Crown has a wonderful selection of colours that fit in perfectly with this Nordic design. True Scandinavian design uses cool whites and bleached blues and green. Look to beach house whites such as Sail White and Porcelain Bowl to get the desired effect. Blues and greens such as Botanic, Apple Mist, Icelandic Blue and Platinum all emulate this style. Remember you do not always have to stick to design palettes precisely. If you want to take inspiration from Scandinavian design for your home look to any paler shade of the primary colours.

Scandinavian interior design is focused around the simplicity of the furniture in the room as much as the colour scheme. Functional furniture that includes artistic utility is the main key element. The furniture should also be in the shades already mentioned where possible to tie in to the overall design scheme.

Flooring tends to be stripped back in true Nordic homes and painted white or cream. This can be seen where the walls are also painted white or cream as it creates smooth lines and creates a feeling of open space. This design is all about simplicity so knick-knacks and more personal accessories are a no-no. Choose your accessories carefully, sticking the to the same colour palette as suggested for your walls.

While these are the main elements of Scandinavian design, in recent years there has been a move to put more of a personal twist on the style. This movement has been the main reason for the comeback of this retro approach to fashion. The trend means that everyone can take elements of the Nordic style and incorporate it into their home.

As the Scandinavian palette is fairly muted, it gives you the opportunity to input your own personality on the style. Why not warm up the room by adding a pop of colour using vibrant yellows or reds. Paint panels of your chosen colour on a single wall to keep the lines simple and true to Scandinavian style. Take a look at Lulu red and Happy Daze yellow for inspiration on Scandinavian colour blocking.

Keep your personal room accessories in collections around the room. Hang a selection of your favourite photos in white photo frames in a group on the wall or store a collection of colourful books together in the one area. In the kitchen put colourful food or storage on display in collections. Try purchasing glass jars to display items on a prominent shelf in the room.

By displaying pieces in this way your room will remain true to the Scandinavian design approach.

No blog on Scandinavian style would be complete without mentioning IKEA. IKEA is a Swedish company with its roots firmly in Scandinavian art and interior design. It is worth taking a trip to their outlet to get some ideas and pick up a few pieces for your home.

Happy Decorating!

Neville