11 Bright Ideas Inspired by Scandi Kitchens
Clean, serene cook spaces are high on many a kitchen wish list. Can stealing from Scandi style help you get there?
Jo Simmons
18 March 2017
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Scandinavian style manages to be both striking and easy to live with, combining the decorative with the practical, effortlessly. That’s why it’s a fit throughout the house, but in the kitchen, Scandi style can really add impact. Those favourite colours, black and white, bring contrast to a cook space, while the Nordic love of natural materials helps a practical room brim with personality and warmth. Here are 11 great style ideas, stolen from Scandi kitchens and ready for your next renovation or rejig.
1. Use subtle contrasts
Scandinavian interiors are famous for favouring a monochrome scheme, but it isn’t always big expanses of black and white that bring the Scandi feel, it’s the clever use of contrast that does it. Here, white and very pale grey are the dominant colours, but the use of black grout creates graphic lines and adds lots of detail and contrast to a wall of white tiling.
Scandinavian interiors are famous for favouring a monochrome scheme, but it isn’t always big expanses of black and white that bring the Scandi feel, it’s the clever use of contrast that does it. Here, white and very pale grey are the dominant colours, but the use of black grout creates graphic lines and adds lots of detail and contrast to a wall of white tiling.
2. Be bold with black cabinets
If you ever thought black cabinetry might look too dark or imposing in a kitchen, think again. The trick is to confine black cupboards to a run of base units and use open shelves in pale tones above, to lighten the upper part of the room. The dark base units here deliver a stylish bold streak that helps to anchor the room. The rest of the scheme is pale, light and soaring.
Browse black kitchen cabinets
If you ever thought black cabinetry might look too dark or imposing in a kitchen, think again. The trick is to confine black cupboards to a run of base units and use open shelves in pale tones above, to lighten the upper part of the room. The dark base units here deliver a stylish bold streak that helps to anchor the room. The rest of the scheme is pale, light and soaring.
Browse black kitchen cabinets
3. Try some timber
Scandi schemes often incorporate timber for a natural feel. To get the look right, stick to pale woods or those treated with a wash, such as lime, to give a bleached-out effect – there’s rarely a place for heavy dark wood in a modern Scandi-style kitchen. If you only want a little bit of timber, fit wooden benchtops or shelves, or make more of a statement by using wood on the cabinets and also to clad the walls.
Scandi schemes often incorporate timber for a natural feel. To get the look right, stick to pale woods or those treated with a wash, such as lime, to give a bleached-out effect – there’s rarely a place for heavy dark wood in a modern Scandi-style kitchen. If you only want a little bit of timber, fit wooden benchtops or shelves, or make more of a statement by using wood on the cabinets and also to clad the walls.
4. Avoid the sleek look
Although Scandi kitchens can be clean and monochrome, they don’t tend to be sleek. You’ll get bags of interesting texture and detail if you keep pipes exposed or choose rustic shelves, or have original cornicing on show, so resist the urge to go too polished and glossy. But do paint everything white to retain a sense of airy minimalism.
Although Scandi kitchens can be clean and monochrome, they don’t tend to be sleek. You’ll get bags of interesting texture and detail if you keep pipes exposed or choose rustic shelves, or have original cornicing on show, so resist the urge to go too polished and glossy. But do paint everything white to retain a sense of airy minimalism.
studiocuvier.se
5. Create inventive wall storage
Clever open storage can bring lots of welcome detail to a kitchen, and while simple white shelves look minimal, if you want to channel a more relaxed Scandi look, get creative with your storage. Choose wooden shelves to bring that dash of natural wood and combine with rails, hooks and hanging racks for an eclectic effect that is practical too. Keep your palette limited, and mainly monochrome to retain that classic Scandi feel.
Clever open storage can bring lots of welcome detail to a kitchen, and while simple white shelves look minimal, if you want to channel a more relaxed Scandi look, get creative with your storage. Choose wooden shelves to bring that dash of natural wood and combine with rails, hooks and hanging racks for an eclectic effect that is practical too. Keep your palette limited, and mainly monochrome to retain that classic Scandi feel.
6. Hide your white units …
Many Scandinavian schemes feature an all-white palette, but an indoor white-out does more than just look clean and bright. In a small, open-plan home, sticking to white units against white walls helps the kitchen ‘disappear’, a useful feature when relaxing, working and eating may all take place in close proximity to the kitchen. This kitchen features a dark benchtop, just to add a horizontal line of contrast, but a pale one would further boost the ‘invisibility’ factor. Handleless wall cabinets are another nice, unobtrusive feature.
Is a handleless kitchen right for you?
Many Scandinavian schemes feature an all-white palette, but an indoor white-out does more than just look clean and bright. In a small, open-plan home, sticking to white units against white walls helps the kitchen ‘disappear’, a useful feature when relaxing, working and eating may all take place in close proximity to the kitchen. This kitchen features a dark benchtop, just to add a horizontal line of contrast, but a pale one would further boost the ‘invisibility’ factor. Handleless wall cabinets are another nice, unobtrusive feature.
Is a handleless kitchen right for you?
7. … Or try a different shade
This kitchen in Stockholm takes the same idea of using all one colour for a kitchen that is situated in an open-plan space. Here, though, the wall, benchtop and cabinet colour is grey, not white, but the kitchen’s impact on the room is minimised in the same way as when using white.
This kitchen in Stockholm takes the same idea of using all one colour for a kitchen that is situated in an open-plan space. Here, though, the wall, benchtop and cabinet colour is grey, not white, but the kitchen’s impact on the room is minimised in the same way as when using white.
8. Soften with greenery and plants
Houseplants bring a welcome touch of greenery to a kitchen, important in much of Scandinavia when winters are long and the natural world may be smothered in snow. Pepper a simple kitchen with potted herbs or pretty plants to soften it up and create a connection with nature.
Houseplants bring a welcome touch of greenery to a kitchen, important in much of Scandinavia when winters are long and the natural world may be smothered in snow. Pepper a simple kitchen with potted herbs or pretty plants to soften it up and create a connection with nature.
9. Install pendant lights
A Scandi home without pendant lights is like beans without the toast. Often, lights are perfect suspended over a dining table but in a kitchen, try adding two or three over an island or sink, as seen here. Pendants do more than just light the space, they are also great for breaking up a tall white wall and creating a focal point, without disturbing the cool, serene scheme.
A Scandi home without pendant lights is like beans without the toast. Often, lights are perfect suspended over a dining table but in a kitchen, try adding two or three over an island or sink, as seen here. Pendants do more than just light the space, they are also great for breaking up a tall white wall and creating a focal point, without disturbing the cool, serene scheme.
10. Bring in some vintage
Mixing modern design with vintage pieces will give any kitchen warmth and personality. Here, an old chest of drawers provides valuable storage, and is complemented by a vintage table. The key recipe of white and black is still in the mix though, so this remains a proudly Scandi-looking kitchen.
Add vintage nostalgia to your kitchen
Mixing modern design with vintage pieces will give any kitchen warmth and personality. Here, an old chest of drawers provides valuable storage, and is complemented by a vintage table. The key recipe of white and black is still in the mix though, so this remains a proudly Scandi-looking kitchen.
Add vintage nostalgia to your kitchen
11. Add dark accessories
Punctuating a pale space with black accents is a tried and trusted Scandi design motif, but you don’t need to commit to black furniture or fittings. Instead, add the dark stuff in the form of artwork, china or even just a humble tea towel to bring dots of black that can be easily moved around or abandoned altogether.
Tell us
Does your kitchen rock the Scandi look? Tell us how in the Comments below.
More
See more Scandi-style kitchens
Punctuating a pale space with black accents is a tried and trusted Scandi design motif, but you don’t need to commit to black furniture or fittings. Instead, add the dark stuff in the form of artwork, china or even just a humble tea towel to bring dots of black that can be easily moved around or abandoned altogether.
Tell us
Does your kitchen rock the Scandi look? Tell us how in the Comments below.
More
See more Scandi-style kitchens
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We've popped back to this article as we've just launched a new handmade table called the Hoo which gives a definite nod to Scandinavian inspired design. Made from birch plywood, it has a pleasing pale tone and simple, honest good looks - take a look below - and more on our website
Thank you for using one of my images
Very beautiful. We recently worked with designer Mia Marquez on several scandi inspired dining tables and a cabinet. Could work well in any room, including a kitchen.