This article is contribution by Keith Gregory. Keith is an amateur design and decorating aficionado — he blogs about interior design, home improvement, and real estate matters at DeveloperCube.com
We all love Scandinavian design for its simplicity – clean, neat lines, no clutter. If you scroll through images of Scandinavian décor, you’ll come away with a sense of calm. Then reality sets in and you remember that you don’t live in a clutter-free, Nordic den with perfect lighting. Instead of firing your friends and family and hiring a design set manager for your living room, learn the art of functional decorating. Your most commonly used belongings can become your décor and you’ll find it easier to keep clutter from taking over!
Living Room
Image source: home-designing.com
You can always use Scandinavian furniture brands as a true inspiration when it comes to living room options to fit your Nordic styling. For example, by choosing a sectional instead of recliners and chairs, you can get the most out of the space in your living room. You’ll get plenty of seating without the extra visual clutter.
Image source: decoholic.org
Most ottomans that pair with sectionals have additional storage hidden inside. This creates the perfect storage for the belongings, such as blankets and toys that you want nearby but without the clutter. For example, a modern stressless oval ottoman that converts from a storage unit and footrest to a coffee table can prove to be a great investment, since it can alternate between providing an extra storage, extra seating, and serving as a coffee table.
Home Office
The home office doesn’t need to be cluttered with additional decorative pieces. Keep the things you use most often in plain sight and easy-to-reach. If you spend a lot of time in your home office, an ergonomically designed office chair is essential.
Image source: decoist.com
Don’t have an extra room for an office? Designate space in your living room to become the central processing zone in your home. Sound a little dry? It doesn’t have to be. Choose a wall where you can place a small table and put up a few wall organizers and a bulletin board. Having an organization system in place will be pleasing to the eye and keep paperwork from traveling all over your home.
The Bedroom
Image source: home-designing.com
If you love Nordic design, you’re probably the type of person who needs cleanliness and simplicity to relax. The key to keeping your bedroom in optimal condition is having proper storage. What clutters your room? Extra blankets? Clothes? Shoes? All the things you drop when you come home at the end of the day? Select furnishings that provide extra storage for the things that clutter up your room or simply change up your organization system and habits. Keeping things minimalistic and fuss-free are some of the key points when it comes to Nordic trends.
Image 6 source: michianahouseandhome.com
An ottoman at the foot of the bed is a beautiful embellishment as well as a storage zone. Store extra blankets, shoes, or seasonal clothes where you can reach them as needed. If you don’t have under bed storage drawers, you can always repurpose some of your old suitcases and even decorative boxes.
You can easily find tons of inspiration from looking to our friends in the Scandinavia — steal their simple, minimalist yet elegant styling when you’re looking for a new design or look for your home or apartment.
Feature image source: Home-designing.com
