Scandinavian interior: how to create a calm look

You build a Scandinavian interior with light woods, soft shades and furniture with a clear, functional shape. Keep the base calm in off-white, sand and warm grey, and set light oak against it. What remains needs room to breathe, so you deliberately leave space empty. At Kas20, a dining area like this usually starts with a Danish oval dining table in light oak, from €606 for melamine and from €1,414 for solid wood.

Scandinavian design comes from countries with short winter days. That explains the preference for light wood and soft colours, as they keep a room open when little daylight comes in.

It is also why the style works so well in Dutch homes. Our living rooms are rarely flooded with light, and Scandinavian design is built for exactly that.

What makes an interior Scandinavian?

An interior is Scandinavian when every piece of furniture has a clear function and nothing is there just as decoration. Form follows use, and anything that adds nothing is left out.

You can also recognise the style by its materials. Light oak, wool, linen and bouclé keep coming back, usually in a matt finish where you can still see the grain or texture.

The third hallmark is empty space. A Scandinavian room is not full, and that emptiness is a choice, not a shortcoming.

Which colours suit a Scandinavian interior?

The base is off-white, sand and warm grey, complemented by the natural colour of light wood. That combination creates calm and makes a room look bigger.

If you want to add colour, keep it muted. Sage, dusty pink, rust brown and deep blue work well because they do not clash with wood.

Black is fine, but in small amounts. A slim black base under a light top gives just enough contrast to keep the whole look crisp.

Which dining table suits a Scandinavian interior?

A Danish oval dining table in light oak is the most obvious choice. The rounded ends soften the room, and it is easier to walk around than a rectangular top.

Keep the base light. A slim matrix base or an angled i-leg supports the top without drawing attention to itself.

These models from our collection fit the style.

The difference between melamine and solid wood lies in appearance and use. Melamine is low-maintenance and available sooner, while solid oak lives with you and gains character over the years.

Which chairs should you choose?

Chairs with a wooden frame and an upholstered seat fit best. You keep the lightness of the wood and gain seating comfort for long evenings at the table.

Choose a fabric in wool, bouclé or linen, in a shade close to your table. Too much contrast between chair and table breaks the very calm you are looking for.

When does a dining bench work better?

On a side against the wall, a dining bench is often more logical than separate chairs. It saves space, it is easier to slide in, and the look stays calmer because you see fewer legs.

How do you stop it from looking too bare?

Bareness occurs when you do everything in the same shade and the same material. Create variation in texture rather than in colour.

Place a smooth table next to a chair in coarse bouclé, and lay a wool rug under a sleek base. The colours stay close together while the room still feels layered.

Wood in two shades helps too. A light top with a slightly darker chair adds depth without departing from the style.

What is the difference with Japandi?

Japandi and Scandinavian share the same simplicity, but Japandi goes a step darker and sleeker. Where Scandinavian sticks to light oak and soft shades, Japandi mixes in black smoked oak and lower, horizontal lines.

The two combine well. Start with a Scandinavian base and add a single dark piece, and you get the calm of both without it becoming gloomy.

Key points

• Keep the base in off-white, sand and warm grey, with light oak as a counterbalance.
• A Danish oval dining table on a slim base is the most fitting shape.
• Melamine starts at around €606, solid oak at around €1,414.
• Create variation in texture, not in colour, or it will look bare.
• Muted colours such as sage and dusty pink work better than bright accents.
• Empty space is part of the style and does not mean an unfinished interior.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Scandinavian interior suitable for a small home?

A Scandinavian interior actually works well in a small home. The light shades reflect daylight and make a room look bigger, and because the style calls for few pieces of furniture, you keep more floor space. Do choose furniture with visible legs, though, as they let the floor run through and that makes a difference to the sense of space.

Can you use dark wood in a Scandinavian interior?

Dark wood is fine, as long as it remains the exception and not the base. A single dark piece among light shades adds depth and stops a room from looking flat. If the share of dark wood increases, your interior shifts towards Japandi, and that is a perfectly good outcome if that is the direction you want to go.

Which floor suits Scandinavian living?

A light wooden floor in oak or ash suits the style best. A light poured floor or concrete look also works, provided you soften it with a wool rug. Dark floors are possible, but then the rest of the room must stay clearly lighter to maintain the balance.

How much does a Scandinavian dining table cost?

With us, a suitable dining table starts at around €606 in melamine and around €1,293 in solid oak. The difference lies in material and delivery time, not in design. Because we make to measure, the size of your top also determines what you ultimately pay.

Can you combine Scandinavian style with what you already have?

That usually works fine, especially if your current furniture has calm shapes. Start with the largest pieces, so the table and the sofa, and gradually match the rest to them. You do not have to replace everything at once to get the atmosphere right.

Finally

Scandinavian living asks less of you than most styles. You choose a light base, keep shapes simple and leave space, and the rest follows almost by itself.

View the full range in our Scandinavian furniture collection, or have a made-to-measure table made in the size that suits your room. Want to see the wood shades side by side? Visit one of our furniture stores.