In Scandinavia the winters are looooong - which has never made the arrival of spring feel so good! But it's not us pseudo (and actual) Scandinavians that are buzzing with optimism, I've noticed the arrival of spring is contagious all across the northern hemisphere. Instagram feeds are awash with cherry blossom against bright blue skies and cafés are buzzing with alfresco diners. At home, we can finally throw open our windows and doors and flood our living space with glorious sunlight, morning, noon and night (in Malmö the sun sets at 8.30pm today!) - hurrah! If you're looking for ways to bring the spring feeling into your home this weekend, you might just feel inspired by these five ideas from the home of my talented friend (and wonderful new intern) Felicia Alm. As with all things Swedish, think subtle, lagom touches that are not too little, not too much: just right!
1. Branch out
Spring is all about nature coming alive and in the spirit of Swedish lagom - simple branches in full bloom are an easy and impactful way to bring a taste of the season indoors!
Bring your windowsill or a side table to life (literally) by growing your own vegetables, herbs and flowers from seed and create a small, indoor spring garden - hopefully, when summer arrives your plants will be ready to move outdoors.
People-watch from a Swedish café in winter and you'll see a line of black - but come April / May the crowds fizz with colour (OK maybe that's an over-statement, but there's certainly a hint of colour involved)! "Don't hide them away - let your prettiest spring clothes be part of the decoration! It's an easy way to add more texture and contrast to your home," Felicia advises.
4. Lighten Up!
Now that we're heading towards the lighter and (hopefully) warmer season stow away your winter cushions in favour of lighter more colourful covers which are still in tune with your interior to give the room an instant spring lift!
5. Set the Scene
Enjoy a cosy fika with a taste of spring. Get creative with your table setting by adding fresh spring flowers and branches for your very own spring garden, even on rainy days! "Hyacinths will last longer and have a beautiful blue colour as well as a lovely scent."
I love this idea. To achieve a similar look, simply remove the pots and place the hyacinth bulbs in a layer of soil at the bottom of of a large cylinder-shaped glass vase. Potted hyacinths make perfect decoration for outdoor tables too.
Please feel free to add your own suggestions for ways to celebrate the season in the comment section below, I'd love to hear your ideas!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend (I have to say, it's beautiful here today but looking decidedly shaky over the weekend - how typical is that?!).
Trevlig helg!
Niki
PS This is the last weekend to make the most of our 20% discount. Whether you're looking to decorate an empty room, re-shuffle your living room, create a beautiful room for one of your children or even transform your garden shed into a guest bedroom we can help with a floor plan, furniture, colour suggestions and accessories. And it's all online so the service is available wherever you are in the world! Read more about the My Scandinavian Home service and sign-up here (to claim your 20% discount type in MYNEWROOM at check-out).
PPS I am super excited (and a little nervous) about by my summer cottage kitchen renovation (it hasn't been touched since the 1970s!). Read more about my plans and weigh in here. I'd love your input!
Photography and styling: Felicia Alm / @feliciaalm
Hi Nikki thanks for sharing the post. I really love how you brought the spring indoors. What was your inspiration for this? Hope to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteAll credit goes to Felicia for this post :) she was inspired by the nature outside the door in spring time!
Delete