We Adore These 16 Scandinavian-Style Houses for Their Simplicity and Beauty (2024)

Design Styles

Architecture

Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

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Updated on 01/04/24

Key Elements of Scandinavian Houses

Various elements appear across Scandinavian house design.

Natural materials: Scandinavian design loves to incorporate the natural world into its residential spaces of the world. The most popular material to build homes is wood.
Simple color schemes: Simplicity is the cornerstone of Scandinavian design, and this includes its color schemes as well. Many Scandinavian homes use neutral or muted colors.
Natural light: Natural lighting is an absolute must. This can be achieved with minimalist or airy window treatments as well as adding reflective accent materials.
Minimalist design: Less is more is the driving principle of Scandinavian architecture and interior design.
Clean lines: Clean lines and organic shapes complement the rest of the natural elements in the home.
Pitched roofs: Pitched roofing is a trademark of Scandinavian house design. This includes A-frame builds.
Clutter-free: The intentional design of Scandinavian homes translates to everything in the home. This means there is a place for everything and no excess.
Greenery: Think floating plants and lush greenery throughout the space.
Multifunctional: Scandinavian houses keep everything minimal in part due to building multifunctionality into their designs. This can be included in the furniture, design accents, or architectural components of the home.
Hygge: And finally, the Danish concept of hygge finds its way into every home. Hygge focuses on fusing wellness and feelings of ease and contentment into the home.

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Simple Colors

Scandinavian architecture as we now know it took off in the 1950s inDenmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway,and Sweden. Stark contrasts, such as this black-and-white home as seen onodetothings' Instagram, are common in Nordic design.
This architectural style is all about minimalism, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun with neutral colors. We love this sleek black siding when paired with a bright beam that makes it pop.
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An All Wooden Build

Another key element ofScandinavian exteriors is the use of nature in the design. This unique wooden home seen onArchDailylooks like it's almost a part of the forest it sits in.
Many Nordic architectural styles work to merge the home with the outside world, making you feel like you're never separated from nature. This cozy cabin looks incredibly spacious inside thanks to its strategic windows and siding.
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Embrace Natural Light

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The lack of daylight for much of the year means Scandinavianhomes embrace natural light when they have it. We love this wide-windowed home fromHQ Room—it's located inArgentina, but embraces everything we love about Nordic exteriors.
The huge paneled windows and the natural wood siding allow it to blend seamlessly into the surrounding trees.
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Wooden Exterior

We love this Swedish home seen onDwellfor its use of wood all around its exterior. Because wood is affordable and plentiful in Sweden, it's widely used in construction.
Though this exterior is understated, it's still inviting and warm. Each window is designed specifically for its corresponding room and helps give the home an open, airy feel. Who wouldn't want to while away the winter in this Swedish house?
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A Scandinavian Pool House

This stunning pool house by Lundberg Designis everything we dream of and more. The raw, natural materials and expansive windows help to highlight the pool as a focal point. Copying this simple wood slatted fence is an easy way to get a bit of Nordic-inspired design into your own home.
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Bold Contrasts

This eye-catchingReykjavik exterior seen onelliott_explores'Instagram is giving us serious color envy. If anyone can make corrugated steel look stylish, it's the Icelandic. This metal siding was originally thought to be a cheap, durable material to fight theharsh weather in Iceland, and it's become anarchetypal element of Nordic design. We'll happily add a splash of bold color to our homes if they look as chic as this.
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Quaint and Beautiful

Who says bigger is better? This tiny home by the sea in Stokkøya, Norway fromasantehas a small profile but big style. Like many Nordic homes, this cottage is built with wood and incorporates the surrounding natural setting. It's situated on rocks and overlooks the sea, making it feel more spacious and open.
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Scandinavian-Style Luxury

This stunning home on a cliff as seen onunitrenderspace constitutes a "dream home" for us. Though it's mostly square, this wood-frame home is anything but boring. Again, it's built to with its environment in mind, and fits into the mountain it sits upon seamlessly. We can almost taste the hot, hygge-status tea brewing inside.
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All Windows

See Also
17 Popular Exterior House Styles (and How to Spot Them)

By now you know that Scandinavianarchitecture is all about becoming one with nature, and what better way to feel like you livein nature than this window-filled cabin fromCabin p*rn? Built-in Gunnarskog, Sweden, even the gable roof has skylights to let the natural light in.
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Pops of Color

Even the most minimalistic decorator can appreciate this inviting home fromarnocornillon on Instagram. The stark black is veryScandinavian-inspired, while the bright yellow door adds a bit of sunshine, even in the depths of winter.
This upstate New York home is built from shipping containers, which gives it a metal siding look that feels authentically Nordic.
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Dark Facades

Black homes are very popular in Scandinavian countries because the dark color absorbs light and helps to insulate the home against the coldest weather.
We adore this stark black home as seen on@appareilarchitecture; it'sboth practical and beautiful. The vertical lines on the facade as well as the roof add texture and visual appeal.
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A Dreamy A-Frame

Who doesn't love an A-frame home? These adorablesleeping quarters seen on@retrovillaare the perfect guest bedroom. The black exterior is utterly Swedish—and though the space fits only a bed, it feels airy and open against the trees and greenery.
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A Low-Profile Home

Though this beautiful Norwegian wooden home from@loggarkitekteris only a single story, the wall of glass windows helps it feel open and spacious. We love the simple natural facade, which feels modern and fresh.
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Red Facades

If you set foot in a Scandinavian country, you're sure to come across these deep red facades—as seen in this adorable country house from My Scandinavian Home.
Red paint was once thought of as a status symbol in Nordic countries and continues to be a defining exteriordesign choice today. If you're searching for paint inspiration, go bold like the Swedesand try some red.
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Exuding Hygge

If this stunning cabin seen on@upknorthdoesn't make you want to pack your bags and move to a Scandinavian country, then we don't know what will. Even with the harsh winter outside, this all-wood home exudes warmth and looks oh-so-inviting.
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Concrete Made Beautiful

Another popular and durable material in Swedish homes is concrete, and this stunner seen on@est_living's Instagram is proof that it can be truly beautiful.
The stark black-and-white contrast, especially when paired with a water view, has an artfully modern edge. Add some oversized windows to let the outside in, and we're sold.

FAQ

What makes a house Scandinavian?

A Scandinavian house is one that uses design elements from Scandinavia. This includes the countries Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
What does a typical Swedish home look like?

Swedish style focuses on nature and simplicity, with clean lines and natural materials. Wood is the most popular material used to construct Swedish-style homes.
What are Scandinavian colors?

Scandinavian colors are usually neutral or muted shades. This includes grey, white, forest green, burnt orange, dusty pink, and pastel blue.

16 Scandinavian-Style Houses We Adore

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

Scandinavian houses and Scandinavian-inspired architecture are known for their clean lines, neutral materials, and overall sense of minimalism. The design styles of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, the three countries that make up Scandinavia, are similar and influenced by each other. Scandinavian houses are often designed to withstand the elements, whether that means keeping the cold out or the heat in. They incorporate various key elements that define their unique style. Let's explore these elements in more detail:

Natural Materials

Scandinavian design loves to incorporate the natural world into its residential spaces. The most popular material used to build homes in Scandinavia is wood [[7]].

Simple Color Schemes

Simplicity is a cornerstone of Scandinavian design, and this includes its color schemes as well. Many Scandinavian homes use neutral or muted colors [[8]].

Natural Light

Natural lighting is an absolute must in Scandinavian houses. This can be achieved with minimalist or airy window treatments as well as adding reflective accent materials [[9]].

Minimalist Design

Less is more is the driving principle of Scandinavian architecture and interior design. Clean lines and organic shapes complement the rest of the natural elements in the home [[10]].

Clean Lines

Clean lines are another important feature of Scandinavian houses. They contribute to the overall simplicity and minimalism of the design [[10]].

Pitched Roofs

Pitched roofing is a trademark of Scandinavian house design. This includes A-frame builds [[10]].

Clutter-Free

Scandinavian homes are intentionally designed to be clutter-free. Everything in the home has its place, and there is no excess [[10]].

Greenery

Scandinavian houses often incorporate floating plants and lush greenery throughout the space, bringing a touch of nature indoors [[10]].

Multifunctional

Scandinavian houses prioritize multifunctionality. This can be seen in the furniture, design accents, and architectural components of the home [[10]].

Hygge

The Danish concept of hygge, which focuses on fusing wellness and feelings of ease and contentment into the home, is an essential element of Scandinavian design [[10]].

These key elements contribute to the unique and timeless appeal of Scandinavian houses. They create spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with a focus on simplicity, natural materials, and a connection to nature.

Please note that the information provided above is based on the search results and does not reflect personal opinions or experiences.

We Adore These 16 Scandinavian-Style Houses for Their Simplicity and Beauty (2024)

Key Elements of Scandinavian Houses

Simple Colors

An All Wooden Build

Embrace Natural Light

Wooden Exterior

A Scandinavian Pool House

Bold Contrasts

Quaint and Beautiful

Scandinavian-Style Luxury

All Windows

Pops of Color

Dark Facades

A Dreamy A-Frame

A Low-Profile Home

Red Facades

Exuding Hygge

Concrete Made Beautiful