Scandinavian Bedroom Design: Minimalist Meets Cozy

“Your home should be an extension of how you want to live”… ever heard of it? If you crave a calm space—one that’s great for socializing—you’ll love the Scandinavian interior design style. It has lots of textures and natural elements. The design may be pared-back, sure. But, it’s impactful. Because it’s so inviting, we vouch for such a style in the bedroom. The good part? Scandinavian-style bedrooms aren’t going anywhere fast. They’re sooo loved across the world. Keep reading to learn all about Scandinavian bedroom design, and how you can adopt it in your space 🤍

What is Scandinavian Bedroom Design?

The Scandinavian style is rooted somewhere in the Nordic lifestyle. It really focuses on minimalism. So, you only keep the bare essentials—and, well, some extras that will add texture. This means everything you own has a functional purpose. Say, that duvet adding texture can be used to cover up. There are also lots of natural elements—we’ll talk about these in just a bit.

The color palette is mostly neutral (we’ll have a look at the best ones for the bedroom in the next section). You can see clean lines ruling the space. And there’s a cozy aesthetic that’s called “hygge”. (This is basically quiet comfort, where you step back from your busy life and enjoy the quieter pleasures in life).

The ultimate goal of Scandinavian design is to create an environment that fosters relaxation—something that’s just right for the bedroom!

Scandinavian Bedroom Colors

Classic Neutrals

These are the essence (or foundation) of the Scandi-style. You can expect whites, greys, and beiges taking up a large chunk of visual estate—especially through the walls and large pieces of furniture. These colors maximize the natural light in the space, and also keep the ambiance simple.

Earthy Colors

After setting a neutral base, we want to add some warmth. And that’s achieved with earthy hues, such as taupe, sand, and clay. You can even use these colors for large areas, such as a taupe accent wall behind the bed.

Some Soft Pastels

The Scandi-style doesn’t make your bedroom boring! If you love color, you can add it through soft pastels. For example, a sage green duvet cover or dusty blue area rug, etc. (these blend in with the overall neutral colors).

Slight Touches of Bold

Yep, even contrasts of bold are welcome in Scandinavian bedroom design. For example, accents of deep charcoal can add this modern edge to the space (if you’re feeling it, you can even use the color for an accent wall!).

Natural Greens and Browns

We saved the staples for the last of the list! Forest greens, olive tones, and soft browns mimic the outdoors—and because nothing is as refreshing as the energy you find amidst Mother Nature, these colors make their way into the nature-inspired Scandinavian design.

How to Create Scandinavian Bedroom Design

You’ve got the colors you want in your mind. But how do you go about adding them to your interior for a Scandinavian design bedroom? The following tips will have you equipped with everything you need to know:

Introduce Mid-Century Furniture

Iconic furniture is a part of Scandinavian design; the pieces are expected to be comfy and functional, but also super textured. In that regard, mid-century furniture can fit just right in. Bonus points if it’s an heirloom piece handed down to you by a loved one. If you love the contemporary aesthetic, nothing to worry about! Mid-century modern pieces—with the right layers—will do quite the same job.

Add Some French Influences

The Scandinavian style is loved in France. So, as you’d expect, the French and Scandi styles can really blend in. Mix some graphic details with soft and curved edges—and you’ll have a beautiful transition between both styles. The end result is an incredibly chic bedroom.

Skip the Headboard

The Scandinavian style does welcome texture, but that doesn’t necessarily mean going over the board with the headboard. In fact, you can skip it entirely—especially if your bed has a window right above it. In this case, the window—and two minimalist nightstands—will give just the right less-is-more look.

Don’t Overthink the Accessories

The beauty of the Scandi-style is that you don’t have to think too much when buying something. Your accessories should be personal instead of trend-led. So, whenever you like a piece, don’t overthink it and buy it. For example, a vase you picked up from a thrift store, and dried flowers you collected on an autumn walk.

Make it Light

Scandinavian bedroom design is reminiscent of its Northern European heritage—where we see sunlit, forestry regions. This is done by drawing in as much light as possible, and then reflecting it inside. You want to create this forest-like feeling by using minimal draperies (we often see sheer curtains and easy-to-wind blinds in Scandi-style rooms).

You can also pair this with wooden elements (especially for that forest-like feel, see below for more) and neutral palettes. The more space and neutrality there will be, the more light can be emphasized.

Add Wooden Elements

You can use one (or three) of different wood tones: oak, birch, pine, etc. Your furniture will most likely add these—bonus points for laying a light oakwood floor, too. A wooden bench at the foot of the bed is also another great idea. Don’t stop there—pepper in natural elements like woven baskets, jute rugs, etc.

Highlight Original Features

One of the top secrets is to make your space feel lived-in (without that messed-up bedding effect). For example, if your bedroom has a rustic door—or, better yet, an exposed brick wall—don’t hesitate to flaunt it! These features can make the room feel cozy, and you won’t even have to do anything extra to achieve the look. (In fact, you’re saving yourself the work of covering/hiding such features).

Layer Cool Blues

It doesn’t have to be all neutral! If you’re a fan of colors, we’d suggest layering cool blues, especially silvery blue and gray. To add a casual nonchalance to the design, you can swap a formal nightstand for a bentwood chair that’s painted in a similar tone (this can be a fun DIY).

Consider a Graphic Wallpaper

We already saw how Scandinavian design works great with the French style; in the next section, we’ll see how it blends in with the boho vibe. Because Scandi-style marries well with so many other styles, you can pull in a few features from other designs and add them here. One of our favorites is a graphic wallpaper—preferably in black and white. This makes sure the color palette is neutral, but visual interest is maintained.

Boho Scandi Vibes

If you use the Scandinavian style, but go a little too big on the textures—you know, a rattan chandelier, a jute rug, lots of beige tones—you’ll actually see a hint of the bohemian style. So, if you love the casual and carefree vibe of boho interiors, exaggerate the features in your Scandinavian bedroom and you’ll achieve the purpose.

Celebrate the Ceiling

The ceiling can really help your Scandinavian design bedroom feel cozy. If you have a soaring vaulted ceiling, make sure to draw attention to it with vertical shiplap walls and simple lighting. And, of course, a neutral color palette.

Consider Calming Artwork

You want to choose soothing artwork—or photos that evoke tranquility—for your Scandinavian design bedroom. This can be nature-inspired scenes or abstract paintings. These set a peaceful tone and help achieve the ultimate goal of inspiring relaxation in the bedroom.

Pare Down Your Belongings

If you’re inclined toward sentimentality, this can be a difficult step. But it’s one of the most important in a Scandinavian bedroom. Naturally, having less clutter will help create a living space that’s devoted to simplicity. That said, you don’t need to purge everything—you just need to carefully curate the belongings that are out in the open. These keep the calm mood intact.

Scandinavian Bedroom Furniture Ideas

Now, for decor ideas, what sort of furniture should you use in your Scandinavian bedroom? Here’s a general guideline of what to look for when purchasing…

Bed Frame

• Platform bed with a low profile
• May or may not have a headboard
• Wooden frame with a natural finish
• If bed upholstered, upholstery uses neutral tones

Nightstands

• Floating shelves flanking the bed
• Small wooden/metal stools on either side
• Mid-century-style nightstands

Seating

• A simple bench at the foot of the bed
• An accent chair with clean lines
• A pouf

Lighting Tips for Scandinavian Bedrooms

The winters in Scandinavia are long and dark—and the summers are blindingly sunny. So, Scandinavian homes are designed to work along these lines.

We already talked about letting natural light in. You want to maximize its effect with mirrors. Strategically placing these next to windows lets light to be reflected throughout the room.

For artificial lighting, we recommend bulbs that emit warm white light; this also mimics the gentle glow of natural light.

Your fixtures will mostly be made of natural materials—for example, bamboo and glass. The former is good for a boho vibe, while the latter will create a minimalist feeling.

In terms of bedroom lighting, we’re all about comfort. The concept of hygge is important in a Scandinavian bedroom, and lighting should be part of this hygge concept. Remembering the key concepts of Scandinavian lighting—creating pools of lights with desk and floor lamps. Plus, layering them with simple and stylish pendant lights—and wall sconces for bedside lighting. This illuminates the room softly and creates a cozy atmosphere.

What NOT to Do When Creating a Scandinavian Bedroom Design

We’ve seen all the do’s; before you get to it, you also want to learn the “don’ts” of Scandinavian bedroom design…

• Don’t overload the decor. Less really is more!
• Don’t add heavy curtains. Anything that blocks light is a no (including bulky furniture).
• Don’t use too many colors. Even if you love hues, subtle tones like the blues we discussed are the way to go.
• Don’t go too minimal. The Scandi-style is about having enough—not too much, and not too less.
• Don’t use only white. This can create a stark atmosphere, and we definitely don’t want that here.
• Don’t use only wood. We have sooo many other natural materials, too—for example, marble.
• Don’t make your space too general. We mean, utilize every opportunity you get to add personal touches. (Not just something as big as an heirloom piece—even a small decor piece you love will go a long way).
• Don’t skimp on biophilia; the Scandinavian design loves plants and everything nature-related.