scandinavian Archives - Page 7 of 7

How to choose the perfect wooden dining table

Your dining table and chairs are substantial pieces of furniture. You should choose your wooden dining table with care, thinking about how it will need to adapt in the future, but you’ll also know only too well what you like the look of – so it’s essential to strike a balance between great design and versatile functionality. Here we bring you some tips on what to consider when purchasing your dining table.

The Shape of your wooden dining table

A round dining table or a rectangular table are the two most favored options, but which will work best for you? A small round dining table works well when space is limited as with a little squeezing, you can seat a fair few diners around your table without encroaching on too much space. This rectangular oak wooden dining table and chairs is also ideal for when you want a streamlined, minimal look but without compromising on quality.

Which comes first, the table or the chairs?

Some people prefer to purchase wooden dining room table sets, whereby the table and chairs match perfectly. But, if you want to make a statement, choosing chairs and a dining table separately could be the answer.

Making the wooden dining table the centrepiece of your dining room

There is nothing quite as attractive as a grandiose dining table. No matter what your style, a fantastic dining table really packs a punch. This exquisite example of a reclaimed wood dining table is the perfect example. The distressed look of the wood, full of history and character, works well with the modern gloss of the metal frame. Even the sumptuous upholstered dining chairs cannot detract from its beauty.

Making the chairs the stars of the show

Dining chairs can really add va-va-voom to a dining room. There are almost unlimited options when it comes to upholstered dining chairs, with all shades of colours, as well as a choice between fabric and leather.

Of course, fabric dining chairs don’t work for everybody. A great option are wooden dining chairs. Equally as elegant, wooden chairs are easy to keep clean and suit a range of styles, from farmhouse to rustic

Most of our dining chairs are customisable too, so you can create something truly unique for your home that diners will admire.

Choose your style

Of course, a large factor in your choice of wooden dining table and chairs is your style.

This oak farmhouse table works well in a dining room or kitchen space where you want the pleasing feel of the farmhouse style.

Likewise, opting for the rustic dining table or the industrial dining table style is ideal in a busy home where you don’t want to compromise practicality and function for style.

Adding details

The ‘how and why’ of your wooden dining table are also important considerations.

For example, if you regularly host family dinners and extensive gatherings, an extending dining table with chairs make perfect sense.

But we think that dining furniture is a great way of adding detail without overpowering the space. The legs of the dining table are often forgotten in terms of design which is why we have added details to ours…This reclaimed wood round dining table with the circular, art deco-esque leg adds a wow factor to any dining space. If you want detail but without too much fuss, this rectangular dining table with robust legs is one choice. The circular elements add the right level of detail. And there is something pleasingly ‘chunky’ and firm about the end-of-table column legs on this farmhouse table.

Many pieces in our dining furniture ranges can be customised to suit, giving you even more scope on creating a wooden dining table and chairs that you will love for a long, long time to come.

Scandinavian design hallway in easy steps

If you like clean, simple lines, light muted colours with flecks of texture and depth, the Scandinavian design style for home interiors is the ideal interior design choice.

The hallway of any home needs to be uber-functional and practical. It is the place everyone passes through as they enter and leave your home, it is used for storage and it is the transient part of the home that conveys people from one room or one level to the next. It is like a huge interior traffic island!

This doesn’t mean that the weight of practicality must outbalance style and with the Scandinavian look, you will get the best of both worlds.

To get the low down on the basics of the Scandinavian design style and how to apply to your hallway, read on…

1 Hard flooring

The base layer of Scandinavian design. Forget wall-to-wall carpets and opt instead for hard flooring, preferably wood or as close to the natural wood product as you can.

2 Light, muted colours

Leave the colour charts next to the fizzy coloured paints and opt for white, very light creams and beige muted tones. If you must have colour, stick with barely-there grey and blues for the walls. Scandinavian design is all about setting a minimal backdrop to allow furnishings to deliver impact.

3 Wood

Natural materials are an important part of the Scandinavian design, with wood being the most important. Keep wood as much in its natural form as you can. Reclaimed wood and oak furniture work well as entryway furniture in a Scandinavian interior. This oak console table with single drawer, for example, looks perfect and is perfect for storing keys or mail.

4 Clean lines

Clean lines with minimal fuss are key to many Scandinavian design interiors and it is certainly true. Think of hallway furniture with clean lines but without harsh angles and corners. This simple, yet striking elegant console table would be the perfect choice for Scandinavian furniture.

5 Uncluttered spaces

This can be a tough ask of a hallway in a busy home but it can be done. It means choosing accessories that fit the space whilst providing a purpose. A chair in a hallway, for example, is the ideal addition. Somewhere to sit to pull on or take off your shoes, and a handy platform for dropping your bag on the way in. A pair of simply-styled Scandinavian chairs made from oak work great or for added texture, consider the contemporary jute seating pad of these elegant Scandinavian chairs.

6 Simple accents

Minimal fuss is the order of the day and so accessorising the space can be a tough call. With its raw finish, this wooden ladder accessory can be left as it is or you could paint it to add character. A great piece of furniture for the hallway, you can hang anything from dogs leads to pretty lights.

7 Maximise light

The Scandinavian design style makes the best use of light, important in a part of the world where darkness falls quickly and early in the day too, during the winter months. In the hallway, light can be in short supply – keep window treatments to a minimum and ambient light bright but not stark.

Mirrors are standard hallway furniture. Opt for a wall-hanging wood framed mirror or this floor-standing, leaning wood framed mirror for elegance and practicality too.

With fantastic pieces perfect for the hallway, which will you choose?

How to choose a perfect dressing table

How to get a Scandinavian dining room perfect for get-togethers

Oak dining set with dining table dining chairs and bench for dining room

Entertaining family and friends should be a breeze with our tasteful Scandinavian dining room ideas. Welcoming and comfortable, yet classy enough for formal dining, we think after reading this post, you’ll have to agree.

Shop our Eastwood Rustic Oak Dining Table

What is the Scandinavian Style?

The concept originates from the 1950s and is a collection of styles from Scandinavian countries that focuses on three key attributes with the interior design scheme: simplicity, functionality and affordability.

In other words, you add character and personality to a room without adding clutter or ‘stuff’ that detracts the eye. The furniture, its shape, form, practical function and colour is the component that is the centre of attention. Everything else in the room should frame it, from the colour on the walls to the fabrics used.

Find out more about the Scandinavian style here.

The Perfection of a Scandinavian Dining Room

Scandinavian is a style that works throughout the home but is perfect for the dining room. Here, we show you how to get it right in your home.

Before you start…

Prepare the canvas of the room by whitewashing the walls and ceiling. If you don’t want the room completely devoid of colour, think neutral tones with barely any colour and stick with simple, classic colour themes such as monochrome.

The Main Player – The Dining Table

It is the table and its chairs that will be the focus of a dining room and choosing a key piece is essential to the whole style of the space.

Shop our Nottingham Oak Live Edge Dining Table

Natural materials are key, so it makes sense that a wooden dining table is the must-have key piece. Lighter woods, such as tactile oak dining table would also work well.

In terms of chairs, high backed chairs or bold smaller chairs that complement the setting are perfect. For a truly rustic addition to the style, opt for a wooden dining bench.

Supporting Acts

Although minimalism is part and parcel of the overall design scheme, you still need it to be functional – somewhere to store crockery and cutlery, as well as adding depth, texture and interest to a room.

A wooden sideboard is the ideal addition. With spacious drawers and cupboard space, you can keep things that are essential for get-togethers.

Shop Eastwood Medium Rustic Oak Sideboard

Although you don’t want clutter, there are times when you have items and accessories that add to the overall appeal. As well as books, this wooden bookcase makes the perfect non-fuss addition to the dining room.

Shop the Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Bookcase

Now Add Texture

A wall clock is a practical addition and a black metal finish of a wall clock works well in your monochrome, Scandinavian scheme.

But there are some accessories that add beauty to a space as much as anything. Candles on a dining table are a must, creating a welcoming glow as you while away the hours with family and friends.

The Fabrics

Fabrics add warmth to a room, as well as a note of interest. Soften any starkness you feel may haunt your Scandinavian interior design scheme with natural fabrics. Animal skin throws along with a large sheepskin rug are practical, affordable and simple – exactly the three key attributes you need to create this style for your dining room.

It’s really not that difficult to create the Scandinavian style in your dining room – just follow the process above and you’ll soon be dining in style.

For more Scandinavian dining room ideas, see our inspiration page.

How to achieve a timeless Scandi bedroom

Hudson Living Marlow Solid Oak Bed King Size in Bedroom with white walls and bedside table and small round mirror

The classic Scandinavian bedroom is a timeless interior design that works in both modern or more rustic homes. The pale colour scheme, Scandinavian furniture and non-cluttered approach creates a calming and relaxing space, free from distractions, all of which help to create an environment perfect for a good night’s sleep. But how can you emulate the Scandinavian design? Here, we share some simple design ideas to help you create the perfect Scandi bedroom…

White: the all important Scandi colour

Simplicity is key to all Scandinavian interior design whether that’s in the bedroom or any other room and so, invest in a good quality white paint – and plenty of it. Paint the walls and ceiling white. If your skirting boards are painted, these should be white too. If they are exposed wood, leave them in their natural state. You may not think that painting a room completely white is a bold move but, the secret to the style is to be as bold and bright with as brilliant a white paint as you possibly can.

The warmth in an all-white bedroom is provided by the natural wood of Scandi furniture, the wooden floors and other small, but key details.

Key Scandi details

To maximise the Scandi style, you should focus on the key influential details of the scheme. We’ve already mentioned the importance of wood and the colour white, but the other key feature of the Scandi bedroom is black accents. Monochromatic shades are the basis of any Scandinavian design, so to get the look think white walls and ceiling paired with pale wooden or rustic furniture with chic black details, such as a wooden chest of drawers with black metal handles and feet.

White, black or grey

Whilst a Scandi bedroom is highly desirable, for some, the sheer brilliance of whitewashed walls and ceiling in the bedroom is too much. The lack of colour is something many of us are not used to and as such, you may need to balance out the white without compromising the fundamentals of Scandi style. If you are not ready for the complete white look, even with black accents, then choose a softer neutral or pale grey. Natural grey walls or layered grey textures, such as curtains, rugs and furnishings are the perfect alternative for a Scandinavian bedroom.

Related: Learn about interior lighting from Scandinavian design

Clean lines of Scandinavian furniture

Scandinavian interior design had a big influence on mid-century interiors and furniture styles across the globe. Hence, it may be possible to find both period pieces, reclaimed furniture and modern furniture that fit right into the design scheme in the bedroom. Scandi furniture is minimalist and practical. Natural materials such as wood, leather or faux leather feature predominantly, softened with cosy textured accents.

Be tidy and declutter

We don’t want to lecture you about keeping your bedroom tidy, but it must be said that the Scandi style is minimal in clutter. And that means learning to live in the space in a way that is tidier than what you normally may have been, up to now at least! It also means knowing how you arrange things too. If clothing is on display, for example, cut the clutter by placing same-coloured items together. The best solution, of course, is bedroom storage. A wooden wardrobe and solid wood chest of drawers in a pale or textured wood will help you order your things so the room flows and fits together.

Accent with black

Every space and interior design style needs an accent colour and as we touched on earlier, for the Scandinavian bedroom, that colour is black. Use it well and it will complete the look to your bedroom perfectly.

Shop all style of furniture for the bedroom at Modish Living and choose your favourite wooden bed and bedside table to go with it.

5 Types Of Interior Design Styles To Implement In Your Home

Windsor Oak Farmhouse Extending Dining Table in Dining Room with blush pink dining chairs

If you are looking for inspiration to create a new look for your home, but aren’t sure which style to adopt, then you need to know about these fantastic interior design styles and ideas. In this article, we bring you the 5 types of interior design styles and how to implement these popular trends in your home.

Industrial Look

The turn-of-the-century industrial era emphasised the liberal use of steel and distressed wooden furniture, along with exposed brick walls.

This is achievable in rooms and space across your home, including distressed-wood modern beds. Create a rugged effect but soften with softly draping, but clean-lined window dressings, along with rugs and cushions.

Find out more about the Industrial Style here.

Nautical

Nautical décor is a relaxing one, with warmth and an air of positivity to it, just like a day at the sea-side. The spirit of the sea is captured in many ways, and is the perfect style for capturing the urban modern style.

Think linear patterns, think blues and creams and think nautical patterns, from birds to anchors. Reclaimed wood is also welcomed in this style and with this modern dining table set, you can welcome the sea scape into your home, throughout the space.

Scandinavian Style

There is something delightful about the clean, minimalist lines of the Scandinavian style, but without lacking the warmth and texture that so many of us look for. Scandinavian pieces that fit perfectly within this style are balance engineered with organic materials, have a playful accent on colour and think smooth, rounded edges, rather than hard, angular lines.

Farmhouse

And finally, the farmhouse style is a welcome trend in the urban modern style that so many of us covet. There is a warmth in its familiarity and is a style that is simple to replicate, easy to live with. It is truly practical and versatile.

Again, distressed wood furniture is the backbone of the style, as it is furniture that is simple to incorporate into the scheme. Think pastel colours with neutral tones on both walls and floors. Be romantic in your outlook, including accessories that are not overly fussy. And stick with natural materials as much as you can.

Mid-20^th Century Modern

The mid-1900s provided some of the most iconic furniture design. New technologies gave rise to moulded plastics, plywood and aluminium furniture all perfect for the refined lines, minimalist silhouettes and natural shapes popular in the period.

To keep your home looking fresh, mix in modern-day interior design pieces, such as bright coloured modern rugs.

In the end, all types of interior design styles are focused on making your rooms look homely. It is about adding your creative tastes and takes on styles of yesteryear – like plucking the best bits and bolstering them with modern-day textiles and furnishings to create a space that’s all your own. Choose among the types of interior design styles and make your house not only stunning but also attractive.

Our Gift on Galileo’s birthday: Ideas to Display Your Books

As Galileo Galilei’s birthday passes, we are able to reflect on the remarkable discoveries he made. As an astronomer, physicist, engineer, philosopher, and mathematician, he led a scientific revolution in the 17^th Century. Galileo was known for his superior mind. Galileo Galilei inventions continue to be embraced in today’s technology. He revealed amazing astronomical discoveries that have led to significant scientific breakthroughs today, inspiring many with his work. A celebrated author, he has also had many books written about him and his work over the past 400 years. Do you have any in your rustic bookcase? If not, it may be an excellent way to celebrate his birthday by reading some of his great works.

Display Your Book Treasures

If you’re someone who owns many books – or is looking to add to their collection with some of the great scientific works of our time, like Galileo, then you may be faced with the struggle of finding a great way to keep them all on display where it is not only easy to see them all, but to have access to them too. No matter how you do it, you need a bookcase that not only contains but shows off your treasured books – especially if you want to show your intellect with some of the greatest classics, and non-fiction texts adorning your shelves.

The bookcases available in high street stores are usually plain, simple and more than a bit bland. Overall, they don’t add any natural appeal to a room. If you want a fantastic piece that will look amazing in your living room, why not try a rustic bookcase similar to this open-shelf design? The simple yet elegant design can easily be added to any room. It will look great with pretty much anything on it.

For a slightly more unique design, why not try a shorter but wider shelving unit with added drawers and a cupboard? Made from reclaimed wood, it is a beautiful piece. It is sturdy enough to display books, art or anything else for that matter. It adds character to a room, too, especially when you pair it with a vase of flowers to give an effortless shabby chic style.

Finding smart ideas to maximize space in the bedroom is pretty much what everyone is looking for. With this ladder bookcase you can effortlessly display all the books you have. As a tall unit, it doesn’t take up much floor space; it is also thin meaning it doesn’t feel bulky or large.

Getting More Form Your Bookcase

Whatever it is you love to read, why not add a contemporary look to your bookshelf by breaking up the rows of books by including plants to soften corners. Or, for a real quirky and unique statement, add a vintage bicycle into your living room next to the bookcase.

Lighting is also a great way to pinpoint key features in your room and really make them stand out. For a quick, easy solution, use plain fairy lights with a soft glow or, for a longer-term solution, use backlights to make your bookcase glow. LED strip lights can be added to shelves to help them stand out too.

And don’t forget to incorporate picture frames, small pot plants and little ornaments in your rustic bookcase to bring your display unit and bookcase to life, as well as clustering your books together to create a display that is not chaotic to the eye.

Whether it’s Galileo or Goethe you prefer to read, or perhaps something a little more modern, there’s no reason not to show off your books and make them a design feature in themselves!