Succumb to the style of Scandi

9:54am Tuesday 8th April 2008

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THERE'S so much more to Scandinavian style than flat-pack furniture and its attendant stress.

Instead, just think about rooms which, with their colour schemes seem to be flooded with light whatever the weather, are furnished with timeless good-looking pieces and effortlessly seem to combine comfort with elegance.

This is the essence of cool, calm, sleek "Scandi style" and those appealing qualities perhaps explain why we don't seem to be able to get enough of it.

While Swedish giant Ikea has long dominated the mass market with its winning combination of top class design and rock bottom prices, the growing popularity of the look has now brought a host of other smaller companies to the UK.

These smaller companies offer people even more opportunity not only to interpret the look in their own homes but in a more individual way.

Companies which have recently come to the UK include inspirational Finnish fabric makers Marimekko and Iittala, which offer a treasure trove of Finnish glassware and accessories.

Interior designer Gail Abbott explains how Scandinavia's style is inspired partly by its seasons.

She said: "In the far northern countries of Scandinavia, the clear summer light is one of the dominant features of the landscape.

"Forests, lakes and mountains are bathed in its clarity, and for half the year the sun hardly sets below the horizon.

"People make the most of the outdoors while they can, for the winter means long dark days when light is low and short-lived.

She added: "Because of this, light is a quality which is highly valued."

So the fundamental principles of the Scandinavian look are light-reflective white painted walls, modest window treatments designed to avoid blocking the light and a basically uncluttered feel.

They work together to create a smooth blend of the contemporary and the timeless, which can suit any home and isn't expensive to achieve.

But while pale walls and white surfaces give an authentic feel to a room, acres of white could be cold and unappealing in our hard Northern light, so the use of an accent colour adds individuality, interest and warmth.

Traditionally, those colours are sourced from the rich palette of the outdoors to provide an uplifting contrast.

Gail, author of a new beautifully illustrated book, Living with Light, which shows how to recreate all the home-transforming elements of the style, said: "Outside in winter red berries, a dark green pine tree, or a clear blue sky provide relief from the acres of whiteness and so those colours are reflected indoors in Scandinavian rooms.

"Red and blue are characteristic colours but any vivid tones, used with restraint, will inject a touch of drama.

"Blue and white are as fresh and easy to live with as a summer's day.

"In countries where the warm months are short, homeowners like to make the interiors of their house as delightful as a walk outside, and there's nothing like the combination of sky blue and brilliant white to evoke the wide-open spaces of the Scandinavian countryside."

• Colour and light
  
  

Gail said: "Getting light into rooms instantly improves them - particularly in our often sunshine-starved Northern hemisphere homes - and there are plenty of ways to do that without spending a lot of money.

"Used well, also, all these elements will combine to make a room appear bigger than it actually is."

• Opt for simple, clutter-free rooms with white walls and painted or pale coloured floors, white-covered furniture and pale furnishing fabrics.

• If all white is too cold for your taste, use a soft colour palette of soft white, pale greys and blues, and include an accent colour - blue or red is characteristic of the look.

• Dress windows simply to allow light to filter through, or use white-painted shutters.

• Allow every surface to reflect light - even in small rooms - by using mirrors and gleaming materials like stainless steel and chrome.

• Walls
  
  

• Panelled walls are a characteristic feature of many Scandinavian rooms, both traditional and contemporary.
  
  

• Panelling in these homes can feature tall, rectangular panels of fine moulding, or carved panels that normally line the lower part of the walls only.
  
  

• Transform your own plain walls by creating a grand 'panel' effect. Fit strips of decorative beading or narrow wooden moulding with mitred corners to a plain wall and paint them to match, or use a classic Scandinavian contrast like blue or green on white walls.
  
  

• Narrow tongue and groove boards are usually mounted vertically and cover the whole wall and often the ceiling too.
  
  

• Windows
  
  

• Windows should have simple dressings which allow the light to filter through. Sheer white curtains or a voile blind can be a discreet way to maintain seclusion without losing light.

• White butter muslin, cotton lawn and fine veiling can be made into unstructured blinds and unlined curtains.

• Search out unusual textiles like organza, taffeta and tulle which will shimmer as they catch the light for a glamorous effect.

• If you want more privacy, or to block out the light, use white or blackout blinds behind sheer curtains.

• Floors
  
  

• A white wood stain used on bare wood looks fresh and modern as it allows the grain of the wood to show through but still reflects light.
  
  

• Bare wooden floors are often treated with a few coats of white oil, or even a solution of lye, which bleaches the colour out of the wood.
  
  

• Scandinavian stairs are rarely carpeted and the wood is often left bare and sealed with a natural varnish or oil.
  
  

• If you opt for painting stairs, painting both risers and treads the same colour as the surrounding skirting boards will make a narrow set of stairs look much wider.
  
  

• Easy to wash cotton runners or rugs are common throughout Scandinavia, and are often handed down through the generations.
  
  

• Furniture
  
  

• Symmetry is key to achieving the ordered, calm restful atmosphere that's so characteristic of these rooms. Painted wooden chairs, mirrors double each other, and decorative accessories like candlesticks are always displayed in pairs.