Did we invent the Scandinavian style ourselves?
Scandinavian style in Ukraine is like an embroidered shirt in China. Beautiful, but not at all similar to the original. Having come from afar, the style has adapted to our tastes, and it turns out that it’s not the people of the North anymore, but we ourselves who have invented our own Scandinavian style. Is this really so, and how do they differ? Let’s figure it out together.
Where are the roots of the styles?
According to designers, the original style is present in interiors only where it directly originated. It is created according to the local climate, national mentality, ancient traditions, and habits of the people. But if a style appears in another country, then it’s no longer the original—it’s a nationalization of favored ideas.
What was Scandinavian style like?
Initially, in northern countries, people preferred simple homes and only the most necessary things inside them. Over time, as these countries began to develop, interior styles changed as well. The style became more refined; more expensive materials and interior elements were introduced. And if accessibility and minimalism used to be its main features, now this has shifted towards functionality and quality.
How does the style manifest?
Northern countries’ style has five basic features:
- Open spaces
- Minimalism in design
- Natural materials
- Monochrome color palette
- Functionality
Many people like it for its simplicity and sophistication, as well as convenience of use. It’s precisely thanks to these traits that Scandinavian style has become so widely used in interiors of other countries.
What’s Ukrainian about it?
Unlike people from northern countries, we are used to the bright colors of nature. That’s why in our country, new brighter colors started to be introduced into the style, with warm floral shades added.- We also moved away from the traditional white walls typical for this style, using blue, milky, pink and even bright elements instead.
- Curtains on windows. In northern countries, light is highly valued and people are quite comfortable living with “bare” windows. But for many here that feels uncomfortable—and densely built residential areas don’t always allow you to leave windows open.
- Some materials have also changed. For example, while genuine Scandinavian interiors use wood, for many clients here that’s too expensive. So they opt for alternative and more affordable materials—laminate or panels.
More and more designers believe that Scandinavian style for us isn’t about strict rules or boundaries we must follow. Rather, it’s a set of wonderful ideas—tips on rational use of space—adapted to our own environment. By using Scandinavian style as a base, you can create functional and comfortable interiors that are cozy, convenient, and close to us.