Scandinavian Decor for the Cottage & Farmhouse Look
Growing up in North Germany, I was close to Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland.
I actually never visited any of those countries — my parents instead took my brother and me to Tunesia (beach vacation) and Italy (ski vacation) every year when we were growing up.
But I was surrounded by Scandinavian decor because IKEA is so popular in Germany.
This Swedish company is obviously known all over the world.
We’d go there to enjoy their affordable lunch and buy a few things, and when I moved to Los Angeles, I thankfully had an IKEA store just 15 minutes up the street from me.
I spent A LOT of time there strolling through the rooms and marketplace, and bought a lot of their small furniture and storage items over the years, plus plants and home decor.
Infusing Scandinavian decor combines perfectly with a farmhouse or cottage look, which is how I like to decorate.
What do you think of first when you think of IKEA furniture, or Scandinavian decor?
I think of the light brown color of pine furniture. I had several of them in my room growing up.
You might think of white walls and floors, neutral color accents, and overall calming interiors.
For this post, I compiled the most beautiful examples of Scandinavian decor I could find on Pinterest.
Scandinavian Decor For a Cottage or Farmhouse Look
Oh, isn’t this room just dreamy?
The Scandinavian decor style is simple, calming, and comfortable, with accents of wood.
The main colors are neutrals: mostly white, beige, gray, and light brown.
Since the main color is white, Scandinavian decor easy integrates with a farmhouse and cottage look.
It’s very much a style that invites the outdoors.
Scandinavians live in darkness for many months of the year, so sunlight is invited in with big windows that usually don’t have curtains.
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We actually don’t have curtains in our home, the Blue Cottage, either.
I only added tension rods to the lower half of our windows in our living room and these $1 tea towels with a grainsack stripe to them. That gives us privacy but leaves in a lot of light.
Scandinavian cottage decor is simple elegance. Don’t you just want to live here? I do.
You can see wooden cutting boards with handles everywhere right now in kitchens — in magazines and on blogs.
They are the hot item right now to add a pretty wooden and rustic accent to your home.
In Europe, they are used a lot to eat from or to serve food on, like cheese and crackers when you are entertaining.
Decorating with mostly neutral colors is so pretty!
A bathroom with French doors, nice! And I love that mirror.
That little tree looks so much like the pretty trees from Nearly Natural I wrote about recently.
Another thing I noticed: there are plants in every room.
If you want to achieve the authentic Scandinavian cottage decor style, go for light-colored hardwood floors.
This is a picture of Vibeke’s house in Norway. I always notice her pictures on Pinterest and pin them a lot to my cottage decor board and shabby chic board— they are always impeccably styled and absolutely stunning.
Do yourself a favor and get lost in her blog for an hour. Or two.
The art in Scandinavian homes is often minimal or clustered, and here you can see the familiar colors again: white, beige, brown, and gray.
It’s kind of a interesting mix of minimalism and cluttered, isn’t it?
Want to create that kind of look? Check out this link to pretty wall art!
Here is a beautiful nursery decorated in the Scandinavian decor style:
It’s a calming room for a little one, with neutral colors and a bit of rustic.
The knitted pouf is so cute — here is a similar one you can order in all kinds of colors.
Do you have touches of Scandinavia decor in your home?
We definitely do in our Blue Cottage.
Pin this for later!
Rita C at Panoply says
Love this style. Perhaps when we downsize it will give us the chance to purge and refresh. I’m ready!
Sherry says
What a beautiful style! I don’t have anything like it in my home, but I wish I did. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Merry Monday.
Mary-the boondocks blog says
What a great post Dagmar. I love this style although I don’t have it in my home. Actually, right now I am in the middle of a redo. These are all excellent examples of the style. I would love to have you join us at a new link party we are hosting called Sweet Inspiration which runs Friday thru Tuesday.
Milica says
I made this last night and the flavor was fantistac, but I am wondering what the final texture of the dessert is supposed to be. My grandmother’s baked rice pudding was solid, almost like a dense cake or pie and tasted amazing. I was aiming for that, but despite 2.5+ hours of baking, it never really gelled together at the bottom. Could this have been due to the baking dish I used? Should I add another ingredient to help it set? Any help appreciated.
Suzan says
Just gorgeous Dagmar – all of them – the white and wood is just sheer perfection !
Pinning some of these – thanks so much for sharing !
xxx
Karen says
I love this style. Simply beautiful.
I would love for you to stop by my blog on Mondays and share at our Something to Talk About link party!
Have a great day!
Karen
Michelle James says
I really like this style even with all of the white. It is so light and airy. I think that is what I like the most about it. The fabulous windows and plants just enhance it even more. Beautiful! I wish I could incorporate a little of this in my home. I feel like I live in a dark cave. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Thanks for coming by, Michelle!
Nellie says
Hi Dagmar,
Lots of fun photos, love all the white neutrals, they jsut seem so soothing. I tend to like the modern looks of Ikea too, they have some
really neat items and they have very reasonable prices, only wish we had one
closer to us. Ours is about an hour away.
Have a great day hon,
Blessings, Nellie
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Hi Nellie,
our IKEA is also an hour away. I used to live 15 minutes away from one in L. A., and that was dangerous :)
Bridget - The Recipe Wench says
I love Ikea too. We’re near Naples, Italy. It’s unbelievable how many people flock to the Ikea here on the weekends. The. Place. To. Be. Thank you so much for sharing this at the Inspire Me Mondays Link-Up. The photos are so pretty!
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Thanks for coming by, Bridget!
Tone says
Hi Dagmar! What a lovely post! As a scandinavien (from Norway actually) I must say alot of this looks familiar. I love the cottage style, and I try to achieve it my self. I get a lot of inspiration from the “American cottage” style.
I love using old furniture and things I find, and give them a makeover with milkpaint.
I would love for you to stop by my blog, then you can see if it is more Scandinavian or American imspired. Thanks :)
Dagmar Bleasdale says
I can’t wait to head over to your blog, Tone!
Pam @ The Birch Cottage says
Love it! I especially like the kitchen with the cutting boards. Such simple, elegant pleasures! Thanks for sharing on The Living with Style Linky Party!
Ashley Tukiainen says
As someone who lives in Scandinavia, this is much more beautiful and inviting that what I see here in Finland. You nailed the neutrals though! Everything here is neutral
Dagmar Bleasdale says
Thanks so much for coming by and commenting, Ashley!
Cathy says
I have always loved this style and am always drawn to it when perusing Pinterest. Your pictures are gorgeous – thank you for sharing them with Share It One More Time. Cathy
Gina says
Popped over from Motivation Monday, and glad I did! Your post is inspiring with great pictures. Gotta love Ikea
michelle says
luv it all! i have a few touches – hoping to had more as time goes on. my tastes have changed the older I’ve gotten. now just slowly redoing our home.
Lauren English says
Wow these are beautiful. I love that combination of crisp white and wood too. It’s so clean and cozy at the same time!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces says
Beautiful inspiration photos…I often get lost in Vibeke’s blog…