What Is Scandinavian Design?

Celona London as a brand has been inspired heavily by the Scandinavian school of design. From our scented candles to our overall aesthetic, you can find elements of this beautiful design movement interwoven throughout the fabric of Celona London. In this blog post, we are going to explore what Scandinavian design, or Scandi design for short, is all about. 


First and foremost, let's define what Scandinavian is. Scandinavia is a subregion in Northern Europe which comprises of the countries Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Sometimes, the Faroe Islands, Finland and Iceland are also considered part of the Scandinavian region. These regions share cultural, historic and linguistic ties with each other.

 

There are three key elements that underpin Scandi design and these are Simplicity, Functionality and Minimalism. The movement spans across all types of design, from interior to furniture to product design. At its very basic level, Scandi design amalgamates all three of these elements seamlessly, removing the unnecessary clutter and letting the beauty of the product or design shine through, effortlessly. 


Let's look at the Scandi style in a bit more detail. Characterised by a minimal, clean approach that seeks to combine functionality with beauty. The focus is on simple lines and light and airy spaces. The use of monochromatic or neutral tones is a hallmark of this design style since natural light is rarely found in Nordic homes. What you will find in Nordic homes however, is the brilliant use of natural elements such as wood, house plants, nature-inspired sculptural pieces and natural textiles. These pieces bring a sense of warmth and cosiness in what ordinarily would be quite a clinical space. Arguably, the addition of these natural materials would be what distinguishes minimalist design from Scandinavian design.

Scandinavian design

Image by Minh Pham

 

The idea of decluttering is a very important one. This doesn't mean having absolutely nothing or just being plain. It's more about only having what is necessary. You want to find the right balance between having too little and having too much. There is a word for this in Sweden which is Lagom, which translates to ‘just the right amount’. You want to choose quality over quantity and carefully add pieces that complement the vibe that you are trying to create. Simple, practical pieces are normally a good way to go and if they can be used for more than one purpose, even better!

Scandinavian design Soy Wax Scented Candle

If you are looking to add a little accent to your Scandi style home, our scented candles are the perfect addition. In typical Scandi style, they are minimal, unobtrusive and look and smell great when lit or unlit. Take a look at our collection here