The popularity of Scandinavian furniture has been increasing in the United States. This has led to many people seeking to decorate their homes with traditional Swedish furnishing.
Learning a bit more about what characterizes this style may make its broad appeal more understandable.
Increases Light
In general, Scandinavian furnishings are designed to make a room appear lighter. They tend to minimize the appearance of clutter and be made from lighter woods and lighter colors. The walls of a Scandinavian home might be white and the floor is more likely to be made of a light-colored or white painted solid hardwood.
Have Clean Lines
Swedish traditional furniture tends to be simple and rather minimalistic with clean lines. The furniture tends to have wooden legs and be made of natural materials rather than synthetic materials. This type of furniture tends to make a room feel a lot more open as well.
Long-Lasting
Another factor that can make Swedish furniture appealing is that because it tends to be well made and made out of solid wood, it’s actually quite sturdy even with the long, thin legs that pieces sometimes feature. This means the furniture is likely to last a long time and not have to be replaced right away. Just don’t fall for the cheap knock-offs that look like real Scandinavian furniture but are made with less high-quality materials instead of solid wood. These long-lasting pieces also tend to be environmentally-friendly, which can be a reason for some people to favor them.
Very Functional
This type of furniture is designed to be functional rather than decorative, so it is practical. It tends to fit in very well with more modern furniture, but not quite so well with anything overly ornate that has a lot of carving or other decorative features. However, just because it’s functional doesn’t mean it can’t also be beautiful. The neutral colors used in Swedish furnishings typically go well with any other furnishings. Scandinavian designers tend to favor light blue, cream, white and gray.
Can Be Affordable
While older furniture and antiques by famous Swedish furnishing designer can be very high priced when sold at auctions, newly designed furnishings tend to be surprisingly affordable. This makes a Swedish-style home possible for most people.