6 DIY Scandinavian designs you'll want to copy for your home

Lexi Hughes Lexi Hughes
SJ Bookcase Large, We Do Wood We Do Wood Living room
Loading admin actions …

There's a lot of talk these days about Scandinavian design. In fact, it's hard to have a conversation about design without referencing the simple and chic aesthetic of our noridc friends. So what's the hype all about?

We wanted to find out ourselves! We found 6 DIY Scandinavian designs that are both contemporary and charming, and easy to replicate for your home. What we loved about these 6 designs is that they brought hygee to the space, which is the ultimate Scandinavian way to bring comfort and cosiness to a home. 

Here's how you can easily replicate these designs for your home!   

1.Dual purpose staircase

This cool and functional staircase looks like it was taken straight out of a Scandinavian design book! We love how items like planters, records, books, and more fit into this space. The Scandinavian look is achieved through the wood paneling and minimalistic features, which brings simplicity to the overall design. 

Do you have space under your staircase? Consider recreating this look with wooden boxes or a storage unit. You won't think twice about making the most out of that space just like the Scandinavians! 

2. Floating bookshelves

This is one of our favorite Scandinavian inspired looks! You can use empty apple cartons or old wooden boxes to recreate this look. The Scandinavian or hygee elements are the items you chose to fill the boxes with. In this example, the owners used books, candles, and vintage decorations to fill the spaces. 

For your home, we recommend choosing special decorations that bring you happiness. That's all it takes to recreate this Scandinavian inspired design for your home!   

3. Simple and cozy beds

There are two Scandinavian inspired designs at play here! The first being the crates used to support the bed. Wood accents, especially lighter tones, are found consistently throughout Scandinavian homes. This look can be recreated with cedar or oak wood that hasn't been stained or treated. Just make sure that the bed stand is sturdy enough to hold your mattress. 

Another traditional Scandinavian influence the bedding used in this bedroom! If you want to achieve ultimate comfort and relaxation chose bedding that is both soft and plush like this example. Perfect for enjoying your bedroom! 

4. Lighting is everything

As the saying goes, lighting is everything. For our nordic friends, lighting plays an important role during their long and grueling winters. Lucky for us we don't have quiet as tough winters, but good lighting is important all year long. We love these lights because they're both warm and charming, and they have the Scandinavian stamp of approval! 

You can find similar light bulbs at your local hardware store. It's an easy way to give your lights a Scandinavian inspired update!

5. Teepee fun

While teepee's are not part of original Scandinavian designs, we can't help but think that they embody hygee for children. It's a perfect place to curl up to with a good book or board game in the summer and winter. You can easily recreate this look with wooden poles and fun patterned sheets. Just make sure it's sturdy for kids to play in safely! 

6. A cozy reading nook

We love a good excuse to curl up and read a book! From what we know our nordic friends enjoy it just as much too! While this might involve more power tools to create, you can just as easily find a corner in your home for hygee. Use a comfy chair and warm blanket to really enjoy yourself just like our nordic friends do! 

Want to recreate more Scandinavian inspired designs? Here's how you can do Scandinavian living without IKEA.

What's your favorite Scandinavian inspired design? Tell us in the comments below. 

Need help with your home project?
Get in touch!

Highlights from our magazine