Kitchen-living room in a Scandinavian style: photos and design rules

Features of the Scandinavian style

This northern style direction is very attractive for our Russian interiors, since we often lack sunlight, and typical apartments do not differ in size. These disadvantages can be partially corrected using the following techniques:

• Simplicity of furnishings, no fancy furniture.
• Light solid color trim with contrasting details.
• Functionality, but without being overloaded with unnecessary elements.
• Harmonious combination of natural materials with glossy surfaces.

Color spectrum

The Scandinavian style in the interior of the kitchen-living room involves the use of a traditional palette: white, gray and cream. These are versatile shades that serve as a backdrop for a vibrant decor. Colors close to natural are often used as accents: lingonberry, herbal and heavenly. They help to make the interior warmer and more comfortable.

The white kitchen-living room looks especially luxurious with black elements that add depth and expressiveness to the Scandinavian-style setting.

In the photo, an apron covered with slate paint visually deepens the niche, and coral-colored details enliven the monochrome interior of the kitchen-living room.

White color goes well with any shades, so nowadays it is becoming more and more popular. But its main advantage is the reflection of light, which makes the kitchen-living room look more spacious.

Furniture

For a kitchen-living room in a Scandinavian style, you should choose laconic furniture, not overloaded with details. It is important to organize the space so that each family member feels comfortable and cozy. To do this, you need to provide the room with comfortable and spacious storage places to hide everything unnecessary.

Many facades may even lack handles: such a minimalistic approach helps to bring the appearance of the kitchen unit closer to ordinary furniture, and also kind of dissolves it against the light background of the walls.

A less strict design is also popular when open shelves are hung in the kitchen-living room. Usually they are not filled with all kinds of utensils, but are used for decoration and houseplants.

The photo shows a combined kitchen with a living room in a Scandinavian style with high top cabinets to the ceiling.

For the dining group, large, most often wooden, tables are chosen. Chairs can be collected from different eras, even scuffs are appropriate on them.

When choosing a sofa in the kitchen-living room, preference is given to soft and roomy models. If there is enough free space in the room, comfortable chairs are placed in the recreation area. They look especially cozy in front of the fireplace. But coffee tables, bar stools and stools for the Scandinavian style are chosen on thin legs in order to strike a balance between light and impressive solid furniture.

Decor elements and textiles

The main theme in the selection of accessories for the Scandinavian style is hand-made. It is prized for its originality and the warmth that comes from handcrafted items.The walls of the kitchen-living room are decorated with minimalist posters and family photos. Images or figurines of deer are also popular.

In the photo there is a corner where the cooking appliances look so sophisticated that they serve as a decoration for the kitchen-living room. An old brick apron adds interesting texture to a modern setting.

By decorating window sills and shelves with home plants, Scandinavians reflect their love for nature.

Natural fabrics are usually chosen for upholstery: cotton and linen, leather and suede. But the curtains on the windows are often absent - in the Scandinavian countries, this way they compensate for the lack of sunlight. But warm blankets, self-woven rugs and pillows are incredibly appreciated in scandi interiors: together with candles and vases, they help to create a unique atmosphere of hygge (a sense of comfort and well-being).

Photo of a small kitchen-living room

Owners of small studios, Khrushchev houses and modest-sized private houses are faced with the need to equip combined rooms. A Scandinavian-style kitchen-living room is the perfect way out in such situations.

The photo shows a duplex studio apartment in the Scandinavian style, where the lower floor is occupied by a compact living room with a kitchenette.

It is best if a small Scandinavian-style kitchen combined with a living room meets all the requirements of minimalism - the less furniture and things, the freer the space seems. It is recommended to select a kitchen set of simple shapes and use each meter as functional as possible. A book design is perfect for a dining table, and a transforming model for a sofa. Folded furniture like this does not take up much space.

In the photo there is a small kitchen with a living room in a scandi style. A folding dining table helps save space.

Zoning options

The design of the kitchen-living room assumes the presence of separate functional areas. The Scandinavian style uses standard zoning techniques - for example, partitions or wooden shelves that separate the cooking area from the sitting area. Glass partitions are also appropriate: they add airiness to the room and do not deprive it of light.

Zoning can be achieved simply by painting the walls and ceiling in contrasting colors, as shown in the second photo. An interesting solution is the podium structure, which raises one zone, thereby visually separating the sections from each other.

In the photo, the sleeping area is separated by a light partition-rack. The white kitchen-living room is combined with a compact bedroom, and the Scandinavian style is realized with the help of bright spots on a neutral background.

One of the simplest and most useful ways of zoning a room is the furniture itself: for example, a dining table or a bar counter. Being close enough to the work area, they serve as an additional worktop for cooking. Lighting plays a significant role in zoning: it is desirable that each individual site be equipped with at least one lamp.

You can also separate the kitchen from the living room by placing the sofa back to the table, as in the first photo:

Interior design ideas

One of the main advantages of the Scandinavian kitchen-living room is to look simple and elegant at the same time. White walls, like a blank canvas, emphasize interesting decor elements, unusual furniture, accent sections of the walls, decorated in a special way. With the help of additional shades, you can give the interior austerity (by adding black) or cheerfulness (by decorating the house with bright textiles).

Scandi-style is not alien to eclecticism: modern and ancient elements get along well in it. The floor of the kitchen-living room can be finished with a moisture-resistant laminate or the restored herringbone parquet can be left.

In the photo there is a spacious kitchen-living room with a bar counter, a dining area and a sofa in front of an authentic brick wall.

It is easy to see from the photographs that the convenience of a Scandinavian-style kitchen-living room is closely intertwined with practicality.To protect the kitchen area, tiles can be laid on the floor, which will also serve as a way of zoning the room.

Photo gallery

The most important thing is that the design of the kitchen-living room in the Scandinavian style allows you to show your imagination. Strict adherence to certain canons or a mix of furniture from a famous Swedish brand is no longer Scandi. It is good when the interior reflects the character of its owner - it is pleasant to be in the atmosphere in which the soul is invested.