What is it about Scandinavian interior design that makes it everlasting?
One of the major facts of life is that — trends come and go, and there isn’t much we can do about it. The overall landscape of what is currently popular in interior design changes slightly slower than that of clothing fashion or music, but it evolves constantly nonetheless.
Often times we are witnesses to the resurrection of some two or three-decade-old trends. If a particular trend was practical enough or it marked a cultural movement, it will undoubtedly come back at one point, and that goes for the interior, design. That is how we got ourselves boho, vintage, and retro home interiors. However, some trends became popular and seemed like they will only last that much at the time, but they were in fact here to stay. Some trends simply became hyped and never left. One of the main representatives of those “here-to-stay” design movements is — Scandinavian interior design.
Scandinavian design became popular in the 1950s. It was and still is characterized by subtle minimalism, simple lines, and high functionality. What made it special the most was the fact that it was affordable for all social classes, and in my opinion, it is what made it stick for so long.
Furthermore, the simplicity of the design itself and the accessibility of the items made it possible for the Scandinavian design to seamlessly insert itself into already styled home interiors and overtake. Stores such as IKEA and JYSK, with their low prices and easy-to-assemble furniture, made it possible for virtually everyone to be stylish and on with the current trend.
Unlike most other interior design movements, Scandinavian design became unstoppable when it came to its influence. In the beginning, Scandinavian designers delved mostly into household goods such as furniture, lighting fixtures, and functional decorative items, but that exclusivity only lasted for so long. Scandinavian design quickly extended its impact on industrial design. Today we have consumer electronics, cars, and even mobile phones designed to fit the narrative of Scandinavian style.
One of the most interesting things about the vast spread of Scandinavian design is its cultural effect. The Simpsons episode featuring the famous IKEA spoof with “Alan Wrench” and forks made of Legos represents a perfect example of the wide reach of Scandinavian influence. Scandinavian design stores and design style have also been mentioned in popular music, with songs such as Lost in IKEA and IKEA Rap highlighting the overall popularity of the said brand and its Scandinavian furniture. Many mentions of Scandinavian design and its huge market chains have also been made in pop li. One of the major ones is definitely Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstör in which the whole plot takes place in an IKEA-inspired store called ORSK.
The best thing about Scandinavian décor is that you can take virtually any item inspired by it and make it fit in whatever design theme you are trying to maintain. Modular sitting, graceful lines, and adaptable minimalistic designs are what make Scandinavian home interiors so beloved.
What occurred to me while I was doing the research for this post is that, in a sense, Scandinavian design is a lot like mosaic art. Both are easy to maintain and timeless, you get high value for an affordable price and they will adapt perfectly to any interior design scenario you have in mind. In one of our next posts, I will give you mosaic art recommendations based on your preferences within the Scandinavian design. In the meantime, feel free to browse our catalog and let me know what types of mosaic art would fit in best with Scandinavian home interiors in your opinion.
