Interior design minimalists are often drawn to the work of Scandinavian designers. For them, a palette of pale colors and a streamlined floor plan is ideal for creating a calm, balanced feel. However, there’s a definite shift toward more eclectic styling from the region, with vibrant colors and distinctive bold patterns heralding the latest era of what has been dubbed ‘Scandinavian maximalism’.
Perhaps surprisingly, this is nothing new. “For years, Nordic design has been less decorative than that of other countries, but the maximalist look actually has its roots in Scandinavian design from decades ago,” reveals Dorothea Gundtoft, author of Real Nordic Living: Design, Food, Art, Travel. She notes the colors, patterns, and shapes in the work of luminaries like Verner Panton and Nanna Ditzel as primary influences of the look, which shares an approach with the more traditionally restrained Scandi style. “We consider balance, calmness, and usability even in our most maximalist spaces,” she adds.
