How To Use Scandinavian Interior Design To Create An Outdoor Living Space
Scandinavian interior design follows many core principles that make it different from other home decorating concepts. Simplicity is at its core, yet it conveys different tones to minimalist interior design. Over the years, adopting Scandi design principles has helped many homeowners create gorgeous interiors that stand out and look like a breath of fresh air.
Today, we’re taking this concept and applying it outside your home. Despite being a wholly interior-based design theme, Scandinavian principles can be used to help you make a gorgeous outdoor living space. We’ll show you how to do this, meaning you can seamlessly go from a Scandi interior to a Scandi exterior!
Use a light colour palette
You need to stick to a light colour palette when decorating with Scandinavian themes. This should extend to your exterior living space; focus on using whites or greys as the predominant colours here.
Ironically, this shouldn’t be too hard to do. Ideally, your home should be painted in a white hue to really give off Scandi vibes. Then, all outdoor living space elements should follow the same palette. Ensure your outdoor furniture is a mix of white, grey or black. The decking should also replicate this – you can find great composite wooden decking in lovely black shades that work perfectly here.
Keep an eye on functionality
One of the core principles of Scandinavian interior design is functionality. Objects and furniture inside your home need to be purposeful. They shouldn’t just be used for sitting on or to look nice; they must also do other things.
Apply this idea to any outdoor furniture you place in this living area. Think about space-saving furniture designs – like an outdoor table that folds away or can open up to accommodate more people. You may also find outdoor tables with hidden umbrellas that can be popped up to provide cover or shade.
Another great idea is having small side tables by deck chairs double up as storage boxes. There are so many ways you can take an outdoor living space and add more functionality to it so it becomes inherently Scandi.
Ensure there’s a lot of natural light
This may seem like a strange point, particularly as you’re outside. However, many outdoor living spaces end up in the shade. Scandinavian design is all about embracing natural light, which is why you focus on open spaces and large windows letting sunlight into your home.
When you’re outside, you need the perfect blend of natural light without UV damage. As seen on sites like clearambershop.com, one solution is to create awnings using polycarbonate sheets. Awnings hang from your house and provide protection from the rain, while the sheet is see-through and allows natural light to shine over your deck area. It means you can sit there with a bit of UV protection too.
Ideas like this are much more freeing than erecting a huge gazebo on your decking, covering the entire area in the shade.
Embrace nature & natural materials
A hallmark of a Scandinavian interior is the presence of lots of greenery. You have the simple whites and greys juxtaposed by a pop of green colour from indoor plants. Bringing nature inside your home is essential as it symbolises the coming together of humans and the outside world. Scandinavia is a very naturally beautiful area where people spend much time immersing themselves in nature. That’s why a lot of Scandi homes bring nature inside – it’s a reflection of this wonderful part of the world.
So, when you’re building an outdoor living space that feeds off of Scandinavian interior design, you should embrace the nature around you. Create a green living area with plants on your decking and wonderful natural materials used wherever possible. This is why it’s good to opt for decks over patios; they create a more natural aesthetic.
Using plants or vines to decorate the outdoor area is a fantastic way of giving it some extra substance too. Yes, you want things to be simplistic and functional, but some life should be breathed into it too. Scandinavian design achieves this balance because it calls upon nature for delicate pops of colour or patterns.
Ideally, you should open your indoor living space to the outdoor one. Some gorgeous patio doors can help you blend the two aesthetics together, creating a stunning look. You’ll enjoy a Scandinavian-inspired interior that opens out to a wonderfully Scandi exterior. Most people forget to align their exterior and interior designs, disrupting the home’s flow and making the outside stand out. Now, you’ll have everything flowing perfectly together.
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