5 Principles of Nordic Design to Bear in Mind

5 Principles of Nordic Design to Bear in Mind

|

Taking inspiration from nature, Scandinavian design has been gaining in popularity for several years. Vintage yet minimalist, it will never go out of style. Light and airy, it resembles that silent awakening of nature in the beginning of March. To this end, if you are planning an event this month, this simple décor with an edge will be a safe bet. Everything you need is available in our online store – just stick to these five principles we’ve rounded up for you!

Simplicity & Functionality

When planning your setup, you should bear in mind that Scandinavian design focuses on quality, functionality, and reusability (probably, this is the reason why Nordic setups are minimalist oriented). For example, in terms of fabrics, preference must be given to practical materials, like polyester, cotton, denim, and wool, over more “luxurious” options, like satin, taffeta, velvet, or organza. To this end, if you are looking to bring that Scandinavian flair right from the doorstep, it’s better to opt for our white cotton tablecloth or denim table runner (a runner can be spread over a “naked” wooden table). The same rule also applies to dinnerware – simple white or neutral-toned plates and plain cutlery are what you should take into consideration in the first place.

Greenery

It’s no secret that Scandinavians strive to take the outdoors in by using greenery in their designs. Yet, it should be noted that it doesn’t mean lush, leafy arrangements – moderation is the key. This means that if you are looking to freshen up your napkins, you can style them with a single eucalyptus branch or seasonal flower. Or when it comes to centerpieces, you should avoid grandeur bouquets in massive vases – instead, consider putting single stems or sporadic branches into minimalist vases or run a single greenery chain across the table. In terms of backdrops, reserve all those cascading layers of greenery for the other occasion – a backdrop made from single stems will beautifully pair with your minimalist tabletop.

Source image

 

Simplicity & Functionality

When planning your setup, you should bear in mind that Scandinavian design focuses on quality, functionality, and reusability (probably, this is the reason why Nordic setups are minimalist oriented). For example, in terms of fabrics, preference must be given to practical materials, like polyester, cotton, denim, and wool, over more “luxurious” options, like satin, taffeta, velvet, or organza. To this end, if you are looking to bring that Scandinavian flair right from the doorstep, it’s better to opt for our white cotton tablecloth or denim table runner (a runner can be spread over a “naked” wooden table). The same rule also applies to dinnerware – simple white or neutral-toned plates and plain cutlery are what you should take into consideration in the first place.

Greenery

It’s no secret that Scandinavians strive to take the outdoors in by using greenery in their designs. Yet, it should be noted that it doesn’t mean lush, leafy arrangements – moderation is the key. This means that if you are looking to freshen up your napkins, you can style them with a single eucalyptus branch or seasonal flower. Or when it comes to centerpieces, you should avoid grandeur bouquets in massive vases – instead, consider putting single stems or sporadic branches into minimalist vases or run a single greenery chain across the table. In terms of backdrops, reserve all those cascading layers of greenery for the other occasion – a backdrop made from single stems will beautifully pair with your minimalist tabletop.

Source image

Clean Lines

Along with earthy, neutral tones, clean lines are another characteristic of Scandinavian philosophy of design. Thus, instead of complementing your tabletop with expensive-looking, ornate candle holders and nuanced flower pots, turn to clean, exact linens that will keep your tablescape neat. For example, our recently arrived gold and rose gold candle holders will perfectly blend in with this restrained style. In case you are looking for something even more lightweight or airy, you can give a try to our globe-style candle holders, which you can flip over and use as minimalist vases for your single-stem flowers. At the same time, you can also assemble plain, nature-inspired floating centerpieces, using our cylinder floating candle holders (it’s recommended to use several tubes of different sizes).

Clean Lines

Along with earthy, neutral tones, clean lines are another characteristic of Scandinavian philosophy of design. Thus, instead of complementing your tabletop with expensive-looking, ornate candle holders and nuanced flower pots, turn to clean, exact linens that will keep your tablescape neat. For example, our recently arrived gold and rose gold candle holders will perfectly blend in with this restrained style. In case you are looking for something even more lightweight or airy, you can give a try to our globe-style candle holders, which you can flip over and use as minimalist vases for your single-stem flowers. At the same time, you can also assemble plain, nature-inspired floating centerpieces, using our cylinder floating candle holders (it’s recommended to use several tubes of different sizes).

Wood

Since there are lots of forests in Scandinavia, raw, rustic wood is an extremely popular element of Nordic setups. Wood elements make space closer to nature, while still much cozier. If you do not have a wood table or chairs, you can bring that Scandinavian flair into your setup by incorporating some accessories from our online store. For example, if you are planning to display a cake, you can skip a traditional, ornate cake stand – instead, our natural wood slices will provide a perfect “throne” for the main dessert. Since our wood slices are available in a variety of sizes, you can use the smaller ones as stands for your candles. With that being said, our succulents in grained wood pots will beautifully complement the wood slices and provide a pop of green to your neutral-toned setup.

Source image

Wood

Since there are lots of forests in Scandinavia, raw, rustic wood is an extremely popular element of Nordic setups. Wood elements make space closer to nature, while still much cozier. If you do not have a wood table or chairs, you can bring that Scandinavian flair into your setup by incorporating some accessories from our online store. For example, if you are planning to display a cake, you can skip a traditional, ornate cake stand – instead, our natural wood slices will provide a perfect “throne” for the main dessert. Since our wood slices are available in a variety of sizes, you can use the smaller ones as stands for your candles. With that being said, our succulents in grained wood pots will beautifully complement the wood slices and provide a pop of green to your neutral-toned setup.

Source image

White Finishes

Nordic design aims to maximize the natural light as much as possible, and it’s the main reason why white finishes are quite common in Scandinavian home and event design. There are lots of ways to incorporate those “restrained” whites into your décor. For example, if you are planning to show off your succulents, why not display them in our whitewash planter boxes? They would nicely resonate with your neutral-toned linens and other wooden elements. Or if you are looking for something slick and polished, why not give a chance to our recently arrived marbleized flower pots, which will pair beautifully with our gold candle holders?

White Finishes

Nordic design aims to maximize the natural light as much as possible, and it’s the main reason why white finishes are quite common in Scandinavian home and event design. There are lots of ways to incorporate those “restrained” whites into your décor. For example, if you are planning to show off your succulents, why not display them in our whitewash planter boxes? They would nicely resonate with your neutral-toned linens and other wooden elements. Or if you are looking for something slick and polished, why not give a chance to our recently arrived marbleized flower pots, which will pair beautifully with our gold candle holders?

As you may have guessed, you don’t have to be an experienced designer to recreate that Scandinavian flair in your party area. Keeping things simple and uncluttered to allow the daylight to reach as many places as possible is the first thing to bear in mind. This curated approach makes Nordic-style setups so airy and lightweight that we are completely into them! But what about you? Do you favor simplicity over extravaganza? Or splashy, nuanced setups make you more inspired? Please share your point of view with us in the comments below!