Scandinavian Furniture Designs
For uncomplicated, easy living.
Refresh your home with Scandi furnishings to create a space that’s grounded in simple comforts, refreshing openness, and warm natural materials. Learn more about Scandinavian furniture designs below and what to look for so you can transform your home into a Scandi oasis.
Scandinavian Furniture Basics
Scandinavian Furniture Features and Details
Our Top 5 Scandinavian Furniture Pieces
Scandinavian Furniture Basics
Scandinavian furniture encapsulates the design principles commonly used in Nordic countries. Scandi furniture aims to be simplistic, functional, well-crafted, and composed of natural materials to create a streamlined, yet comfortable space to live and enjoy each day. Scandinavian furniture is heavily influenced by the mid-century modern and minimalistic design movements which favor clean-lines, clever storage, and neutral colorscapes.
Learn more by reading our guide What Is Scandinavian Design? for an in-depth look at the foundations of Scandinavian interior design.
Scandinavian Furniture Features and Details
Review these characteristics of Scandinavian style design furniture so you know what to look for when creating your own Scandinavian interior.
Solid Wood Designs
Solid wood is an important element of Scandinavian furniture as it’s considered a pure form of wood that comes straight from the tree with limited treatments applied. This creates a clean, natural look. Scandi furnishings embrace native woods from Nordic countries like ash, birch, or pine, but you can also replicate the Scandinavian look with any blond-toned wood material.
Look for furniture designs that blend carved wood frames with upholstered seating made from natural materials. Scandinavian furniture designs mix comforting natural materials with streamlined wood legs and frames for a look that’s both relaxed and airy. This helps more light filter through the room while still providing a space to sit back and relax. Choose natural upholstery like linen, cotton, leather, or wool paired with blond wood for the best results.
Pay attention to the details when looking for furniture designs to include in Scandinavian interiors. Scandinavian designers place an emphasis on transforming natural elements like stone, metal, leather, and wood to create unique, quality furniture pieces. Handcrafted wood frames and woven leather like the chair design pictured above draw inspiration from Børge Mogensen’s Spanish Chair design.
Another example of Scandinavian craftsmanship includes the iconic wishbone chair design introduced by Hans Wegner that features a curved wood back, like the Bandelier wood arm chair or Natalina dining chair, or the shell chair that features a reclined angle and a curved seat, like the Emilee butterfly chair or Aeria armchair.
Multifunctional Pieces
Scandinavian design furniture adheres to the principles of functionality and simplicity by providing pieces with multiple functions or configurations. Multifunctional items are essential in small-scale Nordic homes. An entryway bench with built-in drawers, shelves, and coat hooks helps simplify entryway storage and organization while also helping you limit the amount of furniture pieces in your entryway space.
Other multifunctional Scandi pieces to look out for include nesting tables (so you can consolidate space and create a larger table when necessary) and storage ottomans (extra storage space, seating options, and table settings).
Scandinavian style design draws on principles of minimalist design to create comfort with simple silhouettes. This includes furniture pieces with clean lines and rounded silhouettes. An egg-shaped coffee table with a thin, smooth table top and subtly-crafted legs creates the illusion of more space, while a curved sofa with boucle upholstery provides just enough texture to exude comfort.
Scandi furniture with clean, simple silhouettes can create an even more refreshing look when paired with bright neutral upholstery. Nordic countries have long, dark winters, so Scandinavian interiors typically feature light-colored furnishings that capture natural light and contrast dark winter days. Fill your living space with furniture that's crafted from blond woods, rich caramel tones, and shades of white, cream, or gray to create a bright and airy, yet relaxed look.
Modern Scandinavian interior design is all about mixing modern design styles, so it’s no wonder that Scandinavian design homes include pieces with nods to mid-century modern design. Geometric shapes, functional furnishings, and clean designs are just a few mid-century ideas that translate over to Scandi design.
If you want to find Scandinavian furniture designs with mid-century modern traits, look for pieces that emphasize function with subtle design elements. An accent cabinet in rich carmel wood creates a comforting atmosphere. Its vertical slatted detailing adds visual dimension to the room, while storage drawers make for a clutter-free living space.
Pro Tip:
Get design inspiration for your Scandi-style home by checking out our guide Scandinavian Style Decorating: 11 Ways to Achieve the Look
Our Top 5 Scandinavian Furniture Pieces
Check out these five furniture pieces that blend Scandinavian design principles with mid-century modern and minimalist notes for streamlined, functional, and well-crafted pieces.
1. Jase 84" Velvet Sofa
The Jase Velvet sofa combines Scandinavian furniture characteristics with its tapered, solid wood legs and plush velvet upholstery. Its clean-lined silhouette makes it a must for your Scandi-inspired living room, while the velvet upholstery makes it a comfortable space to relax. Available in seven colors, you’re sure to find one that suits your home’s color aesthetic.
The Kittridge armchair is the pinnacle of craftsmanship with its solid wood frame and woven genuine leather detailing. Not to mention this Scandi-inspired design mirrors that of Børge Mogensen’s Spanish chair. First introduced in 1958, the Spanish chair design combined solid wood and genuine leather for a long-lasting piece in your home. The Kittridge armchair takes on a modern approach to this iconic Scandi piece and comes in five colors and finish options.
Promote relaxation in your bedroom with a solid wood bed in a simplistic design. The Braintree solid wood bed comes in rich castanho or crisp white so you can choose a finish that works best for your bedroom aesthetic. You can also choose between a queen or king. It’s made from solid pine wood (a preferred wood species for Scandi interiors) and has tapered legs that create an airy, open look.
The Carnes solid wood coffee table has a mid-century modern look that lends itself well to Scandinavian interiors. The blond wood finish brightens any room and its glass table top creates an open space for light to filter through. What’s more, the Carnes coffee table replicates a modernist arching design, staying true to craftsmanship. It also features kiln dried, triple-sanded wood for long-lasting quality.
As its name implies, the Filton modular sofa has the ability to separate in half to create a multitude of living room configurations that meet your needs. Tapered legs made from oak stick to the blond wood theme, while the mix-matched textiles of the cushions add to the coziness of the look.
Pro Tip:
Look under the Style filter on the left-hand side of product pages to filter for Scandinavian style furniture.
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