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Scandi Style for Your Singapore Home: The Ultimate Guide
Possibly the most popular interior style requested by Singapore homeowners, Scandi is still going strong
Chiquit Brammall
9 May 2018
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
Houzz features one flat that’s been designed with Scandinavian inspiration almost every week. If you browse our Houzz Tour archives, you’ll find the many iterations of Scandi style in HDB flats, maisonettes, condos and even landed houses. Singapore homeowners can’t seem to get enough of it, and it’s exciting to see how they’ve personalised and localised (the term ‘Scandi-porean’ springs to mind) this Nordic inspiration.
Houzz Tour: Urban Comfort in a Five-Room HDB Flat
Houzz Tour: Urban Comfort in a Five-Room HDB Flat
But did you know – it’s not just Singapore homeowners who are enamoured of the idea of Scandi style? So many people around the world perceive the style in different ways that Houzz Sweden and Houzz Denmark yearly write about demystifying Scandinavian design.
Some of the misconceptions that Houzz Sweden and Houzz Denmark point out are:
6 Surprising things about Scandi style you probably didn’t know
- Scandi style is all white and pale-wood
- Scandi style is strictly minimalist and mid-century modern
- Scandi style is inspired by the Danish term hygge (meaning “cosy warmth"), and the Swedish word lagom (”not too much, not too little – just enough"), which were bandied about in the past couple of years by retailers selling Scandi style. And homeowners around the world bought into it!
6 Surprising things about Scandi style you probably didn’t know
The buzzwords of Scandinavian style, however, are simply by-products of the Nordic lifestyle. Their harsh winters require cosy, warm interiors. If hygge and lagom were used to sell the Scandi style ideal, the words that really define it are hemtrevliga (homely) and ombonade (snuggly). And these are accomplished through an effortless combination of texture and organic materials.
Even the word fika, roughly translated as “more about taking time to create a little pause in your day” is reflective of the Nordic lifestyle, and inspires how Scandinavian homes are styled.
Scandi-style inspired by Finland, Iceland and Netherlands
Even the word fika, roughly translated as “more about taking time to create a little pause in your day” is reflective of the Nordic lifestyle, and inspires how Scandinavian homes are styled.
Scandi-style inspired by Finland, Iceland and Netherlands
How to make your kitchen Scandi eye-candy
Design tips from real Scandinavian kitchens
- Pick a palette that’s white, pale grey with accents of black to create a visually restful space
- Enjoy lots of sunlight by not obstructing windows with shades, curtains or complicated window dressing
- Use cool light to mimic the cool, soft Nordic daylight, and bring in warmth with wood and plants
- Soften minimalist lines with a piece of artwork or a rug
- Include the fika factor by drawing the dining space into the kitchen
Design tips from real Scandinavian kitchens
How to dress up your bedroom as a Scandi dream
Style tips from real Scandinavian bedrooms
- Create a bedroom that’s calm and restful by using a visually restful palette of cool, muted neutrals
- Soften sunlight with sheer curtains, so the room is awash in a soft white glow that’s still cosy
- Warm up the interiors with wood floors or furniture and indoor plants
- Pick soft furnishings that blend in rather than sharply contrast with the cool, muted palette
- Make it hygge with well-loved items that fill you with everyday joy when you use them. This could be a quirky piece of art, mismatched lamps, plants, and even your favourite clothes used as part of the decor.
Style tips from real Scandinavian bedrooms
…don’t forget the kids room. Check out 22 Scandi kids rooms you wish you grew up in for inspiration.
How to soak in Scandi style in your bathroom
11 things that will transform your bathroom into a Scandi-style space
- Feature timber
- Bring greenery indoors
- Keep the room light and airy
- Bring in bricks for an industrial edge
- Create interest with texture
11 things that will transform your bathroom into a Scandi-style space
Need more inspiration that shows how Scandi style translates into Singapore homes? Read Nordic heartlands: 10 HDBs that do Scandi style well.
Watch this story for updates on how to do Scandi style in other spaces within your home.
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Watch this story for updates on how to do Scandi style in other spaces within your home.
TELL US
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like, share or save this story. Join the conversation.
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