Scrolling

A Small Swedish Home With a Smart Room Divider

In small quarters, creating a calm, practical and comfortable living space that's also beautiful isn't always easy, but it's something the Swedes are especially good at! 

While this apartment might be blessed with a spacious kitchen, the living room needs to serve as a place to sit, relax and socialise as well as a bedroom. And if there's one thing us humans love, it's to sleep in a cosy space that provides privacy. But, with only one window in the room, the owners were faced with a conundrum. Do they close off the 'sleep zone' and cut off the natural light? Or do they keep it open-plan? 

Read on to discover the smart solution they arrived at and feel inspired by a soothing colour scheme and light-filled home in a compact, 37 sqm / 409 ft.sq space. 



Mirrored furniture is great for reflecting light into all corners of the home - and it's also a huge trend this season! 

Look closely at the window and you'll spot a black-out blind - ready to turn the room into a dark haven for a good night's sleep! 

And here friends, is the answer the owner found to creating a little privacy at nightfall. A pony wall that's high enough to separate the living room from the bedroom but low enough to ensure light flows through. 


There's no shortage of storage here! 





The layout: 

Glossary; rum: room, kök - kitchen, badrum - bathroom

What a lovely space, and a clever idea for a room divider to boot, do you agree?

Is there anything that stood out to you about this Swedish apartment? 

See more small spaces that offer beautiful solutions for angled ceilings, one room studios, storage and more in the small spaces archive

Glad Lillördag! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Alvhem with thanks

Twitter FaceBook

Pin It
7

A Light and Airy Open-Plan Swedish Loft with Angled Ceilings

Hej there! I hope you had an 'underbar' weekend! It dawned on me that I've shown quite a few bigger homes recently, yet homes come in all shapes and sizes. And in this case, angles! So if you've come here looking for loft spaces with low ceilings or compact open-space living ideas, this one's for you! 

In this top floor apartment in Gothenburg, the designer has decided to create one large open space rather than a series of smaller rooms to ensure the light gets into every last corner. Mirrors also help to accentuate the light, while an earthy, neutral colour scheme ensures a serene, cohesive look that's looks as cosy as it is comfortable! 

When you live on the top floor of an apartment block, nature can feel very far away. So, I also love how an array of simple branches have been brought in to connect the space with the great outdoors. Loft living at it's finest! Enjoy the tour! 






So lovely! The entire home looks so effortlessly decorated, don't you think?

I guess if I have one bug bear, it's the bed in the middle of the room without a headboard. I'd definitely need something to prevent my pillows falling off in the night! How about you? An easy fix though! Otherwise I think I could move right away and not change a single thing, how about you? 

Would you like to kick off the week with  a few other loft / attic spaces with angled ceilings? Check out: 


For storage, I recently kitted out my wardrobe and attic space, both of which had angled ceilings. 

Or perhaps you're after small one-room apartments? If so, look no further than this archive

Happy Monday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Alvhem - found via Nordroom with thanks. 

Twitter FaceBook

Pin It
11

A Back-to-Basic Swedish Lakeside Cottage with a Wild Bathroom

While the snow falls here in Malmö, I am aware that those of you in the Southern hemisphere are basking in warm sunshine. So, today I'm pressing the pause button on my wintery posts and taking you on a journey to a little Swedish cottage by a lake in summertime. 

The little red and white cottage near Västerås, Sweden, truly embraces a back-to-basics lifestyle - and the great outdoors is as much a part of the living space as the indoors. Life here is all about switching off and enjoying a simple summer by the lake - just you, the trees, the occasional curious moose and a book by the water. 

Ready to dream? 

The main cottage measures a mere 20 m2 (215 ft2) and comprises a charming kitchen and sitting room area.

Remarkably simple, the cottage doesn't have any running water (you need to bring it with you - which is not unusual, I have a few friends that transport their own water to their cottages, some even located miles away on an island in the archipelago). It does however, have electricity! 

The charming kitchen has open shelving to display prettier items, which a chequered curtain covers the plumbing and pots and pans. An IKEA unit provides extra storage under the window. 

A placard behind the sink bears the words: 'For those who have good friends, the simple cottage becomes a castle'. Truer words were never spoken, do you agree? 

The cottage also has a fireplace for colder days (hey, this is Sweden - you never quite know what temperatures you're going to get come summer!). 

Notice how a curtain has also been used in lieu of a cupboard door - adding to the relaxed look of the space. 

A sunroom has been added to the front of the cottage, providing a perfect spot to entertain friends while looking out over the lake. An oil lamp overhead emits a warm glow at night. 

Blue and white is a classic theme for Swedish waterside summer cottages. Here a chair, runner and bowls draw the lake indoors.  

A stone's throw from the main cottage is a smaller one-room dwelling where you'll find the bedroom. A simple chair serves as a bedside table. 

The wild 'bathroom' comes in the form of a table, mirror nailed to a tree and the lake. There is also a compost loo nearby. 

To me, this picture embodies everything I love about the Swedish approach to summer, where even the most simple daily ritual becomes an event and brings you closer to nature. The perfect antidote to daily life in the city!

A lounge chair offers a place to relax and njuta* after a 'morgondopp' (morning dip) with a coffee.

Is this your kind of summer getaway? 

If so, perhaps this cottage is for you! Check out the listing here

Would you like to see a few other back-to-basic dwellings today? Feel inspired by:  


Happy Lillördag (little saturday)!

Niki

Photography courtesy of SvensktFastighetsförmedling, with thanks
*advert for my own work

Twitter FaceBook

Pin It
8

Timeless Charm and Dark Blue Walls in a Small Swedish Apartment

While colours in the fashion and interior design world come and go, there is always one that remains: dark blue. It's timeless. And I'm a huge fan. 

Softer than black but still striking, dark blue is a stalwart in the world of interiors and adds a cosy, cocoon like feel to a room. Combine it with fresh whites and warm earthy tones for a soft, elegant look, and throw in lots of natural materials in the form of wood, rattan, cane, linen and wool for a look that's bang up to date! 

This beautiful apartment in Gothenburg is a fine example of dark blue done right! Oh, and it's also great inspiration for anyone who has their bedroom in the living room too! Välkommen in! 

The Flos Sarfatti ceiling light is a design classic which you'll find in many Swedish homes. 

I don't think I'll ever tire of linen bedding - it's practical, catches the light in a beautiful way, and the more you wash it the softer it gets. Try Wonder Linen on Etsy* for similar! 

*affiliate link

Wooden hooks from Norrgavel are a Swedish bedroom essential! 

Contrast is continued in the kitchen with black units and off-white walls. Notice the copper piping, cabinet and painting too! 

Swedes are going crazy for range ovens right now! They're more widely available these days as you can get them in both gas and electric induction versions. 

Rule break alert: the rug version of 'messy hair, don't care'! I kind of like how this one extends onto the wood floor. It's a little like rolling out the red carpet - everyday!

A jute rug adds a softness to the black and white bathroom. We've also added one to our downstairs loo and it makes the world of difference! 

Such a lovely home full of contrast! Interestingly, the estate agent have presented two versions of how to divide up the sitting room / bedroom area - one open-plan, and one divided into two separate rooms (vardagsrum - living room, kök - kitchen, sovrum - bedroom): 

Which do you prefer?

Also, would you consider going for a dark colour in your home? In Albin's room we've painted two of the walls in dark blue, but I've always regretted not going for the entire room. Next project? 

Not quite convinced with the dark blue? See other homes with this feature here: 


And for those of you planning a small space, here are some great examples of Scandinavian style studio apartments: 


Happy Monday friends! 

Niki

Photography: Walti Hösli
For sale via: Entrance

Twitter FaceBook

Pin It
6

Subscribe To My Scandinavian Home

Subscribe to My Scandinavian Home

skovby ad


 

site by ANAAR

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
MORE INFO