The Secret to Creating a Calm & Organised Home, Scandi Style

Paid partnership with Elfa, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love. 

Minimalist, practical, calm, organised. These are just some of the words that people frequently use to describe a Scandinavian home. And they'd be right! Having lived in Sweden for over 18 years I am constantly amazed at just how neat and tidy people's homes are (with the rare exception, of course!). Life is messy, children are messy, so, just how do they do it? Simply acquiring less stuff - or having a good old declutter certainly helps. But there is something more at play. 

I put a lot down to excellent storage. 

Simply put - I've been told that by creating a perfect home for everything - no matter how big or small, keeping your home tidy, neat and organised will be way easier. 

The problem 

Now, I'm going to fess up. The Brantmark family home is messy. It's shamefully messy. Organisation is neither Per nor my strong point. Someone is always tearing around the house looking for something they've lost (is it just me or are children particularly bad at finding things?). And it's embarrassing. Is there anyone out there who feels the same? 

The solution

This year everything's going to change! Why? Because I approached global Swedish storage experts Elfa - who happen to be based locally here in Malmö - and asked them to help me organise my home, room by room! And I hope, by sharing the knowledge and various solutions with you - you'll also pick up some great tips and tricks too. Unless of course, you've already got a wonderfully organised home - in which case, please do share your tips along the way! 

Who is Elfa? 

If you've been following My Scandinavian Home for a while, you'll most likely be familiar with Elfa already. Their fab storage systems pop up in homes I feature time and time again (take this, this, this and this!).  The Swedish company was founded in 1948 and prides itself on providing a sustainable, functional and high-quality storage system and doors for just about anything and anywhere in your home including the bedroom, children's room, living room, kitchen, garage, attic, hobby rooms, home office and laundry space. Think flexible shelving, drawers, hooks, baskets, dividers and more which will give even the tiniest and most awkward items a home. 

And they also offer planning help and great online tools. 

Most importantly, I love the Elfa ethos: it's not only about providing a perfect place for everything in your home, but also about creating more space for you, and making your home a better place to be. 

That's me sold! But where to start? 

Home Edit

The best way to get started, I learned,is to take stock of existing storage and 'problem areas' in the house. Have you noticed; some parts of the home feel way easier to keep tidy than others? It might be a load of small items collecting on a side table in the hallway, heaps of clothes in a corner or a cupboard stuffed to the brim with clobber.  

I pinpointed four areas in my home: my wardrobe (still in one of my girls rooms), Allie's bedroom (going from tween to teen!),  the laundry room (enter at your own peril), and the attic (don't get me started!). I'm looking forward to sharing my room by room plans, and all the details (including before and afters - no matter how embarrassing!) over the coming months. 

Do you have any specific places in your home? If so, I hope you'll enjoy the forthcoming series. 

Right, time to get planning, I've got a house to organise! Watch this space! 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend, 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Elfa. 

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Inspiring details from an interior stylist / photographer's home

Hey guys! It's Holly Marder here from Avenue Lifestyle, sending some inspiration to you from my home in Delft, the Netherlands. You have already seen my bedroom, which was featured here on My Scandinavian Home a while back, and while it remains my favourite room in the house for it's tranquil qualities and calming palette, I thought I'd stop by to share with you some snippets of my home I captured recently highlighting some of my favourite bits. I must be honest, we have been slowly renovating and decorating our home for just over two years now, and I get a little crazy thinking about all that I still want to do! I see a mental to-do list as long as my arm the minute I step inside, and sometimes forget to enjoy the lovely things we have done that do inspire me every day. Do you do that too?

 






Our kitchen is almost finished but some of my favourite details include my gorgeous wooden beaded pendant lamps by Australian designer Marz Designs made from walnut and oak (they were the first thing we bought for the house and remain a total favourite), marble countertops, brass display rails by Schoolhouse Electric and custom oak cabinetry by Koak Design (who designed this kitchen which I couldn’t stop thinking about).

 




My little vintage trolley, which I recently painted black, is also a new favourite. You can read more about it’s transformation HERE. Still love it so much and the difference it makes to our home, though a small addition. Sometimes we forget to celebrate the little things, don’t we?

 





This little wooden bench above in my living room is a new piece I recently bought for myself at The Fine Store by Japanese brand Karimoku New Standard, a little gift for my home after using it to style this bedroom for a client project recently. I love it simply styled in this little nook in the living room with piles of my favourite books and magazines all over it. So simple but inspiring none the less and so textural with the vintage Beni Ourain rug I brought back from my trip to Marrakech last year (find a similar one here).

I am a huge collector of art, mainly vintage pieces I adore hunting for, and I have created a gallery wall above our sofa. Vintage mixed in with modern pieces (in this image, the 'Eye Eye' poster from Fine Little Day and a print from Eeli-Ethel Polli) make me smile each and every day.

I hope this post inspired you to look more closely at thew details of your home which bring you joy and inspiration each day, to stop and enjoy them for what they are.

PS See a tour of my studio here.

PPS Niki will be back tomorrow with a truly inspiring home tour. Have a lovely day!

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7 Simple Steps To A Tidy Home!

For some right now, it's simply about muddling through the day in the best way possible, and that's perfectly fine *breathes a sigh of relief*. For others, the chaos that comes with working from home, home-schooling, working out in the sitting room, plus everyday activities such as cooking, crafting etc can feel a little overwhelming. And to be honest, my home is a bit of a mess at the best of times, right now, it's an all time high (I know it can be hard to see that from my pictures, but ask any friend and I'm sure they'll concur!). Can anyone else relate? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it when my home is tidy, I'm just not always sure how to get there quickly!

For those of you who already have a wonderfully tidy home - or simply have come here today for a little eye candy - relax, sit back and enjoy the pictures (Esra's home is lovely!). 

But for those of you, who like me, could use a little guidance on keeping the mess at bay - and would love a calmer, more organised home - these 7 tips from Esra from @i.like.it.tidy - might just come in handy! 

Hi! My name is Esra and I live in Berlin, where I was also born and raised in Berlin. My partner and I have two children Max (7) and Mika (3) and a dog Bex. Our apartment is 160 square metre. It's an old house and very typical for Berlin - with its large rooms leading into one another and high ceilings. 

Our place is known for being super tidy, which is of course not true all the time. But I do like my home to be clean and tidy. I would therefore love to share my tips with you on how to keep your home tidy. 

7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Home Tidy

1. Declutter: I know this is so Marie Kondo, but it's the ultimate way to enjoy a tidy home. We tend to hoard things like candles, vases, and bedding, so start by going through your things and ask yourself: how often do I use this, and do I have too many of them? Start with the small things as these are the easiest to declutter. 

2. A place for everything: Everything you own needs to have a home - somewhere you can put it back after you have used it. If an item doesn't have a 'home', it will be in your way all the time and you will constantly move it around. Trust me, a home always feels calmer if nothing is in your way!

There's a useful article here about how to create a home for the tiny bits and pieces in your home. 

Wall mounted storage units are great for storing items you don't want to be on display. I particularly like IVAR units from IKEA since they can be painted the same colour as the wall - and you can combine them for extra storage.  

3. Avoid impulse buying: only buying the things you need is better for the environment and better for you. It's better to save money and invest in something valuable - and that you know you'll use for years to come, like a sofa or armchair. 

4. Children's rooms need lots of storage: always use big boxes or baskets so that kids can put things away easily. It's especially important that the storage containers are in easy reach - low shelves, drawers, containers etc. Let them literally throw things back - don't make it complicated for them. 

Above left and below: IKEA toy storage is ideal for little ones - it's low and the buckets make it easy for even the youngest of children to tidy their toys away. If your child has a small bedroom use storage that doubles up as furniture like low drawers that can also be used as seating, or drawers that tuck neatly under the bed. For tiny items like beads, nail polish etc (of which my girls have many) - the Moppe mini chest of drawers is a winner! 

5. Edit toys regularly: if you overload a kid's room with toys they don't use, they will quickly feel overwhelmed. If they'd like something new, try to sell or give something away that they no longer need at the same time, this will help keep toys at a manageable level. 

Above: is it just me, or do children tend to want you to read the same books over and over again? Usually the longest ones - to draw out bedtime! Why not keep a little book stand (the Douve book box* is similar) by the end of the bed - it will help keep their favourite books off the floor and in easy reach. Note the desk has built-in storage underneath so craft items can be quickly stowed away after use (this one is from IKEA). Woven seagrass baskets* are also super handy for storage - plus they can be flattened when not in use! 

6. Tidy-up straight away: Whether cooking or crafting with your children or carrying out your own tasks - always tidy up immediately after you have finished. Don't let the mess fester and take control. It's so much easier to tidy up in the moment than to be confronted with a huge mess at the end of a long day! 

Note Esra has combined two IVAR cabinets in the picture above  - one on top of the other. Store items that kids don't use daily higher up (or the pieces that require adult assistance like felt tips, paints etc!). 

 7. Make it routine: last but by no means least, try to do all the steps above as a routine to keep on top of your home, it's an ongoing process. Enjoy it. It will make you happier! 

Thank you so much for sharing these tips Esra. 

Perhaps you are already a neatnik and have your home perfectly well organised - if so, wonderful! 

If not, and you feel you have the time and energy (seriously, no pressure guys - I know times are tricky right now), shall we agree to make a start? Here are three things I'm going to do: 

1. Clear out our bed linen and towel cupboard - there are WAY too many things in there and I have a feeling that's why there are always about twenty towels on the go (it drives me insane!). 

2. Invest in more storage so that I have somewhere to put post and bills, as well as other small items like candles etc. I've realised not everything has a home! 

3. Encourage the entire family to deal with their clothes at the end of the day immediately (way too many 'chairobes' in this house!) - and while we're at it - our wardrobes could use an edit too! 

There you have it, in black and white! 

Is there anything you're thinking of doing at home after reading this? Or perhaps you have some great tips on how to keep a home tidy not covered here - if so, please do comment below! 

Niki

Photography: Esra / @i.like.it.tidy

*This post contains some affiliate links

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Get The Look From A Fab Stockholm Home of A Design Hunter

A new day, a new dawn AND a new studio in town! I'm so excited as I've been cycling passed this little place for years and always dreamed. about working here (a little like the owners of this cabin in Great Mackerel Beach - which they'd be eyeing up for over 20 years!). Further North, Swedish vintage furniture dealer and interior designer Fredrik Karlsson is also enjoying a turn of the century building. His apartment in Stockholm features achingly high ceilings, beautiful period woodwork and a pristine parquet floor dating back to the time it was built in 1902. Light pours in through French doors, casting a natural spotlight on iconic design pieces, new Nordic items and original artwork. I chatted with Fredrik to find out more about his style, love for design classics and best Stockholm tips!




How would you describe your style?
Scandinavian minimalism meets French industrialism. I like the more minimalistic lines and high quality materials of Scandinavian design but always try to mix it up with some favourite French mid-century design pieces by designers such as Pierre Jeannette, Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand.

Above: Floor lamp by Julius Theodor, coffee table by Axel Einar Hjorth, painting by Emma Bernhard




Do you often blend different looks and styles in your work?
In my job as an interior designer I find it very motivating to blend different styles and work with contrast. In my opinion, contrasts are what make a result more personal and interesting to look at - I follow this in every area of my life including the way I dress, my personality and how I decorate my home!



What inspired your home decorating style?
My inspiration from the beginning was to keep the traditional Swedish style - high ceilings, handmade details, stucco ceiling, parquet flooring etc but add other factors such as French design and marble. My home feels like a little Parisian oasis in the heart of Stockholm - which was my goal!

Chandiogarh project table and chair by Pierre Jeanneret




Where do you find items for your home?
I find most of my furniture in Swedish / Scandinavian auctions as well as international galleries and antique shops. I love looking for a combination of unusual objects and better known iconic pieces in order to achieve a nice balance.

Table by Axel Einar Hjorth, Art by Wolfgang Voegele



I like how your instagram is also dotted with self portraits / fashion. Can you tell us a little more about your personal style? Do you have a favourite Swedish clothing brand?
Our Legacy has been my favourite for many years now and if I buy new, I mostly buy from them. However, I mostly purchase vintage clothes these days (mainly to create a more personal and interesting style). If trends get too popular, I usually go the other way and I think that's where I differ from many Swedes. I enjoy taking a different path.



And finally, do you have any insider restaurant tips for anyone visiting Stockholm?
My favourite places to dine and wine are Riche (a true classic!), Ciccio's and Coquetel Social (a fairly new bar that serves great drinks with phenomenal service!).



Thank you so much for inviting us into your home Fredrik! What a treasure trove! Loved the Stockholm restaurant and bar tips too. I'm looking forward to trying them out next time I'm in town!

In case you're feeling inspired to achieve a similar look to Fredrik's apartment, here's the low down:

GET THE LOOK

1. Gubi Multi-Lite Pendant Lamp*
2. Fredericia J39 chair
3. Ellos Consua Carpet
4. Galerie Patrick Seguin A Passion For Jean Prove
5. Paustian Arctander Chair
6. Zara Home Teak and Rattan Chair
7. Hay Longue sofa 321

Did you spot the cosy, fluffy chair?! Ever since creating this round-up last week, I've been wanting something like this in my own home. I've got a feeling I'd never get near it though, the kids would totally OWN IT!

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

You can see more pictures and enquire about Fredrik's vintage furniture and interior design services over at @Fredrikkarlssoninteriors.

The week is young, I think we need a little more inspiration today, don't you? Here are a few other fabulous Stockholm homes I think you'll love!

The beautiful Stockholm home of Amelia Widdell
A Stockholm home in pretty colours
The cosy urban home of a macrame artist

Vi ses imorgon!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Fredrik Karlsson, shared with kind permission. Portrait image by Milad Abedi. 

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A Thoughtfully Curated Dutch Family Home

Well, I do believe we've made it guys: it's Friday! And the sun is shining. Hurraaaa! I hope you've got some fun plans for the weekend? But please don't go quite yet as I have the prettiest house to share with you ! This gem of a family home in Tilburg city, North Brabant, The Netherlands belongs to Ilona Polycen (also known as @mamoesjka_nl), her partner Daniel and two sons Tycho (13) and Fender (7). The thoughtfully decorated interior is characterised by subtle shades of pastel, soft light  wood, one-off pieces and vintage touches. I caught up with Ilona to find out more.

Thistle lamp, Folding shelves, This Era round chair is similar.

How would you describe your interior style?

I like a fresh white canvas decorated with vintage, design or handmade items, mostly in fresh or soft pastel colours. I’d much rather have one item that I really love rather than five things I just like. I don’t shop on impulse. I will always take my time before I buy something for my home.

Do you have  a favourite spot?
You’ll often find me sitting on my pink home-made bench. It’s my favourite spot in the house, where I write, scroll through Instagram and sit with family and friends. From my bench, I also have a clear view of the rest of the living room and the open-plan kitchen.

Rabbit mirror,  Yori shelves.

Do you update your home often?!

I love to use my home as my test lab. If I haven’t painted anything for a few weeks, the paint tins literally call out to me from the closet.

 Pion lamp, Conrad Sofa,  Cushion from by Mölle, Haru table.

Taki wall hanging, Haru side-table.

Where do you shop?

I like to search the internet for new treasures. I look for both new and second-hand items and design pieces as well as less expensive finds. For me, it’s very important that they’re not things that everybody likes and buys. I want stuff that is unique and is available on a small scale. For that reason, I always search for small websites or designers that sell their own work. It’s so much more fun to make a small independent enterprise happy by purchasing some of their products than to buy something from a big retail chain.

'Wondering' print by Gurilla.

Do you have a favourite piece?

My favourite piece of furniture is the vintage cupboard that my partner and I bought at a thrift store. I really loved it when I first saw it, but we both thought it was far too expensive (the cupboard was not in the best condition) and we left the shop without buying it. But soon I had second thoughts and we quickly went back again and bought it. We gave the little cupboard some love with oil and wood paste and I now think he’ll stay forever!

Chrysanthemum wallpaper by William Morris

25Lamp, this mustard waffle throw is similar.

What's your best home decorating tip?
I like to do things my own way. I think that’s my best tip I can give anyone. Make the choices yourself. Fill your home with items you really love and that make you happy. These days you can find inspiration everywhere. I like to scroll through Instagram and see all kinds of interiors, but I have to stay true to myself. Something I’ve learned over the years is to choose what makes you happy and don’t do what everyone else is already doing.

Thank you so much for inviting us into your home this sunny Friday, Ilona!

If you don't already follow Ilona on instagram it's a must!

And for more beautiful Dutch home inspiration take a peek at a lovely light-filled house boat, the happy home of Marij Hessel, and a charming and relaxed Dutch home.

Have a fabulous weekend all and see you Monday!

Niki


All photography: © Ilona Polcyn

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