the Nordic lifestyle's focus on simplicity and wellbeing.