Though we have all the options to choose from whatever our heart desires, and by everything I mean whatever it is in terms of shopping, we have to admit having all these options can be rather overwhelming. Choosing your homeware design is no different. I’ve gone through a lot of hassle before I figured the key to creating the interior (and home) of your dreams is to define your style; a simple formula that’s anything but simple to get to as it’s a compound of many aspects.

I’m willing to share my story, and spare a dear reader from the long bother of searching for this formula, like I did. As a starting point you can use the colours you wish to surround yourself with, and this refers to furnishings, and decorations, as much as it does to walls, ceilings, and floors. Then, it’s also the features, edges, ornaments, or the lack of them, that can further help you so focus well, imagine every bit of your home.

Then, ask yourself these questions: Are you up for something luxurious, mainly focused on ornaments? Or are you up for something that’s luxurious in a sense of practicality and simplicity? After answering, you start getting a clearer image in your mind as to what the desired style for your home is, right? Magical!

I’ve always been a fan of the charms of white (mind you, not a monotonous white, but all the warm tones of white) on walls and floors, and it wasn’t any different with furnishings. Out of fear my home would turn stale, I’d long postponed the idea of incorporating more white until it turned out Scandinavian homeware design was the one that caught my eye, spoke to me the most and urged me to give white a go.

Having in mind Scandinavians are all about practicality and are known for their fine craftsmanship and innovation, you get two in one – style and practicality. Anything and everything that can be part of my home, and increase its aesthetics, is now in this style.

From hard-to-resist furniture pieces, like my beloved living room sofa armchairs with distinct features in the form of coated steel frame, nylon strap, and charcoal upholstery, and my soft velvet, gold based ottoman, to my irreplaceable warm and comfy fluffy rug, brass kitchenware, mirrors, leather towel racks, powder coated metal hangers, and planters with seamless finish – my home is my (Scandinavian) sanctuary.

As odd as it may sound, this was the only style that made me decide to give way to minimalism in my home, and life. The beauty of this homeware design is you can never have enough of it, meaning you can never visually clutter your interior, and it can easily be combined with elements of different styles (modern, traditional, coastal), so that’s a worry you can cross off your list. I know you’re probably curious how this can be so.

Well, the answer lies in the origins of this style; the Scandinavian climate hasn’t only influenced the Scandinavian crime fiction that’s full of gripping crime stories this part of Europe is famous for, but it’s also had its share of influence on style.

The long winters, and lack of sun in particular, have led to the development of Scandinavian design with elements (materials, colours, lines) that evoke brightness, well-lit areas, as well as pleasantness, and that makes it easy to combine and create the interior of your dreams.

While it’s the many warm hues of white as the basis, it’s also the warmth of the different hues of pastels that have a role in the Scandinavian interior style and décor – pleasantness overload. I hope this is inspiring enough for you to breathe in changes in your home and get the desired outcome.