Swedish Home Decorating

Color Palette

• White and blue are the most popular colors for a Swedish-style interior. Modern Swedish interiors feature pale creams and ivory, soft yellows and pinks, and foggy grays and greens. Splashes of deeper color such as gold and red combine well with the lighter hues to add a touch of warmth. Swedish Gustavian style, from the 18th century, came about when King Gustav III visited Louis XVI's court and implemented neoclassical design elements into Swedish design. This style maintains the pale color palette but with the addition of brighter hues.

Furniture

• Swedish-stye interiors feature light-colored, blond wood furniture, most commonly white pine, beech and birch. Delicate chair and table legs are usually tapered to a point at the feet, and the furniture in a Swedish-style interiors combines straight and gently curving lines. Sofas are usually wood framed with little upholstery and separate seat cushions. Long, slim benches with upholstered tops are another common feature, and look great in a hallway, kitchen, or at the foot of the bed. Beds are wood framed, often with padded and upholstered head and foot boards. Furniture can be bleached or painted in pale pastels, whites and creams, and combined with pieces with a natural finish.

Fabrics

• Plain fabrics such as linen, muslin and cotton combine with patterned fabrics featuring checks, stripes, gingham and floral prints. Use soft furnishings such as striped rag rugs, cushions and throws to add a splash of bolder accent colors such as red, gold, or deeper blue and green hues. Alternatively, keep the color palette serene and neutral and introduce light, pale-colored fabrics featuring more intricate patterns for texture and visual interest. White, shaggy-pile rugs are a perfect addition to a Swedish-style home, and beds often feature canopies of delicately draped sheer fabrics such as gossamer or tulle.

Accessories

• Keep accessories to a minimum for an authentic Swedish vibe. It's quite a sparse, minimal style, but this doesn't mean boring or unadorned. Candles are a common feature due to the cold winter climate, and also mirrors, used to reflect what little natural light is available. Wall sconces and table lamps offer cozy, warm pockets of light in the evenings, and crystal chandeliers are a popular addition in a Gustavian-style interior. Tabletop accessories are natural items such as pebbles and seashells, and fresh-cut flowers are seen in every Swedish home.