Design Inspo: Copenhagen and 5 ways to bring Scandi Style into Your Own Home.

Hello there,

Have you ever been to Denmark? I have not (yet). Clean, crisp, and cool are words that I think of when I think of Copenhagen. I also think of sauna culture, simple furniture, and colorful textiles. Each May, Copenhagen hosts a 3-day design conference, and this year my neighbors went and brought me back all this Scandinavian swag they thought I would appreciate. And I did! I’m very excited for this trip! I wanted to share a couple of inspiring ideas that the Scandinavians have perfected to an art form.

My last travel inspiration blog was about Mexico. To me, Denmark feels like the opposite of Mexico-chilly, cool colors, straightforward, and seemingly more masculine, whereas Mexico is hot, warm colors, curves, and perhaps even feminine. So the contrast is dramatic, yet I find both very beautiful. The funny thing is that I can have both looks in my home without it feeling chaotic; it’s as if they balance each other.

One of our favorite clients, whose love of Danish design shows up in many ways and in many rooms.

A couple of Copenhagen design firms have struck me with their ingenuity and beauty. One example is NORM Architects. I highly recommend perusing their site-the atmospheric photography is so beautiful that you can feel the temperature, the moisture, and the wood that makes the furniture. Here is how they describe themselves:

“Each project-be it architecture, interiors or products-exemplifies minimalism infused with a larger aim to re-sensualize the built environment through haptic designs that embrace mind and body.” Okay-in addition to their height, they may also have large brains! Perhaps we could also stay in one of NORM Architects’ beautifully designed boutique hotels in Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter-1 Hotel Copenhagen looks like the perfect spot!

A peek into 1 Hotel Copenhagen, designed by Norm Architects.

Another Danish company that I have used in a couple of projects is Ferm Living. I love their simplicity and fresh use of colors, especially in outdoor spaces. They are also a beacon of sustainability, designing items made to last and crafted from renewable materials. ” Our ambition is to inspire a more mindful, sustainable way of living-encouraging conscious consumption, buying better, and using products for longer.”

Some useful items from Ferm Living.

I also spent hours finding intelligent, beautifully designed items on FinnishDesignShop.com. Some items are from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. I love the playful yet useful nature of these pieces, and I would love to incorporate some of them into a kids’ room, a kitchen, or really any small space.

These small space items are both brilliant and beautiful.

I find it most inspiring that each item is thoughtfully designed and often made sustainably, with care and quality. I also love the “hygge” concept and finding ways to be comfy in cold weather. Although I do not love the chill, I do love hot tea, warm blankets, and snuggling into a cozy spot.

A few items that tickled my whimsy bone from Finish Design Shop.

Here are 5 simple ways to bring the Danish lifestyle into your home:

1-Embrace Texture. The Scandinavian look prioritizes natural textile textures. So wool, linen, cotton, and hemp, often in natural, undyed colors, are prevalent. Couple it with other natural materials like leather, stone, and wood. These materials age beautifully and create a sense of calm and organic comfort.

2-Balance Minimalism with Curated Whimsy. Although Scandinavian homes are simple and uncluttered, they also have unexpected surprises. The use of a bold color to interrupt a neutral palette, like on a chair, a piece of art or a sculpture, can bring warmth and a smile to a minimalist design. Personality is often shown with restraint, but it is definitely there when you look closer.

3-Create an Indoor/Outdoor Connection. It’s cold and darker in Denmark. Bring nature indoors with plants, a water feature, or even a small rock garden to soften the transition from inside to outside.

4-Prioritize Layered Warm Lighting. Minimize overhead lighting and focus on task lighting in each space. Add sconces, uplighting behind a sofa or chair, floor lamps, and table lamps so you can see in every spot you sit in. I like using the 2700 setting on bulbs for a warm glow, rather than a bluer light.

5-Invest in High-Quality Items. I love how Ferm Living described “conscious consumption”. Buying better and using products longer is a great motto to live by.

I look forward to going to Copenhagen, the epicenter of Danish design. Their “form follows function” philosophy isn’t how I normally think, but I appreciate the minimalism and the simplicity. I look forward to the food and the environments in some of the different neighborhoods that I have read about.

Let me know your thoughts on these ideas and whether you’re as inspired by the design elements as I am. As always, I welcome your notes-stephanie@balancedesignatlanta.com. If you have been to Copenhagen, I would also love your recommendations on must-see spots and places to meet Danes.

Until next week,

Stephanie