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Scandinavian-inspired interior design has found a lasting place in homes around the world, shaped by a shared desire for spaces that feel lighter, calmer, and easier to live in. King Living Designer Dominic Harrison describes it as a style built on intention, where every choice is edited back to what a room truly needs.
“Scandi interiors feel effortless, but the details are deliberate. Comfort and function are refined through material, proportion, and restraint.”
Begin with the design principles, then jump to the styling tips when you are ready to bring the look home:
The defining characteristics of Scandi design
Scandinavian-inspired design pairs functional furniture with minimalist silhouettes and a soft, nature-led palette. Rather than leaning on decorative detail, it creates presence through light, organic texture, and simple designs chosen for the way they support everyday life.
The Nordic roots behind the look
Scandinavian style is most closely linked to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, and extends to Finland and Iceland in broader Nordic design. Long winters and limited daylight helped define interiors that maximise natural light, favour warm colour, and reflect an honest relationship with nature.
By the mid-20th century, Scandinavian interior design gained global recognition for balancing organic beauty with simplicity, influencing mid-century modern spaces around the world. Dominic shares,
“Its appeal endures because it suits the way we live now. Nordic modern design supports open-plan layouts, works well in smaller homes too, and blends easily with other aesthetics because it is grounded in light and material.”
Hygge, and the feeling behind the style
Often associated with Scandinavian interiors, ‘hygge’ is the Danish idea of warmth, wellbeing, and creating comfort through cosiness, especially during the Northern Hemisphere’s darker months.
“It is less about styling rules and more about atmosphere, a home that invites you to slow down and rest,” Dominic says.
How to bring Scandinavian-inspired style home
1. Choose functional furniture that supports your lifestyle
Scandinavian-inspired homes are designed to be lived in, with flexible furniture that supports your daily rituals and layouts that feel open and intuitive.
“Modular sofas from the FreeForm Collection feel at home in Scandinavian-inspired spaces, as the designs are made for comfort and can adapt,” Dom shares. The Quantum Sofa is a natural fit, pairing ergonomic high-back support with gentle, refined curves.
“From a compact two seater to a generous L-shape for entertaining, you can reshape the layout as your needs shift.”
Delivered compressed for convenience, Quantum expands once unboxed, making comfort and convenience part of everyday living.
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Hygge décor tip: Consider a sofa bed for ease The adaptable KING Sofa Bed is made from lightweight modules you can lift, stack, seperate and join effortlessly. Customise the design in your choice of bouclé cover for a warm, cosy feel that invites comfort for you and your guests. |
2. A soft neutral colour palette, lifted with earthy accents
Choose a calm foundation for your sofa and rug, Light neutrals like white, oat, sand, and stone set the tone, creating a brighter, more open feel.
“The colour options for Quantum change the feeling. Camden Natural fabric keeps it bright, while Sable and Mangrove create a deeper, cosy winter look with a touch of hygge,” Dom says.
Deeper earthy hues: clay, olive, rust, cocoa, work well in Scandi-inspired design as smaller accents through art, ceramics, or an occasional chair.
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Hygge décor tip: Style with greenery for freshness Bring the outdoors in with one leafy plant, a branch in a vase, or earthy décor in stone or ceramic vessels. These organic details add life to a neutral room, without feeling overly decorative. |
3. Natural materials: timber, woven texture, and tactile depth
Begin to add depth through tactile layers. Wool, bouclé, and woven fibres bring warmth without visual clutter.
“In Scandinavian-inspired interiors, timber is the quiet constant. Introduce it through a coffee table, then repeat that tone in smaller accents like shelving and décor, for a calm, cohesive feel,” Dom suggests.
At King Living, timber designs can be customised in a choice of signature finishes including Natural Oak, Smoked Oak, American Walnut and Onyx.
Sofas like Zaza and Jasper are made to order with removable covers available in over 200 luxurious fabrics and leathers. Choose a light neutral weave or bouclé to keep the room soft, bright and quietly inviting.
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Hygge décor tip: Style with throws for comfort and warmth Drape a throw within easy reach on the sofa, so you and loved ones can settle in with ease. |
4. Lighting: natural brightness by day, warm glow by night
During the day, let natural light move through the room and do the styling for you. Keep sightlines open with simple sheer drapes that soften glare without blocking daylight.
When privacy matters, layer light-filtering panels with a heavier curtain you can draw in the evening. This creates softness and seclusion, without the room feeling closed in.
After dark, skip the harshness of a single overhead bulb and build atmosphere by clustering lighting at different heights, all gently dimmed for a warmer finish.
“I find the Solifiore Gymea Floor Lamp works well in a quiet corner, customised with an Amber or Ochre Red glass shade for a comforting effect. Paired with the Pallino Table Lamp on a console, the two will cast a soothing illumination,” Dom offers. “The glass sphere of the Pallino shade also allows for a coloured bulb underneath.”
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Hygge décor tip: Choose warm lit bulbs to create a cosy ambience Keep lighting low and layered to create a calm, intimate mood that's easy to unwind into. |
5. Shape and silhouette: clean lines softened with curves
In Scandinavian interior design, shape and silhouette are never just aesthetic. They guide how a space feels, how it breathes, how you move through it. Clean lines create clarity, while softened curves bring a quiet sense of ease, particularly in open-plan living where every element needs intention.
“With the Zaza Sofa, deep seats invite you to settle in, while adjustable arms and backs create gentle, organic lines that soften the overall profile,” Dom shares.
“Zaza pairs naturally with the Issho Coffee Table’s pebble-shaped top, inspired by nature for a calm, grounded feel."
Together, these considered designs capture the Scandinavian balance of clarity and comfort.
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Hygge décor tip: Carve out a calm corner Days can be busy, so a dedicated corner for rest and renewal is a simple way to embrace hygge. Style a reading chair with a matching ottoman, then place a side table within reach to hold your journal or current book. |
6. Warm minimalism: less visual noise, more room to live
In Scandinavian interior design, minimalism is never cold. It is warm, lived-in, and carefully edited, with clear surfaces and thoughtful storage that let the room feel calm, even when the day is full
That sense of ease often starts where you gather. The Magnolia Dining Table brings quiet structure to a dining setting, with a modern profile and softly curved corners that keep the look gentle. Paired with the Tasman Dining Chairs, the open-back silhouette adds lightness, while a Natural Oak timber finish keeps the setting visually light.
“Warm minimalism is about choosing furniture that supports everyday living, then giving each design space,” Dom says.
“When styling your table, choose fewer things, so each one earns its place. One considered detail can say more than an array of décor.”
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Hygge décor tip: Keep styling simple A clear coffee or dining table surface makes space for what matters: a book, a meal, a cup of coffee, a pause. When styling decorative objects such as candles or a vase, position centrally, or cluster in groupings of three. |
FAQ
How do I make my home feel more hygge without restyling the whole room?
Shift the atmosphere first and prioritise your comfort. Add a warm table lamp, bring in a woven throw, clear one surface, and introduce one tactile layer like a rug or cushion.
Can Scandinavian-inspired style work in Australian homes?
Yes. Lean into natural light with an earthy palette and organic materials, then soften the mood with cosy textures and layered lighting for evenings. The space will feel fresh by day and inviting after dark.
How do I keep Scandinavian-inspired interiors feeling warm, not stark?
Bring in soft texture and timber, steering away from cool hues and dark tones. Layer woven materials and balance clean lines with gentle curves. The goal is minimalism with warmth, not emptiness.
Find more styling inspiration:
- Discover interior design colour combinations for every style
- 14 simple ideas to makeover your living room
- Expert Kelly Donougher’s interior design ideas for compact apartments
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