Oh, how I love Scandi design! The coziness of this interior style is just so inviting to me. I’m especially fond of the Scandinavian farmhouse look. The clean lines, the minimalist lack of clutter and the airy, bright spaces are such a heavenly combination. Throw in the light, neutral color palette with natural woods, live plants and pretty textures and I’m sold. My cortisol levels plummet just thinking about this calming space.
And, who couldn’t use some more calm in their lives? It’s such a hectic world out there and we’re all swimming in stress these days. Having an inviting respite to go home to can really help calm those frazzled nerves. So, let’s take tips from the Danish hygge playbook and get our cozy on!
These are the Items I included in the Interior Mood Board Above…
Faux Banana Palm Tree from Pottery Barn | Hugley Performance Ivory/Beige Rug by Langley Street from Wayfair | Ultra Matte Northern Pacific Collection Hardwood in Sand Birch by Jasper Hardwood from BuildDirect | Grace 100% European Linen Pillow Gray Stripe by OneFineNest on Etsy | Wojtowicz Solid Back Arm Chair by Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse from Wayfair | Rindahl Solid Brass Appliance Pull in Antique Brass by Signature Hardware from Build.com | Paint Color Scheme
*This mood board is a great starter template to use when putting your interior together. It not only shows the paint color palette, but it also shows some recommended finishes and decor to complete the Scandinavian farmhouse look. Of course, you can add in additional materials, textures and patterns for a custom design all your own. But, having the mood board handy when selecting interior items can help you coordinate it all to perfection.
So, let’s explore the basic elements needed to translate this look to an oh-so-cozy interior design…
Neutral Paint Colors in Gray and White Tones
I always like to start with the color palette when putting an interior together. It’s the foundation of the whole look. Just trust me on this. The rest of your space will come together much smoother if you nail down the color palette first. Of course, you can always use a favorite decor piece as inspiration for your palette. But, for the most part, palette first.
So, let’s start with looking at the neutral paint colors that create this Scandinavian farmhouse look. The combination of cool white, bright white, warm gray and charcoal gray all come together to create a soothing sense of calm. At first glance, this color combo can appear quite subtle. But, these hues create a lively mix that keeps things interesting. And, they’re great at pulling off that nature-inspired Scandi look.
If you would like to get the actual paint colors in this palette (including manufacturer, color name and number), you can purchase them from my Etsy shop here.
Birch Wood Flooring with a Taupe Gray Finish
Of course, wood floors are a must for a Scandinavian farmhouse vibe. In this case, an absolutely gorgeous birch wood with a taupe gray stain color. I can’t even begin to describe just how beautiful this flooring is with the paint colors in this palette. The images on screen really don’t do it justice. You just have to see them in person!
A Gray and White Textured Rug
This is where we start bringing in the pretty, pretty textures that are hallmark to the Scandi look. Find a gray and white rug with lots of texture to it. Something with a high-low pile construction would be perfect! I’m really digging the geometric/tribal patterns lately, but you could go a lot of different directions with this. Just don’t forget the texture!
Scandinavian Furniture with a Wood and Wicker Combo
Now, we’re getting to an iconic feature in the Scandinavian farmhouse look. Light, natural wood and wicker furniture. A wood wicker chair, like the one I included in the mood board, is a common piece being used at the moment. These pieces tend to look a lot like the timeless mid-century modern designs combined with light and airy wood tones. The combination of materials and textures is truly beautiful and adds a refreshing, modern vibe to your farmhouse style.
Charcoal Gray and White French Striped Fabrics
Time to ramp up the texture a bit more and throw in a new pattern for good measure! A lovely, charcoal gray fabric with white stripes should do the trick. I’m picturing a french stripe pattern with the soft texture of linen. But, anything with a coordinating charcoal gray color and white pattern would work here. This fabric would work great on throw pillows to add an accent color on those awesome chairs we just talked about. Or, you could use it as upholstery on an ottoman, maybe? Roman shades, perhaps? Anywhere you can use fabric is an option. Just keep it to a minimum. A little bit of this accent fabric will go a long way. And, using less can often make a bigger impact than more with prints like this.
Faux Banana Palm Tree from Pottery Barn | Hugley Performance Ivory/Beige Rug by Langley Street from Wayfair | Ultra Matte Northern Pacific Collection Hardwood in Sand Birch by Jasper Hardwood from BuildDirect | Grace 100% European Linen Pillow Gray Stripe by OneFineNest on Etsy | Wojtowicz Solid Back Arm Chair by Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse from Wayfair | Cascade 6-Drawer Dresser in White from Joss & Main | Paint Color Scheme
A White Cabinet with Brass Hardware
When it comes to storage solutions in this design, I wanted to maintain the minimalist look with clean lines and a modern feel. To pull this off, I went with white cabinets and linear brass hardware. Something with clean lines is a must here. This combination coordinates beautifully with the taupe gray finish on the wood floors and the rest of the color palette as well. You could work this design element into your home with kitchen cabinets, console tables, dressers or hutches. Anything that gives you an opportunity to bring in that white and brass combo.
Indoor Plants for a ‘Pop’ of Green
This is where we create that strong connection to nature and also my favorite part of the design. Indoor plants! I prefer live ones but, if you can’t seem to keep those plant babies alive, faux plants will work too. Just be sure to include some green foliage into your rooms in some way. It’s a key feature in Scandinavian decor that you really need to pull off this look.
More About those Gray and White Neutral Paint Colors
We went over the color palette earlier. But, now let’s talk a bit more about where to apply these colors. Of course, there are many different ways you could distribute these throughout your home. Here’s what I have in mind. Start with using the cool white on the walls and the bright white on the trim. Use the warm gray as an alternate wall color in any rooms you want to switch things up a bit. Then, work the charcoal gray in as an accent throughout the home. Maybe on an interior door or a piece of painted furniture? Anywhere you want to create a bit of contrast to the light tones of this palette.
If you would like to get the actual paint colors that coordinate with this palette (including manufacturer, color name and number), you can purchase them from my Etsy shop here.
I hope this interior paint color scheme has inspired you to create a beautiful interior for your home! Happy designing!
Other colors and palettes you might like…
