Tour a Malmö Home Filled with Smart Scandinavian Style Ideas

Goddag, goddag! While there are lots of different looks across Scandinavia, I think what the region is most famous for worldwide is its love of a neutral palette—one that balances calm minimalism with a big dose of hygge (or “mysig” as the Swedes say). But what exactly makes the difference between a space that feels a little “meh” and one that feels unique, warm, and oh-so-cosy?

This Malmö home, which until recently belonged to Elin and Kristoffer (they’ve now moved on to restore a beautiful house in nearby Österlen), is full of clever yet simple decorating tricks that make all the difference.

Let's discover what's at play. 

The first clue: the furniture mix. Rather than sticking to one style, the home features a playful blend of modern-day finds, retro gems, and antiques. Everything is kept in earthy tones, but the mix of shapes and a few design classics keep the whole space feeling interesting rather than flat.

Next: texture, texture, texture. From sheepskin and leather to wood, cotton, linen, and wool—layering textures adds instant depth to a room. It’s what makes a home feel tactile and inviting, almost begging you to reach out and touch. Neutral colors on their own can risk looking bland, but bring in a variety of textures and suddenly the space feels warm and full of life.

Scale. This is one of my favourite tricks. In this home, smaller displays are balanced out with a few oversized pieces—especially the lighting. A large pendant or table lamp makes a bold statement, adds drama, and stops a pared-back space from looking too timid. It’s a little design “surprise” that gives the room personality. 

Finally, contrast: light and dark. This is another brilliant trick you’ll spot in Scandinavian homes. By pairing light walls and furniture with darker accents—whether it’s a dark wood floor, a deep blue sofa, or even just a moody cushion – you create depth and drama. The play of light against dark keeps a calm palette from looking flat and instead makes the room feel layered and full of character. Plus, it mirrors the Nordic landscape itself, where long dark nights meet endless bright days. 

I hope you feel inspired by this glimpse into Elin and Kristoffer’s home. It’s such a lovely reminder that cosy minimalism isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing the right little things that make all the difference.

I can't wait to see what they will do with their next home. If you'd like to follow their renovation journey check it out on @ohrepersson. 

Is there anything that you love in particular about the way they have decorated their Malmö home? 

Since I’m sitting at my desk in Malmö, I feel it’s only fair to spread a little love for Sweden’s third largest city. Here are some other homes you can tour:

Inside a cosy Malmö apartment where old meets new
An artist's atelier in a converted workshop
A peek inside my friend Rene Humphrey's evolving Malmö home

Happy mid-week friends!

Niki

Photography: Markus Linderoth

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Happy New Year! / Step inside a Cosy Malmö Apartment: Where Old Meets New

Well, hello there, friends! Happy New Year! I’ve got a good feeling about 2025—how about you? Here on the blog, I’m excited to bring you all my latest discoveries from the world of Scandinavian interiors!

Today in Malmö, it’s pretty bleak—snow, rain, and a howling gale. Needless to say, everyone is hunkering down at home, wrapped in blankets with candles glowing! Meanwhile, across town, interior designer Natalie Cécile Coquand is likely enjoying a cosy bank holiday with her family in their lovely apartment.

Natalie’s work is all about creating spaces that tell a story, and this is beautifully reflected in their Malmö city apartment, which she and her husband have been thoughtfully renovating. After recently moving from the Skåne countryside to embrace city life, traces of their rural roots still shine through in their new home, where old and new come together in perfect harmony.

Ready for the first tour of the year?

Natalie was particularly drawn to the kitchen with all it's natural light and character. Notice how a dark red larder to the left helps to break-up the grey/ green and creates a wonderful contrast. 

Colours: kitchen cabinet - Kulladal nr 100, walls - Farrow & Ball all white and drop cloth, larder - deep reddish brown. 

A ground-floor flat, the kitchen door leads straight out to the courtyard for a cup of coffee in the sunshine (although today, this door is likely firmly shut!). 

A separate dining room with a window nook can be used for more formal dinners, and game nights! Note the two toned paint work with darker door frames and skirting boards - a great way to show-off the turn-of-the-century details. 

Colours: walls and trim - school house white and drop cloth

In the sitting room, IKEA shelving helps set the scene for a lovely library. 

I love how Natalie has made a feature of the wardrobe doors in her bedroom - painting them in a different tone and adding pretty curtains. 

Colour: wardrobe doors - light blue

Traditional fabric helps to cover up storage in the hallway and adds a cosy feel. 

So lovely!

I hope you enjoyed this peek behind the scenes in sleepy Malmö today.

Is there anything that has given you inspiration for a new year project at home? Or perhaps a detail that stood out in particular? 

You can see lots more of Natalie's charming home over at @nataliecoquand. 

Up for a few more Malmö home tours? Click through to these:

An artist's home in a former workshop

A Malmö home full of design classics and art

The wood and white home of a Malmö creative

You might also like to see my travel guide featuring 20 things to do in Malmö in wintertime. I hope you pay a visit some day, I'm very proud of this vibrant city! 

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my final post of 2024 (before Christmas) - I've loved reading them and looking forward to responding this evening. 

Here's to a great year ahead! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @nataliecoquand, shared with kind permission. 

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A Malmö Home Full of Design Classics And Art

It's Friday friends - woohoo! I don't know about you, but I feel it's come around so quickly this week. I'm hoping to nip around the town on my lunch break today and visit some of my favourite design stores to celebrate (in a social distanced / safe kind of way, of course). My usual circuit always includes the Malmö store Olsson & Gerthel - which sells the most incredible iconic design furniture, mixed in with some beautiful pieces by local artists. It's a total feast for the eyes, and food for the design soul! One of the co-owners - Nina Gerthel, lives a stone's throw from the store, in her childhood home in the picturesque old area of Gamla Väster. Nina, an interior designer, is a firm believer in filling your home with pieces you love and that make you feel good and her recently renovated home is a fine example of this - and a wonderful extension of the design ethos and offering of the store itself. Ready to take a peek inside? 

Oh to have beams like these! I am always eyeing up houses in Gamla Väster when they come on the market,  but homes like this rarely come up (Nina took over this one from her parents).  

The other thing that struck me was the art - I love sculptures and Nina has really given them space to breathe so they catch the light and stand out. 

I was reading an interesting article the other day about how, when faced with a design conundrum and looking to improve a look, people naturally add things, when actually, the solution is often to take something away. 'Less is more'  is an artform and one at which the Scandinavians excel! Something to think about over the weekend when organising / arranging your home!

Is there anything that stood out to you about Nina's lovely home? 

Shall we finish off the week with a few other Malmö home tours? Here are a few favourites: 

Sofie's home (owner of my favourite go-to florist): The cosy, vintage inspired home of a Malmö florist 

A local home in St Knut's: A 'mysigt' apartment in soft, earthy tones

The home and studio of the wonderful girl I share my studio with: Carina Grefmar

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by this week :)

Niki

Photography by Robert Våhlström for Olsson & Gerthel

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A magnificent Malmö pad which could be yours!

I do love to keep an eye an eye on the Swedish property market (as I'm sure you've noticed!). Occasionally a home will reappear and it's fascinating to see the difference in the way it's been decorated. This fabulous space is one of them. As soon as I spotted the turn-of-the-century apartment on Malmö estate agent site Bo-laget, I instantly recognised it. The magnificent ceilings, tremendous ceiling height, original parquet floor and kakelugn (Swedish masonry oven) were a total give-away! The previous owners went for a relaxed vibe with mid-century and vintage finds (see the tour here). The new owners have kept the space equally minimalist, ensuring the architecture and period features take centre-stage, yet the furniture has a more contemporary feel. And now it's time for someone else to move in!

This apartment is for sale through Bo-laget. 

Could it be you?! If so, welcome to Malmö! 

Oh how I would love to take on this place too. The things I would do!

A few pieces I know and love: Togo sofa, Bertoia diamond armchair, source a similar Beni Ourain rug, Hay tray table, Bertoia side chair.

I'm so proud of the level of creativity in my adopted home town and have featured many, many fabulous homes from this city here in Southern Sweden over the years. Here are 5 of my favourites:

The relaxed family home of an interior designer
A stunning Malmö home
The atmospheric house with an ethnic touch
An elegant Malmö home in calming green
My neighbour's beautiful home!

Is there a style you like in particular?

Have a lovely day!

PS Make sure you stop by and visit us here in Malmö for a long weekend at some point - it's a perfect day trip from Copenhagen too. Just in case you do, here's a quick guide. Part II coming soon!

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A Peek Inside Rene Humphrey’s Evolving Family Home in Malmö

It’s Friday, friends – yay! I’m keeping it local today… very local, in fact!

A few weeks ago, I moved into a new studio on Lilla Torg – a picturesque old square right in the heart of Malmö. I feel so lucky to be sharing the space with some truly lovely, inspiring, funny, and all-round awesome people – one of whom is Rene Humphrey.

Rene has a background in landscape garden design and now works as an interior designer and stylist. Needless to say, the home she shares with her partner Aron and their two little girls, Bonnie (4) and Billie (3), is beautiful in every way.

Set in a leafy villa area, the family moved to the house in 2022. Since then, Rene has been adding her signature touch to the space with an earthy palette, lush textures, and a wonderful sense of warmth. She also loves playing with shape and symmetry, bringing depth and personality to each room. All around the house, you’ll spot her collages-in-progress – mood boards that not only guide her interior projects but also shape her own home, one room at a time.

Dark wood has made a strong comeback in recent years, and it’s lovely to see how it adds contrast and character throughout Rene’s home.

The house is very much a work in progress, with some rooms still waiting their turn. I’m already looking forward to sharing an update when the next chapter unfolds! For now, here are a few lovely angles from Rene’s place to enjoy on this fine Friday!

So calm and serene! If I know Rene right, the garden will also be transformed into a complete oasis. But as a (rookie) gardener myself, I understand the length of time it takes. It's definitely more about the journey than the end destination! 

Did anything stand out to you about Rene's lovely home?

You can see more pictures from Rene's work and home, fashion tips, and delicious-looking culinary creations here. 

I must take some snaps from the new studio I work in soon, I think you'll like it. If you're curious about visiting Malmö, check out my city guides, including 30 things to do for design lovers and 15 favourite local hangouts - although so many cool places have popped up since then, I think it's time for a new one! Have you ever been to Malmö? 

It's a small place, and everyone in the design world is connected somehow. For example, Rene is great friends with Natalia Andersson, whose former home I featured here. Another Malmö home I think you'll love is Natalie's cosy city apartment where old meets new - who happens to be best friends and business partner to Patricia Rodi, a Swede living by a Scottish loch. I told you it's a small world!

That's it from me this week. I hope you have some fun plans for the weekend? It's been a long week of work for me so I am looking forward to kicking back in the sunshine with a glass of rosé! 

Skål from Sweden! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @rene_humphrey, shared with kind permission. 

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