​ ​	Local property sales expert John-Paul Burrough of award-winning Marsh & Parsons Tooting with 5 tips to bring some Scandinavian style and a hint of hygge to your home.

It’s no secret that Scandinavian nations are consistently named among the happiest in the world, and their architecture and design are both intrinsically linked to the lifestyle that provides them such contentment.

A key consideration for modernist Nordic designers was improving daily life, with a focus on connecting with nature by maximising natural light in the home and incorporating natural materials such as wood, leather and hemp in both furniture and interiors.

Scandinavian design has been embraced throughout the world in recent years, and can be seen in some British homes with clean-cut furniture, light wooden flooring and colour schemes inspired by the home’s natural surroundings.

Their functional architecture and pared back design culminate to create clean, calm and inviting spaces. Feeling inspired? Here are our five beginner’s tips:

Connection to nature
Scandinavians like to let as much natural light into their homes as possible. An outside space is important too – even the tiniest of apartments have a small outdoor area for late night BBQs in the summer.
 

Simple colours
The colours of Scandinavian interiors are a mimic of the home’s natural surroundings. You’ll mostly find simple monochromatic colours such as black, white and grey met with sky blue, leafy green and sunset pink.
 

Environmental focus and greenery in the home
Every Swedish new build is equipped with triple-glazing, insulation for walls and roofs, and ground source heat pumps. You do not have to go to this extreme, but simply adding some indoor greenery has its benefits such as cleansing the air and making it easier to breathe. For sustainability in the home, an effort made in recycling is a small step in the right direction.
 

Decluttering
In recent years, the health benefits of decluttering have been uncovered in various research articles and books. This is very much in line with Scandinavian design – the idea is to be neat, organised and functional so that the home is as liveable as it can be. Having a good sort out and keeping your interior minimalistic is key.
 

Cosy textiles and warm lighting
“Hygge” (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish term defined as: “acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cosy, charming or special.”
It’s applied to the atmosphere created within a home to encourage mental and physical wellbeing during long Scandinavian winters – think cosy, textured interiors and candlelight or a roaring fireplace.
 

Marsh & Parsons Tooting is an award-winning estate agent and one of our valued Community Partners. Find them at 29-31 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7TS. Call John-Paul (sales) or Miles (lettings) on 020 8115 8053.

For lettings, visit https://www.marshandparsons.co.uk/london/tooting/lettings 

For sales, visit https://www.marshandparsons.co.uk/london/tooting/sales/status-all 

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