We will readily admit that we are consumed by the simplicity and the understated beauty of Scandinavian style. It is arguably one of the easiest styles to pull off if you have the discipline to do away with clutter and an eye for practicality. Quality precedes quantity here, and frugality is interlaced with sophistication and minimalism! While we already featured 50 fascinating home offices drenched in Nordic goodness, today it is the Scandinavian-style living room that takes its rightful place under the spotlight.

It’s a testament to the brilliance of the style and those who took it from its humble roots and refined it to suit the aesthetics and ergonomics of a wider audience that the style still holds sway decades after first making a mark on the international stage. The captivating collection of 50 Scandinavian living rooms on display today will ensure that you will fall in love with beautiful and efficient design – all over again!

1. Small Scandinavian Living Rooms

Born out of tough Scandinavian winters that demand efficiency and a sense of airiness to drive away any notion of gloom, this is a style that is perfect for the small living room. Color is kept to a bare minimum when it comes to crafting a lovely backdrop in the Scandinavian living room, and it is generally clad in pristine white. This reduces visual fragmentation and visually enhances the available space. The use of limited and curated decor with sleek, straight lines also aids in creating a tidy living area that seems both inviting and cheerful.

When working with the small living room, do not completely shy away from color, as it turns the interior into a generic and boring setting. Scandinavian style lets you add color in the form of simple accents, and you can even add a mirror or two to further enhance the appeal of the tiny room. A plush rug, cool side table, stylish floor lamp and a cozy couch complete this elegant look.

2. White and Gray – Nordic Style!

As alluded to earlier, white has always been a dominant color in Scandinavian living rooms. But the last few years have seen a surge in another neutral that is quickly replacing white and has even found a way to coexist with it. Gray is definitely a hip neutral hue that is simply refusing to die down as a hot trend. Now is the time to give your living room with Nordic inspiration a touch of gray by adding a cozy couch in the color or even creating an accent wall in light, smoky gray. It is generally the lighter shades of gray that work well in Scandinavian spaces, but you can pick a darker hue if you want to create a greater visual contrast.

Black and white backdrops with shades of gray work beautifully in a Scandinavian living room, and it is a look that seems to combine modern minimalism with urban classiness. But makes sure that black is used sparingly to just anchor the living area and highlight certain architectural features, as too much black can quickly alter the mood and the appeal of the interior.

3. Living Spaces with Colorful Accents

Going down the Nordic path in the living room not only helps you in cutting out the excess decor, it also opens the door to a world of exciting and exquisite accents laced with lovely hues. Geometric prints, stripes, chevron patterns and abstract designs provide a sense of playfulness, excitement and individuality to the Scandinavian living room. It is not just pattern that makes a difference, as the small colorful accents you add to the living room steal the show instantly thanks to the understated canvas that is offered by this ingenious style.

Throw pillows, rugs, vases and lighting fixtures are the usual suspects when it comes to furniture that brings color to the Scandinavian living room. For those ready to experiment with bolder trends, mesmerizing wallpaper that breathes freshness and vitality into the room is a great alternative indeed. Make sure though that your wallpaper choice fits with the stripped-down style of the room and does not seem ornate or out of place.

4. Iconic Scandinavian Decor

One of the biggest upsides of going Nordic in the living room is the array of timeless and iconic decor that you can pick from. Crafted by celebrated masters such as Charles Eames Arne Jacobsen and Isamu Noguchi, these awesome pieces are worth investing in, as they will easily serve as focal points in your living room. Sure, bringing home an Eames lounger or a Platner Coffee Table can seem like an expensive commitment, but you will realize it is well worth the tug on your purse strings. Build the rest of the living room around these “special additions” and you can even bring home an IKEA find or two to complete the look.

5. A Fusion of Styles

Finally, we have living rooms that combine the traditional Scandinavian look with other styles from across the globe to create a wonderfully unique living space. Midcentury modern and Scandinavian are two styles that seem to heavily borrow from one another and can be brought together effortlessly. Vintage, retro and rustic influences also add another layer of intrigue to the Scandinavian living area and give it a fun little twist. You can draw some inspiration from brilliant Isamu Noguchi designs and shape your own version of a ‘Far East meets Scandinavian’ look!

There is something innately peaceful and reassuring about a Scandinavian living room that makes it perfect for an urban home that is surrounded by constant noise and chaos. Give it your own creative twist and you will soon be taking the style into your kitchen, bedroom and beyond!