Scandinavian Minimalism
Posted by Kathi Forsberg on Apr 8th 2020
Minimalism gets mistaken for austerity — white walls, empty shelves, nothing on the counter. Scandinavian minimalism isn’t that. It’s about owning fewer things and better ones, so that what remains can actually be enjoyed. Approaching your days with that mindset helps you find value in the otherwise mundane, and create a little hygge in your daily life.
On our blog, we’ve already talked about the meaning behind hygge and how to spring clean like the Swedes. Today, we’re going to delve into the minimalist mindset and the role it plays in Scandinavian culture.
If you want some small reminders of your Scandinavian heritage, make sure you shop our Scandinavian products from Scandinavian Shoppe.
Minimalism and Scandinavian Culture
Scandinavian minimalism is about purity, simplicity, and feeling calm. By worrying less about the things around you, you have more time to focus on yourself and your experiences. This is what creates a functional, comfortable space.
As a result of those minimal spaces, Scandinavians gain hygge — that feeling of coziness and comfort. The style began in necessity: the cold, the long dark, and the rugged terrain of Northern Europe left little room for excess. We’ve since found easier ways to cope with those conditions, but the mindset stayed, and it is what lets Scandinavian design make beauty out of very little.
Creating a Minimalist Mindset
So how do you develop one? There are a few things you can do to change your outlook and bring minimalism into your life.
Get Back to Nature
Take a moment to enjoy nature on your own. Instead of focusing on the material goods around you, find some time to experience the natural world. That might be a walk by yourself after work or during lunch, or bringing some new green plants into your home decor.
Organization
Think about the way your house is organized. A disorganized home generates clutter almost by itself. If you’re trying to develop a minimalist mindset, make sure everything you need has a place of its own. Then you can arrange things in clean and simple ways, which adds to the minimalist feel of the space.
No Clutter
Look at the things around you. How much clutter is in your home? If a room feels overly cluttered, work out what is essential and what isn’t. Taking away the clutter and adding back only what earns its place — good lighting, a plant, a candle — gets you close to both a minimalist mindset and a minimalist space.
Finish With Some Scandinavian Products
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the day-to-day, try approaching your routine with a minimalist mindset. And whether or not you live in a Scandinavian country, you can bring some traditional, simple Scandinavian pieces into your home decor — a Klippan lambswool blanket or a piece from our home decor collection is a good place to start.
Shop Scandinavian Shoppe today, and read through our previous posts for more inspiration: