Bring Hygge Into Your Home With These Scandi Lighting Ideas
Lighting tips from the Nordics.
No one knows more about effortless lighting than the Scandinavians. With daylight a rarity during the winter months, its no wonder that our Nordic neighbours have taken their concept of hygge - every notion of homely, inviting, cosy and comfortable - and balanced it with carefully considered Scandi design and superb quality to create lighting that is not only highly functional, but sets the perfect ambience. Keep reading to discover how to bring hygge into your home through Scandi-style lighting.
1. Consider Candlelight
Starting with the obvious-perhaps-not-so-obvious Scandi lighting idea - candlelight. Danes, Swedes and Norwegians are notorious for burning the most candles than anywhere else in Europe and it's easy to see why. Lighting from multiple candles provides a soft, warm glow that just screams hygge. Place them as a centrepiece on your dining table, dotted around the living room on shelves, side tables and the coffee table or place them on your windowsills a more more relaxed, wintery feel. Use scented candles in woody or spiced tones during the colder months and somethign more fresh and floral during midsommer.
Tip: For anyone not keen on the idea of open flames, opt for flameless, LED candles. They're just as aesthetically pleasing.
For Scandinavians, light fixtures aren't made to be hidden away in a corner and left to gather dust. Instead, have a go at experimenting with table lamps by placing them on bookshelves, on a low stool or even artfully located on the floor. Opt for table lamps that have adjustable heads so that you can position the light to suit the mood of the room.
Tip: Avoid harsh lighting by swapping your usual light bulbs for dimmable ones. This way, you're in control of how much light filters into every room, with lower, softer lighting helping to bring in the most hygge.
Anyone aiming to up the level of Scandi design in their home knows that pendant lighting can pack a powerful punch when positioned above a dining table. Softer and more delicate than spotlights, a pendant light helps to create a relaxed atmosphere, ideal for when you're dining casually with friends or enjoying a cosy meal. Suspend yours low above the table and preferably grouped with two additional pendant lights that are slightly smaller in stature and size.
Tip: Have you seen our latest article 5 Steps Towards a Scandi Style Dining Room?
4. Make a Stand-Alone Statement
A well-positioned floor lamp or wall light fixture can be especially impactful when highlighting a focal piece of furniture such as an armchair or sofa. Turn an otherwise dark reading nook into a hygge-filled corner with a standing lamp and direct the light so that it gently illuminates only the area you want. This type of Scandi-style lighting also works well in the bedroom, helping to create a calming mood after a long day.
Whether you're a loyal follower of Scandi design or new to the aesthetic, chances are you'll have seen the bare bulb lighting trend. Shaped either as a low-hung pendant or table lamp, these exposed light bulbs add to that cosy, hygge feel and look great over-sized or when used with a darker shade of glass. And while most of us will stop at nothing to hide any wires and cables that trail out of our light fixtures, Scandi's prefer to let loose and include them in their overall design.
Tip: Your journey into Scandi design doesn't have to end here. Check out these additional articles:
- Ask the Experts: What is Scandinavian Design?
- 3 Unique Ways to Achieve a Sleek and Modern Scandi Look at Home
- How to Decorate Scandi Style this Christmas
