Swedish Floor Treatment

Swedish Style Origins

• The Swedish Gustavian style of interior design originates with King Gustav III who ruled Sweden during the late 1700s. According to Interior-Design-Tutor.net, Gustav III combined elements of neo-classical design, including lighter-color motifs and isolated decorations popular in central Europe, and incorporated them into his royal palaces. The king's clean, monotone style spread outward across Sweden where it became a distinctive design style in its own right -- separate from central European movements and trends.

Swedish Color Choices

• Color choices are integral to designing an interior space in the Swedish style. According to Interior-Design-Tutor.net, the color white features prominently in this style's design palate, though the color can take a backseat to soft gray, blue or green. The aesthetic emphasizes an airy feeling that leaves an interior space appearing wider or more expansive than its dimensions actually allow. Dark colors do not work in the Swedish style because these choices can make a space feel too insular.

Walls and Floors

• Walls should appear in solid white or muted gray, blue or green. Alternatively, a subdued wallpaper pattern in soft colors, with a white background, can perform just as well and adheres to the Swedish design style. In contrast to these color choices, floors should be solid hardwood without any installed carpeting. Painting wood floors to match the walls isn't necessary in the Swedish style. Doing so can change the color choices for floor treatments and diminish the space's light and open appearance.

Swedish Floor Treatments

• Woven rugs and runner rugs are ideal floor treatments in the Swedish style of design. Use only naturally occurring fabrics, including cotton or linen, when choosing these floor treatments. Colors for rug selections should match the walls in each room and come from the same muted color palate. Rugs should not cover the entire floor in any space of the home. Allowing contrast between the hardwood coloring and floor treatment choices is important in the Swedish interior design style.