Results from the yearly World Happiness Report often show that Denmark, Sweden and Norway are considered the happiest places to live, with the residents of Scandinavian countries reporting that they feel content and happy more often than UK folks.
Many factors are considered important to personal wellbeing within Scandi countries, including creating relaxing interiors, which is what I’m going to focus on today.
Wellbeing factors
Additionally, these elements below are reported as being key to achieving the kind of happiness levels that our Nordic neighbours enjoy:
- Having a daily routine
- Embracing downtime
- Taking a daily walk
- Immersing yourself in nature
- Setting boundaries for working from home including regular breaks
- Screen-free weekends
- Hobbies that keep the mind engaged
As you can see, many of these wellbeing factors relate to work but it’s also their surroundings that bring a feeling of contentment to Scandinavians. And that’s probably because they understand the importance of creating a peaceful home that they can relax in when they’re not working.
Consider the Danish concept of hygge, that cosy, nesting-at-home feeling; comfort, warmth, security. So, it’s no wonder that Nordic homes are seen as a place to retreat and relax and homeowners do everything they can to create that safe feeling.
Keep it clean
Firstly, and most easily, you can create a space that’s tidy, clean and clutter-free. Having fewer belongings on display will help you to feel more peaceful, as you’re not thinking about all the tasks you have to do.
So, start by decluttering your belongings. If you’ve got papers lying around, go through them and shred or recycle anything you don’t need. Clothing can easily be minimised too – simply donate anything you don’t regularly wear to charity. An easy rule is that if you haven’t worn it for over a year, it’s probably safe to give away.
Then, all you need to do is safely store away anything else that remains in order to create neat rooms that you want to spend your time in. If surfaces are clear of piles of paper or junk, you won’t feel the urge to tidy up and can therefore fully relax.
Minimalist design
Scandinavian homes often reflect minimalist design ideas, with clean lines and few items on display. You can easily achieve Nordic design by choosing Danish furniture from modern manufacturers like NovaSolo or, if your budget can stretch to it, choosing original mid-century pieces from furniture designers like Finn Juhl.
Clever storage pieces are essential to creating that clean and tidy look that’ll help you to feel content in your home. If you can stow the majority of your items away, the space will feel bigger and much less overwhelming. When your clothing can easily fit into your wardrobe and drawers without spilling out, your bedroom will feel more like a hotel room for you to rest in.
Relaxing finishes
Choosing neutral tones for your decor will also help you to achieve a peaceful, Scandi-style interior. Cool greys and classic white are seen throughout Nordic homes, along with colours from nature such as delicate cloud-blue, sandy tones and deep fern-green.
On the walls and floors, you can choose wooden finishes to bring a more natural feel to your home. Adding wood wall panelling can create a warm and cosy effect in a room and can provide sound absorption to create calmer acoustics in the space, making it ideal for relaxation. Wooden slat panelling can even extend seamlessly onto the ceiling, again creating a cocoon-like effect to make you feel calm.
Your furniture should include natural textures such as wood-grain finishes and woven rattan. The simple, clean lines of the furniture can be softened with squishy cushions, knitted blankets and wool rugs in order to bring that hygge-lie nesting feeling into the room.
I hope these ideas for Scandifying your interior will help you to feel more relaxed and boost your wellbeing at home. Let me know your own ideas for incorporating Nordic design into your home in the comments below, I’d love to hear how you’ve refreshed your decor to create a cosy and peaceful space.
Pin it for later
This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂
