1. Start with a wooden floor

First of all, start with a clean, fresh base. Wooden floorboards are the ultimate Scandi trademark. Opt for light tones to open up the space and to give as much lightness and airiness as possible. Think about your walls and ceiling colours as well. Your interior will look bigger and brighter instantly — the more white the better.

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2. Use a muted palette

Once you have your base mastered, move on to the big block pieces. For larger items, like your sofa, table, chairs or curtains, try using neutral colours. We especially love using a myriad of greys (avoid a white couch that you’ll be stressing about when the little ones get within a 10-metre radius of it). To master the look, add touches of wood here and there to incorporate warmth.

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3. Add colour by using splashes of pastels

Although a neutral-based style, Scandinavian interior design colour schemes are often infused with soft pastels. Our favourite is blush pink, as it is the perfect complementary colour to any wood. Mint green is also a fun way to add some colour into your Scandi kingdom.

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4. Create a complementary feature wall

So how best do we style our walls in a Scandi home? It can be hard to figure out how to add different pieces of wall art without making it clash with a neutral interior, but by adding pops of pastels you can creating a striking look.

Be creative! Use photos, prints, paintings, quotes or even drawings that your mini-me made! You can create a fun art project for the kids by encouraging them to create, using your colour palette.

By using similar frames throughout and some clever pre-planning, you can ensure your unique feature wall works harmoniously with the Scandi style.

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5. Layers, layers, layers!

The great thing about Scandinavian interior design is you can go wild with textures. As long as the colours are harmonious and neutral, you can mix as many as you like! This is what adds depth and character to Scandi spaces. Use leather, linen, jute, metal, fur, wood…you name it, you layer it!

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6. Get some Scandinavian furniture

The cleans lines, simplicity and beauty of these timeless pieces are undeniable. By adding even just one or two of these beauties, you can completely transform your space. There are so many affordable options to finding Scandinavian-style furniture without skimping on quality and practicality. Try Pop and Scott, MRD Home, Sokol, Eadie Lifestyle, or Mr & Mrs White.

Combinations that are paving the way into 2018 are:

• Woven pastel leathers, featuring in seating, wall hangings and rugs
• Tibetan fur, dyed in striking neutral  or jewel tones is a key trend for children’s bedrooms and playrooms
• Raw hand-crafted materials like pottery and rustic timbers, paired with the traditional curved and clean lines of Scandinavian design – this new style is being echoed as Japandi (a fusion of Scandinavian and Japanese design movements).

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7. Be minimal with the little things (less is more)

The easiest way is to think about what you really need, and forget the rest. Marie Kondo wrote a best-selling book on how tidying up can be life-changing and not only declutter your home but your mind as well. To that we say, yes please! But keep the items you absolutely love. And no, you don’t need those 50 jumpers you haven’t worn since high school.

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8. Use greenery in the right places

Plants are a surefire way to bring texture and contrast to those neutral walls. In spaces that just need a little something, sculptural, oversized and grouped plants will work best. Your pot is as important as the species of your plant, so pick wisely.

A single or dual tone will last the test of time. Our favourite brands include Designtwins, Pop and Scott, Ivy muse, Urban Eden, and Milk and Sugar. To not overdo it, just add one large potted plant to each room. Make sure you use plants that can survive indoors and don’t need much light. If you’re not into big plants, or can’t keep one alive no matter how hard you try (we’ve all been there), then why not add a simple cactus? They’re always a nice, easy way to add some greenery.

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9. Install a fireplace

Living in Australia, we may not all need a fireplace, but if we were to embrace them, either for function or pure aesthetics, they would look a little like this. The Scandinavian ‘staple’ fireplace would be tall, thin and likely to be perched in a corner. We may not ever install one of these but we love these different styles to ooh and aah over. If the real thing is impractical, a faux fireplace creates a setting to do a vignette of artwork, greenery or personal items.

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10. Be meticulous and creative with lighting

Last, but certainly not least, lighting! It’s so important in any space, but the fun thing with Scandinavian interior design is that you can incorporate various sizes and shapes with great success. Try using cool bulbs, lampshades and garlands.

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Scandinavian interior design gets us so excited, and makes us spend way too much time on Pinterest, but we hope this has inspired you to redecorate.

Do you want to find out what your ideal style is? Check out our style quiz and get your dream home project started right away!

The post How to create Scandinavian interior design appeared first on Designbx.

Your bedroom should be a place of rest without the stress of work or the over stimulation of technology. With winter fast approaching, days will become shorter, light will fade to dark, and weather will become
unpredictable. This results in a shift from the outdoors to interiors and you begin to feel the urge to cuddle up under the covers with a cup of cocoa and a great book. Here are some easy master bedroom decorating ideas that will create a cozy, welcoming sanctuary that you won’t want to leave.

1. Master bedroom bedding

Look for quality bedding, thick textiles and soft natural fibers such as wool, down, linen or flannel. Wool can make the perfect quilt cover or throw, and down is very lightweight but warm. Linen has high air permeability and heat conductivity properties, meaning it’s a breathable fabric that makes you warm in the winter and keeps you cool in the summer, not to mention it’s great for people with allergies while also having the benefit of being eco friendly.

Flannel, while not as stylish as the others, is ideal to use as a bottom sheet. It helps trap your body warmth, which will keep you snug during those chilly mornings when you don’t want to get out of bed. Layer your sheets, quilt, throws, runners and cushions similar to the way you add jackets to jumpers. Dress your bed with a big, fluffy quilt and cushy pillows. By piling on the different textiles, your bed will look like something you could sink into. Layering can increase your physical comfort, please the eye, and change the ambience of your room.

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2. Window dressings

Window dressings will help keep the warmth in, and the cold out. They can be used both as a decorative element of the bedroom design while also being practical. ‘Hard’ window treatments such as plantation shutters and roller blinds can offer varying degrees of insulating protection for chilly drafts. ‘Soft’ window treatments made of fabrics such as floor to ceiling drapery panels, gently frame your window and absorb sound, softening and completing a room. Custom window treatments are an important design element. Bare windows can feel cold and uninviting.

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3. Rugs

If your home is covered with floorboards or tiles it may feel rather cold and bare during winter. A rug in your bedroom will create a welcoming feel, providing warmth and softness underfoot. The bigger the better! It will also help to anchor your room’s décor and colour scheme.

While we’re on the topic of rugs, why not add another? This is a great way to cover a large space without investing in a room-sized rug. It’s also an easy way to subtly but effectively break an open space into zones, adding extra depth and interest to your room. Choose contrasting textures or patterns for a unique look that’s truly you, or alternatively you could add sheepskin or faux fur rugs on top of an existing carpet, rug or floorboards to bring extra warmth and comfort for your feet in the morning.

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4. Lighting

Be sure to pick bulbs with warm tones for your bedroom. White globes are generally used to stimulate the brain in workplaces and this is certainly not the feel you want when you’re trying to settle down for the night. Your bedroom lighting could also benefit if controlled by dimmers, which will allow for various effects.

To add some more warmth to your room, consider some low, soft lighting such as a bedside lamp with a low-watt bulb (40 or lower) and a softly diffused shade. Candles are also one of my favourite winter warmers. They create a beautiful ambience, smell amazing and help add warmth on a cold winter’s night. If you’re feeling bold go neon artwork.

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5. Fresh Flowers and greenery

With our lifestyles moving indoors, we continue to want to feel connected with the outdoors to offset our busy lifestyles and ever-growing dependence on technology. This has encouraged the trend of letting the outdoors in. Spoil yourself with some fresh-cut stems or live greenery! Nothing brings a breath of life to a drab wintry day better than elements of nature. If you’re not a green thumb, why not opt for a framed print, cushion or realistic artificial plant?

Getting your bedroom ready for winter starts now. With these five master bedroom decorating ideas, not only will you have a little head start to get the look you want; it might give you a few extra cups of cocoa, if you’re lucky.

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Elise Finnerty is an interior decorator and stylist. She is passionate about beautiful spaces that are accessible and affordable for everyone. She has appeared in publications such as Yours magazine, Sunday style and more. You will find her working from her home Office or for Designbx “Australia’s online interior design solution”

The post 5 great master bedroom ideas for winter appeared first on Designbx.