The Scandinavian interior style originates from Nordic roots, expressing a soft and muted interior palate. The style is characterised by an elegant, sophisticated look with a modern yet minimal overall impression. It’s the polar opposite of the richness and intricacies of traditional style, with much more focus on the contemporary elements and minimalism. The ideal Scandinavian interior stems from functionality, pragmatism, and clean lines with a straightforward, clutter-free aesthetic. The simplicity of the design makes it a firm favourite in the contemporary world, particularly in the office. Here are some of the main ways the Scandi style has influenced modern office spaces.
Wooden Floors:
Light, breezy spaces certainly make the office less stuffy and a much nicer place to be, and thankfully, this is what the Scandinavian style of interior design is all about. In order to incorporate that aesthetic into the floor design, light coloured wood is often used. Most Scandinavian style offices are lined with ash wood or oak wood floors, which provide a visual dynamic against the otherwise minimal style of the remaining interior.
Simple Yet Functional Furniture:
Furniture is a huge part of any interior design, particularly in an office space, where furniture needs to be practical yet fit in with and reflect the theme and style of the overall space. The Scandinavian style uses a modern, sleek style of furniture with a very simple aesthetic; think simple chairs with wooden legs similar to these no wheel office chairs, or hairpin trestle desks similar to those you might find in IKEA. The practicality of furniture is also a huge feature of Scandinavian office design. Height adjustable standing desks are becoming more popular in workplaces all around the world due to their health benefits. Being able to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day easily can have massive benefits for employee physical and mental health. Check out these gorgeous Scandinavian style standing desks at https://friskadesk.com/. FRISKA is a UK-based company offering a range of simple, Scandi-themed desks that put your health and wellbeing first.
Strategic Accessorising:
When it comes to decor, the decorations and ornaments in the Scandi-style interior tend to be minimal and sporadic, while placed strategically around the space. A range of contemporary accessories both look great and have a range of practical features that are perfect for offices; simple photo frames on the wall are great for displaying employee of the month, company logos, or memories of big company events and large, contemporary copper hanging lamp shades or light bulbs can brighten up an otherwise drab and boring office.
Smooth Surfaces and Clean Lines:
Extremely minimal is the goal in Scandinavian design, and this works really well in offices where clutter can have a detrimental effect on the health, wellbeing and productivity levels of employees. The design should be carried out in simple, understated materials and colours and smooth surfaces are favoured. Smooth laminates of various muted hues are often used on large, vertical surfaces throughout the interior, such as wooden bookcases or minimal yet interesting wall art displays.
Lots of Light:
Letting the natural light shine through into the office isn’t just good for employee health and wellbeing; it can also help a business save a huge deal of money on electricity bills. And, natural light itself is a hugely important feature of Scandi design. Many designers do away with window dressings altogether and opt for large, open windows that let in an ample amount of sunlight, which reflects on the interior and creates an illusion of more space. However, natural light alone is not sufficient. Apart from that, artificial lighting with the help of motion-sensor lighting or efficient electrical systems (which can be installed with the help of 24-Hour Emergency Electricians in London or where you are based) can help to ensure a workspace that’s both aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective.
Functional Layout:
Another aspect of Scandi design that is very important when it comes to the office is a focus on the workability of the layout or plan. This is one of the main reasons why Scandinavian design concepts are often incorporated into large, open-plan office spaces where coordinating teams and individuals in a way that makes it easier for them to collaborate and work together is a must.
Muted Colours and Accents:
The muted and understated colour palette is a key feature of the Scandinavian interior design; however, this doesn’t mean that it’s boring. In fact, there is a lot of room for creativity and many ways in which you can tweak the style to suit your brand or the preferences of employees. Pops of bright colour can easily be used here and there to draw attention to your brand colours, for example, or brighten up a meeting room designed for creativity and collaborative work. On the other hand, more calming tones like turquoise, pale pink or even pale greys can be used in quieter areas around the office designed for employees to use when they need to focus on a particular task.
Scandinavian style incorporates modern aesthetic, minimalism, practicality and wellbeing making it one of the best choices for offices. And, it’s very flexible in terms of what you can do with it, making it ideal for any workplace.
