Inside Juni's Oslo Apartment with Creative Paint Trends & Inspiring Art

Good morning, friends! I hope you all had a wonderfully relaxing weekend. I can’t stop daydreaming about the cosy cabin from Friday’s post—oh, how tempting it would be to swap Malmö’s dreary rain for an off-grid retreat in snowy Lapland this week! How about you? Unfortunately, that’ll have to remain a dream for now. But don’t worry, I’ve got something else to brighten up your Monday—a stunning home tour that’s sure to inspire.

Today, we’re stepping into the beautiful apartment of Juni Halseth Strenberg, a talented UX designer based in Grünerløkka, Oslo. Juni and her partner have been lovingly renovating their home, which dates all the way back to 1894. A colour enthusiast, Juni has embraced earthy tones throughout, using them boldly across ceilings, windowsills, and door frames. The result? A chic, contemporary vibe that perfectly complements an eclectic mix of sculptural furniture, rich textures, and playful patterns. Small bursts of colour in the form of lighting, artwork, and accessories bring an extra layer of energy and joy to the space.

Welcome to Juni’s delightful home—let’s take a peek inside!

Paint colours: Classic white on walls, Morning dew 18 on ceiling, Himla  4 on windowsill

Armchairs–Fogia, Pendant–Hay, Floor lamp–Louis Poulsen, Sofa–MeliMeli, Paint–Klint colours, Lobster cushion–Beau Marché

Paint colours: Vide 107 on walls, Olivlund on ceiling

Frame TV–Samsung. Art by: Emma Widell, Ingrid Haukelidsæter, Anette Moi, Maria Murphy, Jane Hupe, Petter Hoen, Isabelle Feliu, Ragnhild Nes

Glass cabinet–Ellos (painted in another shade), art–Maria Murphy. 

On the other side of the dining room: cabinets–IKEA, Snoopy lamp–Flos, art by Usikkerkunstjente,  Leon Seesix, Astrid Wilson

Cabinets–IKEA, pendant lamp–Hay

Paint colours: Honey bee 32 on ceiling, Limon 82 on walls. 

I get such a lovely feeling from Juni's apartment—don’t you?

The use of colour really stands out to me. A few years ago, it was all about the one accent wall, but these days it’s all about going all out—painting absolutely everything: the ceiling, walls, window frames, radiators, you name it. And, I’m here for it! How do you feel about this contemporary use of paint?

I also loved being introduced to so many new artists (I’ve done my best to link to as many as possible).

Was there anything in particular you enjoyed about Juni’s home?

You can check out more corners of her apartment and stay updated with her latest renovation projects here.

Let's take a look at a few more inspiring Oslo homes today: 

At home with the Arctic Gardener

An artist's home in Oslo (captured for my book!)

A stunning Norwegian home in many shades of blue

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @junik, shared with kind permission. 

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Touring a Dreamy Townhouse with Classic Swedish 'Funkis' Architecture

Monday calls for something with a light touch, don't you think? That way, we can float into the week in a bit of a dreamworld! This lovely Stockholm townhouse fits the brief perfectly with its bright rooms, splashes of colour, and playful touches.

The spotted lamp, colourful floral wallpaper, and hues of pink, blue, yellow, and green give it just the whimsy I was looking for today, lending the entire space a youthful, cozy look. Despite the sharp, functionalist lines typical of 1960s Swedish architecture, there’s a softness to it that makes it feel both lived-in and inviting.

For those of you unfamiliar with Swedish functionalism (or 'Funkis'), it's an architectural and design movement that was especially prominent from the 1930s to the 1960s. It focused on simplicity, practicality, and functionality, with the main principle being 'form follows function.' In contrast to ornate styles, Swedish functionalism emphasises clean lines, minimal decoration, and efficient use of space and materials. Importantly, it aimed to make good design accessible to everyone, with a particular focus on affordable housing and communal spaces that supported modern, healthy lifestyles.

You can really spot the practical 'Funkis' nature of this house—from its functional layout across two floors to its simplicity. It’s the perfect space for a family to hang out, read peacefully (they’re hardly spoilt for choice with that wonderful library!), create, and gather. And when summer comes, Lake Mälaren is just a quick trip away for a swim!

Ready to take the tour?

How lovely, I feel a little lighter just looking at these pictures, how about you? 

To me, this is a very Swedish home - from the choice of porcelain, glassware, trays and textiles to all the furniture. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

I think this is the first home in a while that doesn't have a pet lolling about - or maybe they are just out of sight? 

Would you like to see a few other homes with pops of colour today? Here are a few from the archives: 

Maria's colourful apartment will brighten up your day

Swantje's beautiful colourful and quirky home

A rare peek behind the facade of Copenhagen's Nyhavn

Have a fantastic start to the week!

Niki

Photography Ozollapa, Styling Lindholm, courtesy of Historiska Hem, with thanks 

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A Copenhagen Family Home Full of Inspiring Details

When you've been writing a blog Scandinavian interiors for over thirteen years, the same talented people are bound to pop up over and over again. Out of the 2968 posts I've published, the Copenhagen apartment of Freja Bak Josias (then Petersen) in 2019 still remains etched in my memory. 

Trends have moved on a whole lot since 2019, but also Freja's too. In the five years that have gone by, Freja has completed her studies and now works as a 'Constructing Architect and Master in Building Culture', and has also moved into a new apartment with her partner and adorable daughter Ruth. And with that, a distinct new decorating style has emerged. 

Freya's beautiful apartment is high up in the rooftops of Copenhagen - which lends itself to high sloped ceilings and old wood beams. But what really stands out to me is the use of colour - which includes door frames and skirting boards painted in pea green, vibrant art, a red ladder, and orange lamps. It's playful, yet calm and adds a touch that feels very 'now' while still feeling personal and relaxed. 

Keep a look out for how high ledges have also been put in use for display purposes and also for the montage in Ruth's room - so pretty! Enjoy the tour! 

What a lovely home - truly inspiring! 

Is anyone else looking around their home and thinking 'maybe I should paint those door frames? I might need a little orange lamp for my home too - so cute! 

What inspires you most about Freja's Danish home? 

See more lovely corners over on her instagram @frejabakjosias. 

You might also like to take a peek at 12 ways to add colour to your home Danish style. 

It's 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) here in Malmö today which is the hottest September day on record. I think a cooling dip in the sea is in order. 

I hope you have a happy Wednesday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @frejabakjosias, shared with kind permission. 

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A Creative Swedish Home Filled with Art

Yesterday, I mentioned that I'd feature a Danish home today, but you know how it is, plans change! I promise the feature is still in the pipeline (watch this space). But the good news is, I have another inspiring home to share with you, in the form of this creative Swedish apartment! 

The 44 sqm (473 square foot) apartment caught my eye thanks to its unique style - it's like none other I've seen before! Think walls filled with original art, vibrant cushions, interesting colour combinations, mix and match vintage furniture and plenty of plants! 

Keep your eyes peeled during the tour as there are plenty of small touches to feel inspired by - and also two very clever colour styling tricks. 

Allow me to explain the first. When adding a strong colour to a space it can create a nice element of surprise. However, a random colour on its own can be quite jarring to the eye and ruin the harmony - or even completely take over a space. So, experts often use a rule of three, which simply means, that if you add an accent colour to a space, try to repeat it three times to balance the look. 

The second trick is referred to as the 'rödtråd' in Swedish - which translates to 'the red thread'. The idea is to repeat an accent colour throughout your home to create a flow. In this home for example, you can see the table legs in the kitchen match the pendant lamp in the bedroom. 

 

Such an interesting home! I love the unique touches and homely feel. 

Is there anything that caught your eye? Perhaps you use some design tricks in your home? If so, please do share in the comments below if you'd like! 

Would you like to see a few other creative homes today? How about: 

I also stumbled on this lovely post featuring pictures from creative workspaces! 

The happy home of artist Katie Schelter

The fab creative home and studio of a Brooklyn creative duo

The relaxed creative home of an Antwerp couple

I hope you enjoyed today's tour! 

Niki

Photography: Boukari

Styling: Copparstad

Featured on Historiska Hem

Found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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