A Small Swedish Apartment with Inspiring Touches

Woah, this week has gone fast, don't you think? I thought it would be fun to wrap up with a fascinating little Swedish apartment that's filled with quirky touches and lovely ideas for the weekend - what do you reckon? 

Formerly a milk shop, the 28 metres square (301 square feet) ground floor living space in Stockholm is made up of a kitchen, bathroom and one room that combines the hallway, sitting room and bedroom. While the overall look is earthy and calm, there are some fun details - like a blue door and stripes and other touches that bring a contemporary vibe to the space. 

I also love the use of textiles, sheepskins and cushions throughout which add a really cosy feel for autumn. 

Välkommen in! 

Repurposed textiles like antique embroidered sheets have become really popular as window treatments. Here, a lovely old sheet has been clipped up in the window to prevent prying eyes from peeping in - while still allowing light to flow in from above. 

I love the old coffee table too - so beautiful and warm! 

The entrance may be small - but the owners have more than made up for it with plenty of storage. The mirror doors help to bounce around the light and brighten up the space - as well as help the storage to fit in seamlessly. 

Doors can take up a surprising amount of space. Here, a cute yellow curtain has been used to close off the kitchen from the main living area. 

When space is tight you need to make use of every inch. Sorting boxes have been nailed to the side of the chest of drawers to keep paperwork in order. 

A simple curtain can be pulled across for privacy at night. 

Curtains have also been used in the kitchen to hide less aesthetic items like the recycling bins.

I love how the inside of the cutlery drawer has been painted blue for an element of surprise! Could you imagine doing something like this? 

I spoke about how doors are becoming a statement in their own right on Wednesday - and this blue one is no different! 

What a special little space - so well thought out and unique. 

Did you enjoy this tour too? Any ideas that stood out to you that you might implement in your home? 

You can see more small spaces in this wonderful archive over the weekend. 

Have a fabulous couple of days - thank you so much for stopping by and for all your thoughtful comments. I look forward to pouring myself a coffee this weekend and responding to reading through them all and responding to each and everyone of them. 

Stor kram and happy Friday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem

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A Cosy Swedish Cottage by the Sea

*This post contains a mention of my book / promotion of my own work.

Hands up who has always dreamed of living in a little cottage by the sea?  Surely most of us - especially after a tough day of work! I can confess that I've spent the best part of this morning wondering if my little family and I can move to Jönköping - 3 hours from here. I don't think they'll be too happy - but it doesn't stop me dreaming. 

This charming little yellow and white cottage in Bymarken was built in 1870 and has recently been put on the market. Built on a hill, it's a topsy turvy home - with the entrance, kitchen, dining room and sitting room on the top floor, and the bedrooms and home office on the lower floor - leading out to a lovely terrace. 

The owners sure are keen on wallpaper (something you'll have noticed has grown in popularity immensely over the years in Sweden), which adds to the cosiness of the home alongside kakelugn (masonry oven fireplaces). 

Ready to take a tour and dream away with me? 

In the trend forecasts for 2025 experts have talked a lot about the sensorial home - and it's something I have also touched upon in my Njuta book. 

The idea is that the home should tap into all your senses - the feel of the furnishings under your fingertips, the smell of the natural materials or something sweet rising in the oven, the sound of a roaring fire or an old wood floor creaking slightly under foot and of course how it all looks from a visionary perspective. It's these factors that come together to make a home. 

Notice the candles on the walls in this home which really come into their own in Autumn. By the fire in this room you can also spot an extinguisher made by the classic brand Solsticken. 

Yet another candle on the wall, this time in a gold bowl to reflect the light around the room - I am sure it looks so pretty in the evenings! 

Have you noticed how doors are often turned into a feature in the home tours here on My Scandinavian Home? Here, an old wood door has been sanded down to its original form and the rough texture adds warmth to the room. 

Notice also the old wooden floor, which has been sanded down and treated - beautiful! We recently sanded down the bedroom floor in our summer cottage and it made such a huge difference to the room. That's the beauty of solid wood - it's easy to give it a new lease of life! 

In the master bedroom, curtains have been used instead of sliding wardrobe doors - helping to add warmth to the room and also dampening sound. 

The units are made by Elfa - a Swedish brand which I have used extensively in my own home thanks to a partnership a few years ago. I am still so happy with it today and occasionally adapt it to bring our storage up to date. If you're curious, take a peek at my before and after wardrobe, laundry room and attic makeovers!  

So dreamy! I could so imagine myself living here - enjoying relaxing evenings on the terrace in summertime and cosy evenings by the fire come winter. 

Could you imagine living here too? Is there anything that you loved or noticed in particular about this cottage?

let's take a little look into some other cottages by the sea today - after all, there's nothing like a little mid-week dreaming, right? 

A traditional Swedish cottage by the sea with a splash of colour

My day at a charming Danish cottage by the sea

A warm and relaxed Swedish cottage by the sea

A cosy little cottage by the sea with stacks of books

Is there one of these in particular that you fell in love with? I am quite partial to the last one with all the books - plus. it's just down the road in Malmö! 

Stor kram (big hug),

Niki

Photography courtesy of Västenhem, with thanks

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Emma's Cosy Swedish Home on Lake Vättern

Well, well, well - if it's not what Swedes call 'Lillördag' (little Saturday). Which means friends, we've earned the right to take a mid-week breather, poor ourselves a coffee, out up our feet and some Scandinavian interior inspiration! 

Emma lives in a house in a little village called Hjo on the West coast of Vättern, Sweden's second largest lake (seventh largest in Europe). Every room is a sea of warm earthy neutral shades pepped with in-season flowers from Emma's own garden and candles to bring in warmth. I also love to see a glass of wine or cup of tea, and a slice of homemade pizza or slither of a freshly baked cake are never far away!

Here are some snapshots of some of Emma's favourite cosy corners. 

Lovely! It's really cold here now so I especially love the autumn touches like the blankets, candles and roaring fire. 

The dahlias are in full bloom here too, and Emma's are so pretty! 

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular?

I also have an important news flash for you - this Friday 4th October it is cinnamon bun day in Sweden - so make sure you get involved. There are plenty of good recipes to be found online (and there's one in my Lagom book too if you have a copy of that lying around). 

Other cosy homes with an autumn vibe to love today: 

Cosy autumn ideas from Laura and Nora's beautiful home

11 autumn ideas to steal from a hyggeligt Danish home

A cosy swedish country home with an autumn vibe

And finally, a little note to say that I am heading to Mallorca tomorrow to visit my older sister. It's only for a few days but I really can't wait! This means that I will be taking a couple of days off and will be back here again next Wednesday. I hope you enjoy the archives in the meantime. 

Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @lindblomsgront, shared with kind permission

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Lív's Relaxed Family Home in the Faroe Islands

Why, hej there! Buckle up friends as I am taking you on a My Scandinavian Home all time first virtual trip to the Faroe Islands today! The Faroes is an archipelago in the North Atlantic ocean and an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Known for its dramatic volcanoes and striking nature, the Faroe Islands are somewhere I've always wanted to visit but sadly never been. 

Lív Patursson lives in the Faroe Islands with her young family and I'm excited to welcome you through the doors of her Scandinavian modern home. Cosy, relaxed and full of life, the home is laid out over three floors with a kitchen, sitting room and dining area on the ground floor, as well as a second sitting room on the top floor. 

Keep a look out for plenty of art, quirky lamps, and playful details (bonus points for anyone who spots a skull and a duck!). Also note, that these pictures have all been taken over time and being a fluid living space, objects and furniture have been moved around - so you might spot the same item twice (like the very cool little red chair!). 

Welcome to Lív's Faroe Island home! 

Middle piece of art by Sunniva Ingrio

Bulb lamp to the right by Droog Design

I so enjoyed the tour of this genuine family home where everything goes. I hope you did too! 

Lív shares more snapshots from her Faroe Island home over at @rabarbuliv - if you'd like to explore her feed, you'll see how the furniture has been reconfigured over time. 

I'd love to hear what you spotted and loved about Lív's home, there is a lot to look at! 

This is where I'd usually write 'would you like to see more homes from the Faroe Islands?' but alas, this is the first one (I hope, of many!)! So instead, I'm going to share a few of my favourite Danish homes with you, which I hope will also add to the relaxed feeling this bright and sunny Monday morning! 

Take a peek at: 

The relaxed Danish family home of Dorte Bak

A Danish family home with a warm, golden touch

Henriette and Tommy's Danish cabin oasis

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @rabarbuliv, shared with kind permission. 

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