If we’re looking to give our home a decorative makeover without making things too complicated along the way, Nordic-style decor is definitely an option worth considering. It’s one of the easiest styles to implement in our homes because of its simple principles; plus, it has the advantage of yielding magnificent results in a country like ours, since it’s one of the styles that makes the best use of natural light.
So, in the following paragraphs, we’re going to talk about how to bring this distinctive Northern European style into the rooms of your home. Or, more specifically, into your dining room, since we’re going to focus on this room to suggest a series of decorating ideas. Are you ready to give them a try?
What is the Nordic style of interior design?
In order to properly apply our ideas for decorating a Nordic-style dining room, we first need to understand the fundamentals of this style. Its origins date back to the late 19th century in the Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark.
As is well known, these regions are characterized by fewer hours of sunshine than in southern Europe, as well as lower temperatures. As a result, their inhabitants have always had to find ways to make the most of the limited natural light available to them and to ensure that their homes are resistant to the cold.
Therefore, the features that distinguish the Nordic or Scandi style(as it is also known) are as follows:
- Bright homes that let in plenty of sunlight.
- Use of neutral colors, especially shades of white.
- Use of natural materials, primarily wood. In fact, forests are abundant in Scandinavia, so we’re talking about a readily available raw material in these parts.
- Use of simple, understated furniture.
- A warm, cozy feel created by the use of textiles in rugs, pillows, table runners, blankets…
- A natural touch achieved through the use of flowers and houseplants.
Why decorate our home in the Nordic style?
At this point, you might be wondering why you should go with Scandi to decorate your home in a Mediterranean country like Spain. Well, this decision isn’t contradictory at all, because thanks to the Nordic style, you can achieve cozy results that look great anywhere in the world and will never go out of style.
Specifically, and as we’ve already mentioned, this option will help you make the most of the wonderful sunlight we have in our country, so you and your family can enjoy it to the fullest. Plus, the furniture stands out for being incredibly functional, so your home will not only look beautiful but will also be very practical.
In addition, the Nordic style will also help you stay organized in your daily life, because it’s minimalist and encourages you to keep only what you need. And finally, it will evoke positive feelings during the colder months, since its sense of warmth and coziness is amplified when temperatures drop.
Decorating Ideas for a Scandinavian-Style Dining Room
What do you think about trying the Nordic style in your home? Keep in mind that you don’t have to jump right in and decorate every room this way; instead, you can start with just one room to see if you like the result.
For example, today we’re sharing 7 decorating ideas for a Scandinavian-style dining room. So we invite you to try them out—this will help you decide whether to extend this style to the rest of your home or just stick with this one room.
Windows are better without curtains
By definition, a dining room needs to be well-lit so you can eat comfortably and go about your daily life there. And if it’s a Nordic-style dining room, this is even more important. So try to avoid curtains on the windows; or, if you’d rather not do without them, make sure at least choose lightweight or sheer ones to let in as much light as possible.
And don’t forget that the dining room is also a place to spend time in the evening, so look for a Scandinavian-style lamp that’s both understated and elegant.
Wood, the primary material
We’ve mentioned this before: wood is essential for achieving a truly Nordic look in your dining room, so you can use it for the most important pieces of furniture—that is, the table, chairs, and storage units.
The wood doesn’t need to be treated, since our goal is to convey a sense of simplicity. And as for colors, you can choose light shades like white, because they’ll bring brightness and simplicity to the furniture.
Use of Natural Textures
Wood, as the primary material, blends perfectly with other natural textures to add variety and depth to this decorative style. For example, you can choose wicker for lamps or baskets, cotton, leather, or linen for chair cushions and throw pillows, and glass for decorative accents to place on the dining table, etc.
Don’t take risks with colors
Although we achieve warmth through textures and light, it’s clear that the Nordic style is associated with neutral and light colors. White is usually the “king” of rooms of this type, although gray and pastel colors can also yield great results in your dining room. With these colors, you’ll bring a sense of calm, tranquility, and serenity to your meals. And you’ll also make the dining room appear more spacious.
In any case, keep in mind that even if the base color is neutral and light, you can also combine it (in moderation) with furniture and decorative items in other color palettes featuring more intense (but not overly saturated) shades, such as blue or green. This will help prevent your dining room from feeling monotonous and being seen as one of the “most boring” areas of your home.
Designs that are more functional than comfortable
When decorating a Scandinavian-style dining room, you’ll have to sacrifice some comfort. In return, you’ll gain simplicity and minimalism, because the priority here is to be able to sit down without overcomplicating things.
If you flip through a catalog of Scandinavian-style chairs and tables, you’ll quickly notice that straight lines dominate and that ornamentation is practically nonexistent. So don’t expect large backrests, ergonomic shapes, or comfortable armrests. Instead, opt for more practical solutions, such as “Eames”-style chairs, designer chairs with slatted backs, or upholstered armchairs reinforced with materials like wool or fur.
Plants to add some life to the dining room
One of the downsides of the Nordic style is that it can end up feeling a bit monotonous. But you can avoid this by strategically placing a few plants throughout your dining room.
You also don’t need to fill the entire room with plants to the point where it ends up looking like a greenhouse. Instead, a good idea is to use small wooden trays to place subtle yet beautiful plants right on the dining table. Or, if you’re decorating a combined living and dining room, you can use tall plants and planters to define the different areas.
Accent furniture and decorations? Sure, but don’t go overboard
A dining room decorated in the Nordic style should allow for simple dining. We can’t ask for more than that, so we won’t need any furniture other than the table and chairs. That said, there’s no rule against using accent furniture, as long as it’s practical and serves a specific purpose.
This is the case, for example, with a small wooden sideboard that we can use to store dishes or silverware; or a simple piece of furniture to hold the TV or stereo system that we use to liven up our meals.
And to spruce it up, more of the same. We can use placemats or table centerpieces made of fabric or wicker, rugs made of natural fibers (but make sure they’re easy to clean), paintings featuring motifs from Nordic nature (with animals, forests, or even mythological creatures), large mirrors that enhance the light, etc.
Are you up for a Nordic-style dining room?
Here are our 7 ideas for decorating a Nordic-style dining room. Try them out and see how they turn out… you might like them so much that you won’t stop there—you’ll want to apply them to the rest of your home!
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