Scandinavian Design If you’re looking to give your home a whole new vibe, try combining two design styles to showcase your unique creativity and flair. With their minimalist philosophies, a Contemporary-Scandinavian design offers the perfect pairing for a fashionably functional home with clean lines, open spaces, and a natural feel. Here’s how to achieve the perfect balance of styles.

Keep It Neutral

Both Contemporary and Scandinavian designs use neutral tones, although Contemporary favors whites, beiges, and taupes over the Scandinavian grayscale palette. Look for the similarities in the design trends to guide your color choices. A white backdrop works well with either style, so why not try white walls? Fortunately, either of the muted color schemes can be accented with bright furniture, rugs, or artwork. Just avoid using too much bold color so as not to overwhelm the senses and undermine the basic design concepts.

Get Out the Woodgrain

Wood is one of the most common elements of Scandinavian design, so be sure to expose this texture as much as possible when crossing over into Contemporary decor. Almost every Scandinavian-style home features wooden floors with rugs to add warmth and softness. Although pale woods are usually chosen, you can also apply a light golden finish to your hardwood floors to work in that beige color so commonly seen in Contemporary design. And you don’t have to stop there. Incorporate wooden accents throughout your home in the form of furniture, window frames, skirting boards, and countertops.

Let In the Light

Another commonality between the Contemporary and Scandinavian movements is that they both boast an abundance of natural lighting. The Scandinavian concept is to connect with the outdoors, while Contemporary design seeks to open up space. Whatever your goal, you will need large windows to enjoy the many benefits of natural light. If you need to overcome limited window size, skip the shades and curtains. Contemporary Scandinavian design generally avoids any window treatments.

Keep Lines Clean

Both the Contemporary and Scandinavian styles are all about clean lines, which can be maintained by choosing sleek furniture. But don’t worry, sleek doesn’t have to be boring. Feel free to spice up your space by adding a patterned chair or colorful accent cushions. Introduce pieces that excite you to achieve the personalized home decor you desire.

Go All Natural

Natural elements are used to enhance the space in the Contemporary and Scandinavian design concepts. Contemporary-style materials include natural fabrics such as wool and silk, which boost the neutral color scheme and bring texture to the space. Natural details like potted plants and wood textures are often used to emphasize the Scandinavian style. Why not try a combination?

Opt for Silver Accents

Stainless steel, nickel, and chrome finishes are commonly seen in Contemporary design and fit in well with the grays of the Scandinavian color scheme. Whether it’s a piece of furniture or a faucet, silver-colored accents are a beautiful modern borrowing for a Contemporary-Scandinavian-style home.

Fire It Up

While the Scandinavian fireplace and the Contemporary fireplace demonstrate several stylistic differences, having this kind of focal point in your home will create a cozy warmth befitting both design trends. It’s simply up to you to decide whether you want the fireplace to have a more modern or a more Nordic appearance. Combining interior design styles starts with finding the similarities between the two concepts and then building from there. Don’t be afraid to borrow unique elements from each style or to even add your own touches that match the trends. Although there really aren’t any hard and fast rules when it comes to creating your ideal space, if you follow this guide and your own instincts, you are sure to develop an incredible Contemporary-Scandinavian decor.