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Interior Design vocabulary · Interior Styles

Scandinavian style

Meaning in interior design, with examples

/ˌskændɪˈneɪviən ˈstaɪl/nounCore term

In interior design, Scandinavian style means: An interior style from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, known for light wood, white or pale walls, simple functional furniture and a cosy, natural feel.

In Turkish: İskandinav stili, İskandinav tarzı

How it is used

Very popular in apartments and often shortened to Scandi in British speech (a Scandi look). Typical features are pale oak or ash, wool and linen, plants and lots of light. It is often linked with hygge, the Danish idea of cosiness.

Example sentences

  1. They want a Scandinavian style living room: white walls, an oak floor and a grey wool sofa.

  2. Scandinavian style works well in small flats because it keeps everything light and simple.

Common collocations

  • Scandinavian style interior
  • Scandi look
  • Scandinavian design
  • Nordic style
  • minimalistDescribes a style that uses very few objects, simple forms, plain surfaces and hidden storage, so that space and light become the main features.
  • JapandiA style that blends Japanese and Scandinavian design: calm, minimal rooms with natural materials, low furniture, muted earthy colours and fine craftsmanship.
  • mid-century modernA style of furniture and interiors from roughly the 1940s to the 1960s, known for clean lines, tapered legs, warm woods like teak and walnut, and organic shapes.
  • neutralA calm, muted colour such as white, beige, grey, taupe or greige that goes well with most other colours; also used as an adjective, as in a neutral scheme.

More terms: Interior Styles

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