Scandinavian style kitchen from a to z. Scandinavian-style kitchen: laconic beauty White glossy Scandinavian-style kitchen

The rational use of space, mixed with a combination of simplicity and functionality, diluted with an abundance of light and seasoned with hospitable comfort, results in a magnificent result called "kitchen in scandinavian style».

Conceptual features of the Scandinavian style

The conceptual features of Scandinavian kitchen design are reflected in four main characteristics:

1. Practicality and functionality.
2. Simplicity and conciseness.
3. Competent organization of space.
4. Bright palette and good lighting.

One of the main advantages of Scandinavian design is that it is equally appropriate both in a spacious room and on several square meters, which allows it to be used not only in luxurious country houses, but also in modest city apartments.

The nuances of designing a Scandinavian-style kitchen

A Scandinavian-style kitchen is the choice of those who appreciate cleanliness, spaciousness and freshness in the interior.

The northerners, trying to compensate for the depressing dusk of cold winter evenings, try to fill their homes with light as much as possible. That is why the dominant color in the Scandinavian interior is reminiscent of untouched, freshly fallen snow.
Creating the effect of airy lightness in the room and reflecting the sun's rays penetrating through the large windows, it sets the Nordic character of the interior, which is loved by many Europeans.

If desired, the excessive sterility and monotony of such an environment can be diluted with light shades of gray, blue, sand and contrasting dark accents.

A Scandinavian-style kitchen is simply impossible to imagine without inclusions from natural wood. They set the atmosphere of real home comfort, at the same time delicately emphasizing the functionality of modern details of the design composition.

Ceiling

The ceiling covering of Scandinavian cuisine, regardless of the texture, is always snow-white. It can be:

• wooden lining;
• stretch ceiling;
• smooth plaster.

Flooring

The beauty and impeccability of the Nordic kitchen interior is perfectly emphasized by a wooden plank floor, parquet or laminate.

The contrasting combination of dark floors and light walls looks bright and impressive. And natural, light wood shades, on the contrary, make an invaluable contribution to creating an atmosphere of quiet and peaceful home comfort.

A worthy alternative to wooden flooring in the kitchen is traditionally ceramic tile. Imitating wood, it surpasses it in strength, while at the same time facilitating the cleaning of the room.

In a Scandinavian kitchen, tiles can be glossy, matte or brushed, giving the interior a touch of vintage.

Walls and apron

Traditionally, the walls in Scandinavian kitchens are sheathed with wood: a board or clapboard. To complete the effect, the selected material is covered with white varnish or paint.

Modern interpretations often use plastering, painting, wall cladding with panels, tiles, or even pasting them with plain, smooth, washable wallpaper.

The color of the coating is unconditionally white, which is a neutral background for tint strokes and bright individual accents.

The kitchen apron, and sometimes the entire wall related to the cooking zone, as a rule, is decorated with tiles that often imitate brickwork (boar). Less commonly used wall or glass panels.

Fans of the Scandinavian style, but opponents of monochrome in the interior, can afford to decorate kitchen apron, the space above it or the entire wall in the dining area with a low-key abstract pattern that slightly dilutes the overall white palette.

Scandinavian style kitchen furniture

Distinctive features of Scandinavian-style kitchen sets are elegant simplicity and conciseness. As a rule, they are performed in white. However, avoiding the blur effect, it is advisable to prefer halftones that are at least slightly different from the main background or use a contrasting “wooden” tabletop. Facade surfaces can be either matte or glossy, with a reflective effect. Glass inserts are not welcome.

A worthy alternative to absolute whiteness can be a delicate palette of light wood - honey, cognac, beige. Sometimes in the design there are also dark shades - graphite or rich brown.

All furniture in the Scandinavian kitchen should be of high quality, as comfortable and functional as possible. Rational use of space implies the presence of built-in household appliances and elaborate storage systems.

Most of the kitchen utensils are hidden in cabinets with blank facades. Only the most interesting and colorful items, acting as a kind of decor, are displayed on open shelves traditional for the style.

Furniture fittings are selected modest, but functional. It doesn't attract attention, but it does its job well.

In small Scandinavian-style kitchens, dinner table often replaced by a peninsula, sometimes combined with a bar counter. In addition, if there is very little free space, a folding design can be used for eating.

The main requirement for chairs is reliability and convenience. No playfulness and frilly curlicue decorations. As a rule, these are neat seats with backs. However, stools will also find their place, it is enough just to supplement them with special softening pillows.

window decoration

Large panoramic windows, with picturesque landscapes behind them, become the main decoration of the Scandinavian-style kitchen.
Traditional window openings standard sizes also successfully contribute to the process of filling the room with light. Frames for them must be exclusively white. Tulle and traditional curtains are not used.

However, when designing an urban kitchen, one cannot ignore the density of buildings, which causes an irresistible desire to hide from prying eyes. In this case, without violating the general style, light roller blinds or Roman blinds made of natural fabrics come to the rescue.

Lighting

One of the most important concepts of the Scandinavian style in the interior is the abundance of light. Both natural and artificial.
The sources of the latter are:

• Chandeliers. The most varied form. There may be several, depending on the size of the room. Traditionally located above the dining area.
• Wall and ceiling (on long cords) lamps. Differ in simplicity and conciseness of forms (balls, cones). Often used in groups.
• Built-in lighting elements (for stretch ceilings).
• Additional illumination of the working area.

In any case, in accordance with the design idea, there is not much light in the cool northern kitchen.

Design Options

Depending on the overall layout of the room, Scandinavian-style kitchens can be either independent rooms or combined with a dining and living room.
In the latter case, the need arises. For these purposes, the following design techniques are usually used:

• Contrasting wall decoration. The vertical surface of the working area or, conversely, the main wall of the living room, can be decorated with additional tint blotches or unobtrusive abstraction.
• Various floor coverings. So, the living room area can be decorated with a wooden floor or laminate, and in working area tile or porcelain stoneware would be more appropriate. As an option - use the same type of coating, but with different color shades. Stylish rugs will also contribute to the delimitation of space.
• specific furniture. If the size of the room allows, the eating area is allocated by a large, if possible, wooden dining table, at which the whole family gathers. The dining-living room is separated from the working space by a peninsula or a bar counter.
• light effects. The part of the room intended for eating is usually located closer to the window, which makes it possible to enjoy the picturesque landscapes. In addition, the main chandelier is traditionally placed above the dining area, while work surfaces are illuminated by groups of pendant and built-in lamps.

decorative design

The restraint and coolness of the Scandinavian interior encourages the use of bright, distracting accents.

Classic version - houseplants on the windowsill. Juicy greenery enlivens the atmosphere, and pots made of clay or white ceramics blend harmoniously into the overall composition.

Textile is also important element decorative design kitchens. Pillows and seat covers, potholders, napkins and towels with ornaments made of natural fabrics (cotton, linen) in pleasant discreet colors will help to make the atmosphere of the room truly homely and cozy.

Striped “rustic” rugs of soothing colors would be appropriate under your feet, but real Scandinavian rugs are better.

Dishes in the kitchen can be any. But the copies displayed on the shelves must necessarily correspond to the general style of the room. The best option there will be products made of porcelain, ceramics and clay.

Hours for Scandinavian cuisine are extremely concise. In most cases, this is a white circle, oval or square in a simple contrasting frame, with a clearly visible dial.

Traditionally, Scandinavia is considered to be three countries: Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The severity of the climate and the diversity of the natural world were reflected in the Scandinavian interior - simple geometric shapes, natural materials and light, sometimes even cold tones make this style so different from others. Recently, he managed to fall in love with many and gained momentum in popularity, and not least due to the fact that it can be used in a kitchen of any size, and it will definitely fit perfectly into it! In addition, the Scandinavian design looks great on. If you are a fan of laconic design, but high-tech minimalism is too boring for you, and if for you the kitchen is primarily a place for eating, and you prefer to relax not only with your body and soul, but also with your eyes, then kitchen design is Scandinavian style for you!

Today we'll take a look at the key features of this style, reveal the secrets and techniques of Scandinavian decorating, and find out what needs to be done to make your kitchen a real Scandinavian oasis.

Well, let's outline the main features of Scandinavian-style cuisine:

• Light colors with bright splashes;
• Many sources of natural and artificial lighting;
• natural materials;
• The severity of forms, including in furniture;
• Functionality and utility of each thing;
• Minimum decor, maximum free space.

50 shades of white

Scandinavians compensate for the short daylight hours and the frequent lack of sunlight with light finishes and furniture. Of course, the main color in the Scandinavian interior is white and all its variations. White color will expand the space in a small kitchen, refresh the room and add airiness to the interior. And to avoid the “hospital” effect, it can be diluted or replaced with light blue, gray, any shades of beige, lavender or mint, and in details and accents - bright yellow, blue or green. Read more about white kitchen design.

If your kitchen is combined with the living room, then the zones can be delimited by different colors (at the same time, it’s better to let them be different shades one color), and combine them with common motifs in the decor, which will be discussed below. It is necessary to ensure that the color of the walls contrasts with the color of the furniture. Take a look at the combination of completely white walls and black furniture - it looks very impressive and fresh.

Floor and wall finishing

Eco-friendly design is best emphasized by a plank floor or light-colored laminate, reminiscent of massive boards.

A combination of light walls and a dark, even black floor will look spectacular.

Tile - good alternative wooden floor. Choose a tile of light cold shades.

In the decoration of the walls, you can stop at light gray, white or paint the color of an eggshell or baked milk.

Wallpaper is also suitable, and in choosing it is better to focus on traditional Swedish companies that know firsthand what Scandinavian design is. For example, on such as Boråstapeter and ECO wallpaper. Wallpaper can be either plain or contain a pattern - in this case, you can beat it with other details in the interior of the kitchen.

By the way, if you decide to glue wallpaper with a pattern, it is better to do it on one wall, and make the rest plain so that the interior does not turn out to be too active. You can borrow the idea of ​​​​brickwork from the Loft style, but only partially, so as not to make the interior too “industrial”. If you have a kitchen-living room, then their design can be combined just with the help of overlapping brickwork in different areas.

What about an apron? It is usually white and imitates brickwork, although it may be colored. Other suitable options for finishing the apron are, and of course, wood panels. We have selected several options suitable for the kitchen, which you can see in the photo.

Let there be light

In a Scandinavian-style kitchen, you will always see large windows and light curtains made of light material. It would be most authentic not to hang curtains at all (as in the photo below), but if there is another house opposite with nosy neighbors or you just prefer privacy, then you can’t do without them.

Often the color of the windows echoes the color of the flooring. Even if the windows in your kitchen are small, you can curtain them with light curtains to make the room even brighter.

The Scandinavian interior is characterized by another integral part - many sources of artificial lighting. Take care not only of the chandelier, but also of spotlights and floor lamps. It is the lamps that can become that bright color accent, different from the white color of the walls and furniture. At the same time, chandeliers can be of the most futuristic forms, or, conversely, blow retro style- be inspired by the photo!

Furniture

Scandinavian cuisine is dominated by strictness and conciseness of forms. A minimum of furniture, and the one that is, is utilitarian in nature, even in large spaces. The kitchen set and the dining group here will be made of natural materials, most often made of wood, without any frills. What comes to mind first when you think of Scandinavian design? Of course, this is the Swedish company IKEA and their form style, thanks to which the concept of Swedish-style cuisine has spread. It is worth relying on their catalogs when arranging such a kitchen. The facades of the kitchen set can be completely white, and they can be decorated with a countertop in a contrasting color, for example, black.

This is also necessary in order to avoid "merging" into one white spot. simple, metallic or absent altogether. It is noteworthy that the surface of furniture and appliances is often glossy and thus reflects light - you can try this technique in a small kitchen: glossy cabinets, chrome appliances and an abundance metal surfaces visually expand the space and look modern.

In the Scandinavian interior, tables and chairs are made of light wood, which has received minimal processing or vice versa, bright colors.

If simplicity is valued in the decoration and arrangement of the kitchen, then in decorating there is where to roam! It is the decor that breathes life into this Nordic design and gives it a mischievous look. For example, you can decorate the walls with colored posters, the floors with a bright carpet, and do not forget about eye-catching textiles: unusual towels, pillows and a window sill. In the kitchen-living room, textiles can overlap in different areas: the same pillows, rugs in a similar style, and much more. And don't forget about! Arrange pots with plants, even if you do not like to care for them, because you can choose something unpretentious.

Even if you are not fond of hunting, imitations of horns or animal heads, for example, made of cardboard, will look great.

Another cute piece of decor, due to the climate of the Scandinavian countries, is natural or artificial fur and skins.

A chalk board will also look great, on which you can write a menu for the week or reminders and notes to loved ones.

So why do we love Scandinavian design? For the fact that he manages to successfully balance between coldness, simplicity of style and at the same time remain modern classics. We love it because it fits perfectly into small and open-plan kitchens thanks to its light colors and space ergonomics. It turns out that Scandinavian-style cuisine is a choice modern man who loves space and seeks tranquility with hints of mischief in the interior.

The Scandinavian-style kitchen is simple enough that you can decorate its premises yourself without the involvement of specialist designers. First of all, it is necessary to understand the features of the style and its origin.

The Scandinavian style came to our homes from the northern latitudes of Europe - Norway, Switzerland, Finland, which are characterized by harsh, cold winters and cloudy weather.

How to decorate a Scandinavian style kitchen

For the inhabitants of the harsh climate of the northern regions of Europe, it is important to feel warm and comfortable at any time of the year, so the Scandinavian interior is adapted to such needs.

When designing a Scandinavian-style kitchen, you need to follow certain rules:

• The design should be dominated White color;
• Walls should be light pastel colors. Since the sun very rarely shines through windows in northern latitudes, the room should be decorated in light colors. The favorite is white, but it can be quite successfully replaced with light beige, ivory, baked milk, light gray or pale blue. Such tones will reflect light and visually enlarge the space. Even if the kitchen has a non-standard layout, a large number of corners, white can hide these imperfections. The walls can be covered with wallpaper, but it would be more correct to simply plaster and paint them in suitable color. These walls are easy to maintain good condition, you can only slightly update the color. Plaster can be textured, and some part of the wall can be made in the form of rough brick or stonework, which will make the interior not so strict. On the walls of the kitchen, you can place all kinds of paintings of a suitable theme, which will look very original and unusual. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the kitchen does not turn into art gallery. How to decorate the kitchen with paintings can be found in a special article on this topic.

Wooden panels look good in a Scandinavian interior, but they are more suitable for a bedroom or living room.

Scandinavian style kitchen floor

For a Scandinavian-style kitchen, a wooden floor is best. warm colors. This style is characterized by the use of wood of all kinds - oak, ash, birch, beech or pine - any option will do. The best choice is parquet or laminate, but if material resources are limited, you can use wood-like lenolium. Modern manufacturers of lenolium produce coatings that repeat the color and structure of wood, visually indistinguishable from the real material.

Related article: Home interiors

A small rug near the table will highlight the dining area in the kitchen, adding coziness to the overall interior.

Scandinavian kitchen ceiling

The ceiling must be light or white. This contributes to the reflection of light in the room. The edging at the junction of walls and ceiling should be invisible, without special patterns. Restraint and conciseness, inherent in minimalism, is the basis of the Scandinavian style.

Accessories

It is the accessories that create the face of the Scandinavian style, which prevents it from being confused with minimalism. Accessory should not be too much, they should be simple and functional.

Here are some key features to consider when choosing accessories:

• Bright colors. In all the small details in the interior, you can add any bright color, a maximum of two. Color accents should not be too much, otherwise it will look extremely tasteless. Bright accents can be towels, curtains, cushions for chairs, vases, coasters for dishes, flowerpots, etc. The color of accessories should be in harmony with the color of the walls and floor. Classic options most successful combinations can be picked up from photo illustrations of kitchens in the Scandinavian style. For example: yellow-ocher-white, bright turquoise-gray-white, lime-ocher-white.
• natural materials. Curtains on the windows and a tablecloth on the table are preferable to choose from natural materials. It can be coarse undyed linen or colored cotton. Pieces of fur can be thrown on the seats of chairs for softness.

Glass, ceramics, wood, metal, as well as natural stones and leather, which form the basis of the style, are appropriate in the Scandinavian-style kitchen. A wicker basket, ceramic jars for spices and cereals will fit well into the interior.

Scandinavian style kitchen decor

Bright and juicy greens in pots are very appropriate in the interior of the kitchen. It creates a feeling of living and cozy space. Pots can be monochrome or in several basic colors.

Dishes can be either homogeneous or assembled from several sets. The main condition is simplicity and naturalness.

Curtains on the windows should be made of thin transparent material, such as fine linen, muslin or muslin. Their main task is to let as much light into the room as possible, so the curtains should always be open, or not at all. Fabric horizontal blinds look good on the windows.

Related article: Priming the walls before wallpapering: is it necessary, how much it dries, with what and how drywall should be primed, why, necessarily, photo, video

Scandinavian style kitchen colors

When choosing colors for a Scandinavian-style kitchen interior, it is important to adhere to the following rules:

• primary colors should be no more than three. They can be complemented by similar shades, but without going beyond the three primary colors.
• depending on the location of the windows (north or south), a palette of colors is selected. For example, a warm pastel range of shades with juicy orange or green accents is suitable for a northern kitchen. For a south-facing kitchen, white is suitable in combination with blue, blue, purple and other cold shades.

It is important to know that some colors look different day and night, in the shade and in the sun. Therefore, you need to see how the same option looks at different times of the day.

If the walls and ceiling are painted white, the room will visually look more spacious. If the area allows, one of the walls can be pasted over with photo wallpapers of a suitable theme, or painted in a different color - it will be very beautiful and original. On other walls, you can hang some decor of the same color as a single wall. This technique is used by many designers. If you have a favorite color, this does not mean that it will be appropriate in the interior of the kitchen. For example, red is very aggressive, while green can be too boring.

The color of the kitchen should be adapted to the time of day when you spend a significant amount of time there. If it's morning, orange, yellow and crimson are the best for the interior, which will give you a boost of energy for the whole day. If you most spend time in the kitchen in the evening, the blue color will help create a warm, cozy atmosphere.

It is important not to overdo it with the amount of detail in the interior. Nothing should unnecessarily clutter up the space.

Creating a Scandinavian-style kitchen-living room interior

A kitchen combined with a living room has many advantages. For example, in typical apartments where the kitchens are very small, such an association will create space and a sense of freedom. You do not have to rack your brains over the question of where to put all the necessary household appliances.

The kitchen-living room is a great option for young mothers who can combine work in the kitchen and looking after a small child. It is also a convenient option for receiving guests - the hostess will not feel cut off from the company, working in the kitchen. Due to the second window, more light enters the room. Odors from cooking do not spread throughout the apartment, thanks to a strong air-purifying hood located above the stove. Thanks to the design in the Scandinavian style, the kitchen will become both cozy and spacious.

The Scandinavian style in the interior is bright, spacious and cozy rooms filled with functionality and convenience. The Scandinavian-style room looks modern, while reflecting the main character traits of the inhabitants of Northern Europe - restraint, love of nature and attachment to their home.

To decorate the kitchen according to all the rules of the Scandinavian style, you need to think not only about the decoration of the walls and ceiling, but also take into account the characteristics of the furniture, lighting features, install the appropriate equipment and choose the decor elements with taste.

The main features of the Scandinavian style

Finns, Swedes, Norwegians have always been kind to the design of the hearth, trying to make their home beautiful and as comfortable as possible.

The main features of the Scandinavian style, thanks to which it is recognized and revered, are:

• light colors, in particular shades of white;
• natural materials - wood, stone, wool, cotton, ceramics, glass, metal;
• a large amount of light, mainly daylight;
• conciseness, lack of pretentious details;
• order, space, comfort - all elements of the interior are simple and functional.

Why is Scandinavian style perfect for the kitchen? light shades help to visually expand the space, because in modern apartments kitchens are often more than compact.

Often, the owners combine the kitchen with the living room, which absolutely does not contradict the Scandinavian style - the inhabitants of Northern Europe believe that this technique makes the room even more homely. A cozy dining area brings notes of warmth to modern kitchen furnished with appliances.

A well-lit kitchen is another plus in favor of the Scandinavians, and a minimum of decor will avoid the feeling of clutter in the room and facilitate regular cleaning.

Choosing colors for the kitchen

The main color in the Scandinavian kitchen, and indeed in any room, is white, despite this, the interiors are absolutely different from each other and look quite interesting. This effect is achieved through the use of a wide variety of shades of white - eggshell, marshmallow, milk, ivory, white sand, snow and many others.

In the photo: Pure white kitchens in the Scandinavian style can be found quite rarely, usually more are added to white. warm colors or bright accents in the form of greenery or interior items.

To dilute a monochromatic interior, use the most natural, bleached, close-to-natural shades of green, brown, and gray. Pale pink, blue, lilac, cream colors are allowed. As small bright accents black, graphite, yellow, green, turquoise can be used.

Often in Scandinavian kitchens you can find natural wood-colored sets, they are not necessarily made of solid wood, it can be chipboard with the appropriate pattern and color.

White color is great for small kitchens, it visually expands the space, makes the room spacious and bright. In a large kitchen, using exclusively white can lead to a feeling of non-residential premises, a certain laboratory or operating room, especially if, according to the style, the room is not oversaturated with furniture, and all appliances are in cold metallic shades.

On the picture: Grey colour rarely used in the design of Scandinavian cuisine, but with right choice The shade blends in perfectly with the interior.

Black color will make the interior of the kitchen more rigorous and modern. Moreover, black and white kitchens do not lose their relevance.

Repair and decoration of the premises

Choosing a floor covering

The classic of Scandinavian floors is natural wood, mostly in light shades. Bleached wood looks spectacular; such a floor will bring a touch of vintage to the interior. In the Nordic countries, the so-called underfloor heating is popular - with heating, in which case parquet or parquet board ideal as finish coat. The wood heats up evenly and is always pleasant to the touch.

If parquet is too expensive for you, you can use a moisture-resistant wood-like laminate. Pay attention to the colors of white ash, bleached oak, nordic oak.

On the picture: In the case of combining the kitchen with the living room or dining room, the floors in the entire room are often made the same.

In the kitchen, combined with the living room, it is desirable to make a solid flooring, Scandinavians often make the floors the same throughout the house. But for the sake of practicality, it is allowed to use floor tiles under natural stone in the working area and parquet in the dining area. You can choose tiles slightly darker than parquet, such a floor will be less easily soiled and more original.

What should be the ceiling

Definitely white. This will help to visually raise the ceilings, and with white walls, the whole room will seem more spacious. The easiest way is to paint the ceiling or use decorative plaster. Stretch ceilings are popular today, they are practical, great for the kitchen and even prevent neighbors from flooding from above. order white stretch ceiling with a matte texture - it will perfectly fit into the general mood of the kitchen.

Often in the Scandinavian kitchen they mount dropped ceilings from drywall - they allow you to organize spot lighting. Drywall can also be painted or plastered. Kitchen interior with country touches, for example, in country house can be decorated with a ceiling released outside ceiling beams or ceiling decoration with painted clapboard.

Choosing wall decoration for Scandinavian cuisine

Traditionally, the walls in the northern European interior are lined with wood. The bleached shades of wood, covered with a colorless varnish, emphasize the closeness to nature in the best possible way. The lining on the walls can be safely painted in white or another light shade, the texture of the wood will still be visible.

In order not to reduce the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room, you can paste over the walls with wallpaper for painting, thereby leveling them, and pick up a light shade of paint. You can use the same paint that was chosen for the ceiling. One of the walls or even all the walls can imitate brickwork, it can be gypsum wall panels, tiles or brickwork wallpaper.

A peculiar "feature" of the Scandinavians is to paint one of the walls in the room. It can be a wall in the work area or a wall that has a dining table. It is not necessary to have artistic talent, it is enough to choose wallpaper with a print. Many Scandinavian wallpaper manufacturers offer designs with characteristic patterns in traditional Nordic colors.

Scandinavian style kitchen apron

An apron is a part of the wall between the hanging cabinets and the worktop. If only part of the wall is occupied by furniture, the apron is a continuation of the wall covering - paint, wallpaper, lining. To protect the apron from splashes and stains that are inevitable during cooking, the working fragment of the wall can be covered with transparent glass.

On the picture: The apron tile does not have to be a classic square one, you can stop at a brick-like tile, a boar tile or a small mosaic.

If the apron is made separately, it is often made white, laid out with tiles or mosaics in natural shades. Skinali are popular today - glass aprons that can be decorated with any image. A glass apron imitating brick or masonry, bleached wood will look very impressive.

Sometimes the apron is decorated in contrasting shades, creating a color accent in the interior. Choose tiles or skins, the most appropriate colors are shades of blue - turquoise, ultramarine, as well as shades of gray - wet asphalt, graphite.

We equip the working area: furniture, plumbing, household appliances

Scandinavian-style furniture is characterized by simple rectangular outlines, concise design, lack of intricate details. The facades of the kitchen are usually wooden or wood-like, can be painted in white and its shades. If you want to make the interior warmer, use light beige natural wood shades. Choose the simplest fittings, easy to use, which will not be evident.

On the picture: In Scandinavian-style kitchens, there are often no wall cabinets, instead I use open shelves.

Pay attention to the drawers and cabinets, the doors of which open by pressing. Such furniture does not provide for the presence of handles or other protruding parts at all and corresponds to the desire of the Scandinavians for maximum functionality.

To make the kitchen more spacious and lighter, the Scandinavians refuse bulky wall cabinets, replacing them with open shelves. Compensate for the lack of storage space is obtained through the use of ceiling-height corner cabinets. They are compact yet fit everything you need.

Worktops in the work area can be made of wood, natural marble or granite, or artificial stone- modern artificial materials perfectly imitate natural surfaces. Often the countertop is made darker than the facades. This is beneficial from a practical point of view, the dark table will be less easily soiled, besides, the contrast of the countertop and the facade looks very harmonious.

In pursuit of practicality and space saving, the Scandinavians use the latest advances in technology - multifunctional food processors and microwaves, embedded ovens and refrigerators, hoods. Appliances are usually in metallic silver shades - reflective surfaces expand the room no worse than mirrors.

On the picture: Sink options that fit perfectly into the interior of a Scandinavian kitchen

The sink and faucet should also be chosen in a steel shade. If the countertops are marble or granite, the sink can be made of the same material, being a continuation of the table surface, literally merging with it, which again contributes to the visual expansion of the space.

Choosing furniture for the dining area

The best option for the eating area will be wooden furniture, a countertop made of chipboard or MDF, veneered with natural ash, beech, oak is suitable. For solid wood furniture, such types of wood as beech, pine, oak are suitable. A table with a clear glass top will fit well in a Scandinavian kitchen or dining room, it looks weightless and makes the room more spacious.

Chairs should be simple, small and light, with a low back; for a bar counter, choose stools without a back. The bar counter is usually used in a small kitchen for a quick breakfast or a snack alone, while in the dining room or living room there must be big table accommodating the whole family.

Folding, sliding and other designs of transforming tables are popular among owners of small kitchens, such furniture meets all the requirements of the Scandinavian style - functionality, lack of unnecessary details.

Attention to the light

A Scandinavian-style kitchen is a lot of light, primarily daylight. Often in Scandinavian interiors there are panoramic windows, in any case, the window in the kitchen should be large. window frames always wooden and always white - painted or bleached wood. To save money, you can install plastic double-glazed windows with imitation of wood in light shades.

It is very rare to find curtains in Scandinavian kitchens - they steal the sunlight, which should be in abundance. So that the window composition does not seem empty and underformed, fresh flowers in pots or other decorative elements are placed on the windowsill. It is allowed to use concise roller blinds, which are attached inside the window opening and rolled into a tiny roll. The window in the dining area can be decorated with light curtains in light pastel shades - beige, cream, olive.

Artificial lighting should also be sufficient, often several light sources are used at once - ceiling chandelier above the dining table, built-in ceiling lights, sconces in the work area, there are even floor lamps.

Fabric lampshades in the Scandinavian style are not used, such lamps give too little light.

Luminaires with wooden elements, copper wire elements or chrome parts are popular. The lamp looks colorful in the form of a light bulb hanging from the ceiling in a laconic cartridge on a black or silver wire or a simple metal lampshade in retro style.

Finishing touches: the choice of dishes and decorative elements

The Scandinavian style is all about natural materials, so you should choose ceramic, glass or metal dishes. Relatively color solutions you can choose from two options - dishes in light shades to match the decoration and furniture, or dishes in bright colors - as a color accent, which is sometimes lacking in a snow-white kitchen. Choose beautiful dishes - they will play a decorative role, being on the open shelves of your Scandinavian kitchen.

All the secrets of Scandinavian style kitchen design - choose furniture, finishes, lamps, decor and get inspired by photos of real Scandinavian kitchens.

Scandinavian style is ideal for a small kitchen and kitchen-living room in small-sized Khrushchev or a small studio apartment. You can transform such an interior at any time - only with the help of textiles and decor.

Scandinavian style in the interior of the kitchen - 6 main features:

• functionality and practicality are the main thing, design is secondary
• white background and bright/contrasting details
• simple strict forms
• natural materials
• a lot of wood with a beautiful texture
• a lot of light and free space, a little decor

What styles are friends with

If a clean Scandinavian interior seems sterile to you, add bright accents and interesting details from other styles: northern country, eco-style, light classics, contemporary and modern.

Color palette

The main Scandinavian color is white and its many shades: snowy, creamy, milky, vanilla-cream, baked milk, ivory, eggshell or white sand.

Sophisticated whitewashed cold shades of gray, beige, blue and green will perfectly fit into the design of a Scandinavian-style kitchen.

Leave dark (black, graphite, asphalt) and bright colors (yellow, green, blue, turquoise) for accents.

Light shades from the Tikkurila color palette

Layout of the kitchen-living room

In Scandinavian studio apartments. A peninsula or a large dining table will help you delimit the zones.

Accent the table and chairs with a carpet: natural jute and sisal or woven lint-free - plain or with a geometric print.

Scandinavian style kitchen furniture

Kitchen set

• In the Scandinavian style, the kitchen set is simple and concise. The color is almost always white. Sometimes there are kitchens with facades made of wood of light, honey-golden or cognac shades. The combination of light wood and white will make the Scandinavian interior warmer and more interesting.
• Finish - matte or semi-gloss. White high gloss is also good, especially if the kitchen is very small: the doors reflect light and give the space depth.
• Scandinavians love open upper shelves (the kitchen looks cozier with dishes in plain sight), and upper cabinets are made high, often up to the ceiling.

The photo below shows Scandinavian kitchens with smooth and frame facades:

The most popular Scandinavian-style furniture option is IKEA kitchens:

• A modern classic in Scandinavian style - a set with frame facades without embellishments with modest milling (like the Budbin kitchens from the Method series) or similar custom-made kitchens.
• The IKEA kitchen set with Hitarp facades, which replaced the popular Stot facades, will perfectly fit into the Scandinavian interior with hints of country or Provence.

Choose simple handles for kitchen furniture - roof rails or brackets (if you have a kitchen in modern style), buttons or "shells" (for Scandinavian cuisine in the style of a classic or country). Facades that open by pressing or have hidden milled handles are good.

Household appliances pick up built-in metallic color.

tabletop

Often wooden - it makes the Scandinavian interior warm and cozy. The best choice is a solid wood countertop. If the set is inexpensive, a chipboard countertop with wood veneer or plastic wood or stone finish is suitable. Choose a stone countertop in black or gray: plain or with small specks of salt and pepper.

Table and chairs in Scandinavian style kitchen

The dining table is usually made of natural wood, varnished or painted with white, less often black paint. An excellent option is a wooden table made of solid pine, oak, beech. In inexpensive models, instead of an array, chipboard with wood veneer (ash, oak, beech) is used.

For a small Scandinavian kitchen style fit small table for breakfast and a couple of chairs. Often this is a book table with a folding top or a compact bar table. If the kitchen is very small, the role of the table is played by a narrow bar counter along the wall or a folding table-shelf (you can buy it at IKEA or make it to order).

A large dining table for 4-6 people usually stands in the living room. Be sure to hang a beautiful chandelier or several hanging lamps above the dining group.

If you have Scandinavian style, the best choice- a transforming table with a rectangular or round top, folding, sliding or pull-out.

Chairs in the Scandinavian style - wooden (with a retro design, curved back and colored cushions) or emphatically modern (made of white, transparent, colored plastic or leather with metal chrome legs). In Scandinavian interiors, you can often find chairs by legendary designers - the Ant model by Arne Jacobsen or Eames by the Eames spouses.

Finishing

Ceiling

Always white. Usually painted white, but you can order a matte stretch ceiling for the kitchen or make it suspended from drywall.

For Scandinavian cuisine with country touches fit finish white painted lining.

Walls

The most popular wall covering in Scandinavian cuisine is paint. If you have an apartment in a new building, use non-woven wallpaper for painting (hide cracks from shrinkage of the house) or glass wallpaper (additionally strengthen the walls).

A popular design technique in Scandinavian interiors - one accent wall is covered with wallpaper with a beautiful print. Scandinavian wallpaper manufacturers (eg Borastapeter and ECO wallpaper) have colors and patterns characteristic of Nordic design, Mr.Perswall offers custom-made photomurals with typical Swedish design.

Smooth white walls will perfectly dilute brickwork or brick tiles. If you have a kitchen combined with a living room, lay brick tiles in both areas - this will unite the space.

Apron

There are two types of apron in the Scandinavian-style kitchen:

1. White apron or very light. Usually it is a white mosaic, white brick or Wall panel tempered white glass.
2. Bright, contrasting, accent apron. For this option, choose a bright tile with a pattern (cement tile is especially good self made, but many manufacturers offer more affordable options), bright mosaic or 10x10 tiles,. Favorite colors for a contrasting apron are gray, wet asphalt, red and different shades of blue (ultramarine, turquoise, blue).

Floor

Most of all, Scandinavians love wood and often make the same floor throughout the apartment. Wood tones are almost always light. Cold ones (bleached oak, nordic oak, white ash) make the room brighter. Warm ones visually warm the space, but they look simpler and bring notes of Scandinavian country to the interior of the kitchen.

The most popular option is engineered wood flooring, parquet or parquet board. A more budgetary choice is a good moisture-resistant laminate for a massive board: with a chamfer on all sides and a single-strip pattern.

In the kitchen-studio, the same floor is often made in all areas: in a small apartment, this helps to visually expand and unify the space.

A more practical option is ceramic tile or stone-look porcelain stoneware next to kitchen set, in the rest of the kitchen-living room - parquet, board or laminate. The color is usually dark or light gray or beige-brown with veins - the most practical and non-staining:

The plinth is usually white, in the color of the wall, and always high. Look for a model made of MDF or polyurethane foam with a height of 12-15 cm. There are, for example, Tarkett, Ultrawood, Europlast in the assortment.