Lagom, the Swedish art of living has recently become the hottest new thing. Lagom, a Swedish word, translates to mean cosy, enough and adequate. It’s not about overindulgence but it doesn’t go as far as bare minimalism.
Niki Brantmark, the author of ‘Lagom: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life’, and blogger of ‘My Scandinavian Home’, has teamed up with new Scandinavian homeware brand Eërtmug on 10 ‘top tips’ to creating a Scandi-style home on a shoestring.
Ten Tips
1. De-Clutter
Scandi-style is all about a minimalist, clean look. Set some time aside to work through all your belongings and sell anything on a site such as Preloved that is not deemed useful or loved. Not only will you feel more organised – but your bank account will benefit too!
2. Paint It White
The Scandinavian look is synonymous with looking fresh and light. For a super quick update, think about painting all your walls white or a soft pale grey.
3. Reflect the light
In a region, which is deprived of light for six months of the year, creating a light and airy living space is something of an obsession for Scandinavians. Use mirrors in different shapes and sizes to reflect the light into the darkest of corners.
4. Floor It
For a truly Scandinavian look, the wall-to-wall carpets need to go. Consider pulling them up (you never know, there might be a wood floor underneath waiting to take centre-stage!) and using a mix of rugs instead – they can even be layered for greater coverage.
5. Set The Mood
At sunset, Scandinavian homes are transformed into a cosy womb-like oasis. Add dimmer switches and plenty of candles to create a warm atmosphere.
6. Buy Less, Invest In High Quality
It may not sound ‘budget-friendly’ but any Scandinavian will tell you that if you invest in classic, beautifully crafted pieces made from high-quality materials, they’ll stand the test of time – they don’t need to be expensive, it’s amazing what you can find secondhand!
7. Think Multi-Functional
Scandinavians are masters at combining form with function. Look for multitasking furniture such as sofa-beds, a coffee table with built-in storage etc. It’ll mean you’ll need to invest in fewer pieces and have a more practical home to boot!
8. Retouch, Upcycle & Repurpose
Give old, tired looking pieces a new lease of life with a lick of paint, a good wax or new fabric. It’s amazing what you can find for a fraction of the price online – and with a little creativity, it could become a masterpiece. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
9. Textiles
Add a warm and inviting feel to the minimalist home using soft, natural textiles such as linen, wool and sheepskin to ensure your home is autumn-ready!
10. Bring The Outdoors In
You are never far from nature in Scandinavia, which is why it plays such an important part in the home. Studies have shown that houseplants are great stress-busters and help to clean the air! For seasonal updates, go for a forage in the woods, along the beach, in your local park – or even in the cracks between the pavement – and create vignettes with wildflowers, pinecones, and pebbles.
I love this classic Swedish style – just not sure I can ever give up colour. Hope this helps you create a more lagom lifestyle.
Love the idea of less but letting it go is hard 🙂
Such good tips! I am all about the Lagom way of life this autumn. I’ve already started buying plants to fill some lonely corners and candles dotted around to make everything a little cosier. Bring on the autumn!
I agree, lagom (at least from the photos) is a lot about light neutral colours and fabric textures. The philosophy overall is about calmness and simplicity in the life so decluttering can help a lot!
I love this style and I am slowly working on this throughout the house. Lovely to read some of your tips about how to approach it.
I love the scandinavian style so much. It’s so simple and fresh, luminous, classy, really suits every season. I love your post and ideas! ❤
I’ve definitely been decluttering recently and I dream of a room that is 90% white, I think I’ve found my style!
Paint it white is a good one, I never thought of that. We have cream coloured walls and I so wish we had gone with something which looks a little cleaner!!
Wow! This is awesome! I’ve never heard the word Lagom before but it definitely describes the vibe I’m trying to recreate in my tiny New York apartment! I love the coziness and the candles! Surprisingly white makes your apartment feel so big! So I’m all for that 🙂
I love the Swedish style as well because of how cosy it is. I am in the middle of redecorating my living room and I am looking towards the Swedish style, with less furniture and objects around, but with a warm, cosy decorative elements, like a gray blanket on the couch or some nice candles on the coffee table.
I did a big piece for Ikea on the idea of “living Lagom” last year, and I’ve been enamored with the concept ever since!