A Designer’s Guide to Scandinavian Interior Design

Scandinavian interior design translates unusually well to New York apartments—not because it’s minimal in the way people often assume, but because it’s deeply practical. It emerged from cultures that spend a significant portion of the year in low-light conditions, which means it was designed from the start to make the most of limited space and natural light. Those are not abstract concerns in a New York apartment.

Done well, a Scandinavian-influenced interior feels calm without feeling empty, and considered without feeling cold. Getting there takes some intention.

Scandinavian design is organized around a few foundations: function first, natural materials, clean lines, and a restrained palette that lets light do most of the visual work. Visual clutter (or anything that doesn’t serve a purpose and disrupts your line of sight) is the enemy of this cohesive flow. The furniture is typically low-profile, the fabrics are tactile but not fussy, and the overall effect is one of quiet ease.

It’s worth distinguishing this from minimalism, which is more ideologically driven. Scandinavian design is warmer than that—there are layers here, just carefully chosen ones.

The Scandinavian palette leans toward whites and near-whites with soft undertones, supported by warm neutrals and the occasional muted tone that references the natural world—sage, dusty blue, clay. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65 is a go-to for walls and trim in spaces that want a clean, bright white with no discernible undertone. For something with slightly more warmth, White Dove OC-17 or Swiss Coffee OC-45 softens a room without pulling it toward beige.

For a muted accent—a reading nook, a bedroom wall, a built-in bookcase—consider Quiet Moments 1563 or Horizon OC-53, both of which sit at the intersection of blue and gray in a way that reads as genuinely serene. These colors don’t compete. They recede, letting the room breathe.

In Scandinavian design, window treatments should enhance light rather than draw attention to themselves. The best options for this aesthetic are clean-lined, fabric-forward, and unobtrusive—which rules out anything heavily textured, patterned, or architecturally elaborate.

Hunter Douglas Duette® Cellular Shades are a strong fit. Their soft, cellular construction adds subtle texture without visual clutter, and cellular shades are a great choice for blending temperature control with style. For a completely frameless, fabric-only look, roller shades in a sheer or light-filtering fabric disappear into the window, exactly as Scandinavian design intends. Roman shades in a natural linen add warmth and structure without overwhelming a spare interior.

You don’t need to start from scratch to bring a Scandinavian sensibility into your space. A carefully chosen paint color, the right window treatment, and some editing of what’s already there can go a long way. When you’re ready to explore, our team is here to help.

Book a Free Shop-At-Home Appointment or visit one of our design and décor stores! We’re locally owned and operated, always happy to serve our neighbors throughout Manhattan, SoHo, Chelsea, Long Island City, Gramercy Park, Hell’s Kitchen, Lower East Side, Throgs Neck, The Bronx, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Uptown West, and Yorkville.