Nordic style kitchens
Nordic style kitchens have stolen our hearts, and the hearts of so many interior design fans.
For years now, the Nordic style has been a huge trend in decorating and interior design. Its success is down to the philosophy behind it: finding a balance between functionality and aesthetics.
You could say that the main aim of the Nordic style is to reconcile family life with every other aspect of life. It tries to make your home the center of your personal and family life.
In today’s article, we’ll talk about Nordic style kitchens – what they consist of and the variations.
The Nordic Style
Before we talk about kitchens, it’s a good idea to do a quick recap on the Nordic style.
This style is characterized by its lightness and by the simplicity of the shapes. Undoubtedly, one of the things that sets the Nordic style apart is the use of white in absolutely everything. However, some fans of the Nordic style do prefer to add a touch of color.
To break the white monotony, some people introduce elements of color in the textiles, domestic appliances or lamps.
Those who decorate their homes in this style avoid adding unnecessary extras and overfilling rooms.
The use of natural elements, usually wood, is highly characteristic of this style. However, the Nordic style aims to create balance by combining it with other elements, such as metal.
The use of plants is also common with this style, whether it be natural, artificial or even paintings and drawings of plants. The most common plants are cacti and other succulents.
As you can see, the Nordic style often features elements from nature. It’s also common to see animal figures, especially deer, depicted in illustrations as well as in the form of little decorative ornaments. They are not just used in children’s rooms but also in living rooms and other rooms.
The Nordic style aims to add a feeling of warmth to rooms, and to make them feel welcoming. Textiles play a particularly important role in this, with soft, fabric textiles being the most commonly used. For example, you might find fluffy blankets, rugs and cushions in any room.
This style has become very popular in the last few years, and it doesn’t seem like this will change any time soon. It’s constantly evolving to keep up with new trends, and incorporating new materials, like copper, for example.
Nordic style kitchens
As with so many decorating styles, the Nordic style comes in different variations.
As far as kitchens are concerned, we find four different types.
White on white
As the name suggests, this type is characterized by the use of white in everything. From the decorations to the furniture, the counters to the domestic appliances. Everything.
For many people, this is a little excessive. However, it can, and should, be balanced out, using light colored wood.
The aim of the “white on white” style is to maximize the light in your kitchen.
You could say that of the four types, this is the most extreme variation of the Nordic style.
White and wood
Nordic style kitchens decorated in this style are still extremely popular. They are characterized not just by their use of white as a base color, but also by the use of wood elements.
60% white and 40% wood is the usual ratio used in this variation.
Another difference between this variation and “white on white”, other than the color ratios, is that the wood used is usually darker in color, to create contrast and balance.
Black and white
This variation is the other extreme of the different Nordic style kitchens.
Here, we see kitchens featuring a contrast of black and white elements.
The main aim of this variation is to create a more elegant room. To do this, black is used, with mid-tone woods.
Obviously, white is still ever-present, especially in the flooring and kitchen appliances.
A touch of color
This is the latest variation in Nordic style kitchens. Obviously, it is the most versatile and least extreme of all the variations we’ve seen so far.
It involves adding a touch of color using flooring, textiles, furniture and domestic appliances.
These can be vibrant colors such as royal blue or yellow, although you can also find combinations of pastel colors.
Geometric motifs have a strong presence in the textiles and accessories.
In short, “a touch of color” consists of:
White + wood + color
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, the Nordic style has a very distinctive character, particularly in its use of white. This style isn’t for everyone. However, it’s important that if you do like this style, you can adapt it to suit you and your family.
If you have a Nordic style kitchen, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable. Keep in mind the different variations we’ve looked at in this article, and adapt them to your own personal taste.