Why is the Scandinavian style so popular?
Having now visited many international decoration exhibitions, studied interior design books and magazines and worked in the field of interior design for many years, I had the opportunity to see many design trends coming and leaving, changing and evolving with the passage of time. The fast pace of social media and the internet has naturally contributed to the speed of these changes.
But one style that remains timeless and popular is the Scandinavian interior design. If I have to think why, then three words come to mind: functionality, practicality, adaptability.
Since the golden age of Scandinavian design, in the 1950s, functionality has always been a priority for designers. With furniture that was simple in their design, they could easily be cleaned and could fit the aesthetics of many different spaces. Also its style is timeless, with natural materials and neutral colors that will never be out of fashion.
Scandinavian design can evolve and change but never disappears. It has certainly undergone major changes from its golden age and this is another reason that it remains popular: the ability to adapt to new, global trends, but maintain his fundamental principles. It has gone from the intense color palette of the 60s, in the neutral white, gray and beige that became so recognizable in the 2010s and now in the 2020s it becomes more colorful again.
So let's look at some of the Scandinavian trends of 2024 that we must definitely know:
Curves and fluid design
The classic, now known to everyone rounded style in furniture, decor, lighting and much more, is a trend that I have to put high on this list.
After years of strict lines, the curves could somehow be considered a little revolutionary. This trend began in early 2022 and it now seems like a timeless choice. Often curved lines have the ability to create an interesting and easy flow in our home.
We see curves and fluid lines that sometimes look like beautiful clouds and others like "spilled" forms. Perhaps one of the reasons this trend is one of the most favorite of the Scandinavian design fans, is the friendly and almost cute shapes, which give a welcoming and somewhat cute style to our space. It is also a very useful choice to "break" the rigor of straight lines of other furniture in our home.
Chrome and metal
I can say that the intense and modern style of chrome is ideally combined with the softness of the above trend.
Chrome, stainless steel, metal finishes, mirror metals or matte ... The options are endless. But the main goal is reflection and shine. It is clear that metal is a powerful element this year, as the Pinterest Predicts 2024 page also includes a "hot metals" board, in which we see a surreal aesthetic, with glittering surfaces that look like liquid mercury.
For many, this trend is a natural evolution, after "overloading" from earthy shades of the past years. Of course, the goal of this trend is not to create an industrial, frozen style, but to enhance the existing atmosphere of a space.
The presence of chrome in this year's Scandinavian design has really impressed me. From small decor or lighting, to larger options like Kitchen Islands. I think this material offers a sense of intense impression, but it is not far from the simplicity of the Scandinavian style.
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Color - the red in the spotlight
Have you heard the "Unexpected Red Theory"; It is a recent theory in the world of interior design, mainly from social media. It describes the phenomenon by which the addition of an unexpected red element, improves the appearance of any space, especially in places where it would not necessarily fit or we would not expect it to fit. Why does this method works? Red is one of the most visible colors in the color spectrum. It immediately draws our attention.
So we are glad to see Red and Blue stand out in our interior spaces, in contrast to the neutral colors we have seen in recent years.
In a more general context, although neutral shades exist in the 2024 color trends, we see a much more intense variety of colors than in previous years, with red, pink, purple, Jewel Tones and Neon.
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Posters that look like works of art
We've talked a lot about posters and how it's a great choice for when we want to refresh a room and express our personal style. We said enough about this subject in the article How to decorate an empty wall at home?
But it's worth mentioning this year's trends we see in posters. Specifically, posters that mimic works of art is a trend that stands out quite a bit. While in previous years we saw line art and photos decorating our walls, this year we see much more intense colors and a more retro aesthetic that often reminds us of oil paintings.
Geometric patterns
As with the explosion of colors, we see the presence of patterns much more in recent years. This year the patterns are an integral element of Scandinavian design. We see many different patterns, but more noticeable, the geometric patterns that seem to be largely inspired by the 1960s.
From bold, complex patterns to more discreet, minimalist designs, the geometric style is much more flexible than we think. Whether you want to create a focus point with vibrant colors and complex patterns or prefer the distinctive beauty of simple lines and neutral tones, you will surely find something for you.
This trend has spread to small and large furniture, tiles, fabrics, decorations, carpets and more. And it is applied not only to the classic form of repetitive squares and circles but also with more complex geometric shapes, for a more modern and contemporary aesthetic.
Sometimes the pattern may be simpler and the color may be the one that impresses, with original combinations of orange-blue or purple-green-Turquoise.
Dark wood
We can't talk about Scandinavian design without any reference to wood. In general, the presence of the warmth and naturalness offered by wood is a trend we will see this year. But what we observe is that light wood takes a step back and in 2024 the richest, darker tones of wood stand out.
For many, the darkest wood fits better in older styles because of its relationship with antiques, but it can work ideally in more modern homes. Rich, deep, chocolate shades of wood that exude the charm and character of the old that meets the new, in woods such as walnut, cherry, oak, mahogany and teak wood are the ones that will be particularly preferred.
Future Retro
Although this sounds a little conflicting, Future Retro, where nostalgia meets the present and the future, has made its presence felt since 2023 and continues in 2024.
We see a somewhat avant garde approach to mixing style from many different eras. The stained glass, playful shapes, vibrant colors and patterns mentioned above combine elements of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s with the present to transform themselves into more modern versions of themselves.
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