15 Colorful Scandinavian Decor Ideas for a Minimalist Spring Vibe

Cottage

Quaint is the vibe this traditional yet unpretentious style evokes. It dates back to 18th-century Germany where textiles were homespun and furniture was handmade. Get the look today with rustic wood floors, wood furniture with clean lines, and a neutral color palette. Keep curtains airy and minimal — cottage style is all about the interplay of light and texture — and lighting soft and abundant.

Maximalism

After years of living in stark shades of minimalism, maximalism is the outburst we needed in 2024. Here, art is free to take up a whole wall, bookshelves can overflow with trinkets and tchotchkes, and color is always the answer. The trick is to tie it all together with a through line — like the blues in the room above — and aim for a 50-50 space-to-stuff ratio.

Coastal

Grandmas aren't the only ones who get to live that coastal life. This timeless aesthetic is all about natural elements and muted neutrals, like sandy taupes, and grayish blues. Keep it light and airy with sheer curtains and an abundance of space, and even if “coastal” is only a state of mind, you’ll want to add a few borrowed-from-the-beach accents — think sea glass, driftwood, and dune grass.

Art Deco

Whether you throw parties like you’re Jay Gatsby or start your two-hour bedtime routine at 7:30, art deco can work for you. The glamorous style originated in 1910s France and fanned out across the globe in the ‘20s, peaking in the U.S. in the ‘30s shortly after Prohibition ended. It’s all about jewel tones, oversize statement pieces, and geometric light fixtures. Repetition is art deco’s MO: Repeat elements, such as one simple shape, a contrasting color, or similar patterns, throughout your room or home.

Minimalism

Tried-and-true minimalism isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. A successor of 20th-century Bauhaus, the pared-down style is a celebration of simplicity, not to mention one of the easier looks for mere mortals to achieve. While an open-concept space is minimalism’s calling card, you can invoke it with clean lines, plenty of lighting, and a few pieces of can’t-live-without decor. Pro tip for that clutter-free life: Invest in furniture that doubles as storage.

Eclectic

While “eclectic” may conjure up an anything-goes approach, the style is not as haphazard as it sounds. Yes, it allows you to pick and choose from multiple aesthetics, but there is a method to the madness: Use one style for your furniture and then mix in two to three complementary styles for your decor. Any more styles, and you’ll risk veering into hodgepodge territory — though we’ll never say never.

Scandinavian

Similar to minimalism but a bit warmer and earthier, Scandinavian style is a clean, simple look. It warms things up by working in organic elements like wood, rattan, and plants as well as muted colors (who among us can resist a mauve moment?), soft textures (chunky knits, where art thou?), and clean lines in hyper-functional furniture (Ikea did not come up with that all by itself).

Japandi

There's a lot to love about Japanese and Scandinavian design. Both aesthetics emphasize neutral and earthy colors, sustainable materials, and the great outdoors (plants, branches, and solids woods). Japandi design brings the two decor trends into one happy, harmonious place, influenced by the subtle differences in each design. There's the comfort and warm minimalism of the Scandi style combined with the elegance, attention to detail and wabi-sabi, or rustic simplicity (wabi) and beauty in imperfection (sabi), of the Japanese side.

Mid-Century Modern

A design born out of 1950s America, mid-century modern is a versatile style that feels both timeless and vintage. Its trademark look is furniture with strong clean lines paired with bronze metal accents, geometric shapes, and bright pops of color. Given mid-century modern’s popularity over the last decade, plenty of home stores sell convincing replicas, but flea markets, garage sales, and vintage stores are teeming with the real deal.

70s Modern

A bit more daring in its approach, 70s modern decor is mid-century modern’s younger, less conservative cousin. There’s a sense of playfulness with bean-bag-like sofas and globe-shaped lamps. Look for bold colors (earthy tones like olive green, mustard yellow, burnt orange, and chocolate brown), eclectic patterns (waves, globes and checkerboards), and materials like walnut wood, chrome, and shag carpeting. Modular furniture is also a hit with coziness and cool top of mind.

Purge Once. Edit Often.

There’s a reason why Marie Kondo's KonMari method was such a huge hit — because it works. To create a mindful space, you need to master the magic of tidying. Surround yourself with things that you love and get rid of non-essentials that are cluttering your space. The result: a cozy, comfortable home you love.

Focus On Negative Space With Low Furniture

If something about one of your minimalistic rooms feels off or cramped, you might need to focus on the proportions of your furniture. Tables, a sofa or a bed that are just a few inches too high can greatly disrupt a room’s visual flow. The design trick: Buy low furniture like this gorgeous CB2 Cantar Ivory Velvet Upholstered Bedfor a cozy and simple look.

Stick With A Neutral Or Soft Color Palette

When decorating a minimalist interior, it’s all about creating a clean base. Clean light walls can open up a space and make it feel airy, like this stunning kitchen by LA-based Dacotah Studio(see our full feature here). Soft, nature-toned pieces in beige, tan and green are also soothing and easy on the eyes. Decorating within a neutral color palette also gives your home that instant, pulled-together look. That plus calming vibes? It’s a win-win.

Add Minimal Texture

To keep a room from feeling cold or bland, add texture. Shop for soft throws, throw a sheepskin over your desk chair and lay down a fluffy wool rug. Your space will look put-together and cozier than ever.

Get Rid Of Most Mirrors

In feng shui, mirrors are said to bounce off energy, which can cause you to feel restless. There have even been studies that show mirrors could trigger stress and anxiety. While we love how a mirror can make a space look larger, it’s probably best to remove them from your bedroom, living room and kitchen. Instead place mirrors behind closet doors or limit them to the bathroom.

Choose Natural Materials

While minimalism is all about perfecting the “less is more” approach, there’s a chance your interiors might feel cold and sterile. Invest in pieces of natural or raw materials such as wood, marble, hides, clay and cork. The uniqueness of earthy materials adds character and warmth to your abode.

Embrace Natural Light

A simple mindfulness exercise is to wake up when it’s light out and sleep when it’s dark out to maintain a healthy sleep rhythm. Get rid of curtains and tear down walls that block windows to maximize the amount of light that comes in. Letting natural light fill your home brings the outside in and allows you to get the best rest possible.

Let Your Space Speak For Itself

There are so many ways to decorate a home, but before you begin drilling and filling up the shelves, really take time to understand and appreciate your space. Whether your home has traditional molding, modern kitchen cabinets or a quirky layout, your home’s bones are the foundation for building upon. You might find that many of your physical possessions don’t complement your space. Work with what you have (and not against it) to create a home that is unified.

Keep Surfaces Clear And Tidy

This is where being mindful isn’t just about aesthetics. De-cluttering a messy surface looks amazing and feels amazing too — think of it as a mind and spirit detox. Clear and tidy desks, tables and kitchen countertops on a daily basis so you can start every day fresh with clarity.

Use Stylish Storage

We know. It’s hard to get rid of all of your clutter. Paper, art supplies, makeup brushes, laundry — the list of stuff that accumulates (and you can’t always get rid of) goes on. Consider getting rid of trash cans entirely in rooms that don’t absolutely need them. Or, use pull-out and built-in garbage and recycling bins to free up floor space. Keep office and cleaning supplies organized with pretty baskets and containers, and find creative ways to store your hair and beauty products. With so much stuff, stylish storage is key to making your home organized and tidy. We love how LA-based design team Bungalowe created custom storage with shelving in this bedroom (see the full feature here).

Keep Cords Out Of Sight

To make your home (and mind) feel clear, hide everyday eyesores like power strips, routers and laptop chargers by thinking vertically. Manage your electrical cords by purchasing desks with shelves for power strips, attach cords to the back or bottom of your desk with these Blue Key World Cable Clips ($7) or create a charging station drawer. There are so many ways to hide cords, and you can get as creative as you like!

Set The Tone With Soft Lighting

In addition to installing dimmer switches to set a relaxing mood, task lighting (your table and floor lamps) should be warm and atmospheric. Layer the light with wall sconces like CB2's lovely and affordable Astr White Onyx Wall Sconce and some candles, and your space will feel extra intimate and cozy.

Make Your Bed Every Morning

As tempting as it is to rush out the door in the morning, leaving your bed unkempt can set the tone for the day. Making your bed forces you to slow down and set a healthy pace for the day. For more style, splurge on beautiful linen sheets that’ll motivate you to tidy your bed every morning.

Treat Yourself To Quality Towels

Consistency in fabrics like your sheets and towels can make a room look instantly pulled together. Refresh your bathroom with 100% cotton, OEKO-TEX-certified towels like these striped ones from Sand Shell Pembroke Stripe Cotton Towels from Piglet In Bed that have a cool vintage vibe.

Let The Outdoors In With Florals And Plants

With clean, minimalist style, it’s even more important to bring a little bit of life into your space. Think of caring for a plant as a daily exercise in mindfulness. Bonus: Florals and plants instantly create an inviting atmosphere too.

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Header image courtesy of CB2

Is Mamma Mia 3 happening?

Yes, Mamma Mia 3 is in its early planning stages! Christine Baranski just told The Hollywood Reporter that she's met with producer Judy Kramer, and that Kramer has plans for the third movie. "She gave me the narrative plotline of how it’s going to happen," Baranski says. "That’s all I can say! But, it’s not like, 'Oh, I wish it could happen!' Judy Kramer makes things happen. She made number two happen, and it was a phenomenal hit. I wouldn’t put it past Judy Kramer to get everybody back together."

A third installation was first mentioned way back in 2020, during a Collider interview with Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried said she was on board — and at the time, she thought the rest of the star-studded cast would be too.

"Listen, every single person in that movie would say yes in a heartbeat because we want to hang out with each other," Seyfried told Collider at the time. "That's what we talked about last time, like did we ever think that we'd end up here again on an Island in Croatia?"

When will Mamma Mia 3 come out?

We don't have an official answer about when to expect this highly anticipated sequel. The project is in the "earliest stages," according to creator and producer, Judy Craymer. Cher also revealed to Entertainment Weekly that everyone is "talking about it," but she doesn't "know when they're going to do it."

Has casting information been shared about Mamma Mia 3?

While nothing's been made official, Amanda Seyfried just said something that made my heart skip a beat. She told ABC News she loves Sabrina Carpenter's music and dropped this admission: "If Sabrina Carpenter wants to play my daughter, I’ll make it happen."

But before she admitted that, the actress said something else that made me raise my eyebrows. "Everybody says it’s gonna happen, but I mean, I haven’t seen a script."

Cher is also eager to return to the beloved franchise and is rooting for Meryl to make an appearance again. "I keep saying, 'Meryl, you've got to come back,'" she said (via Entertainment Weekly). She also said she's told her, "'It'll be fun. You'll have a good time. You'll be able to sing.'"

I don't know what it'll take, but hope someone gets a script in Amanda Seyfried, Cher, and Meryl Streep's hands ASAP!

What is the first Mamma Mia about?

The first film follows Donna (Streep) and Sophie (Seyfried) as mother and daughter living on a remote Greek island. When Sophie is about to marry Sky (Dominic Cooper), she sets out to learn who her real father is after discovering it could be one of three men (played by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth).

Who does the second Mamma Mia follow?

Mamma Mia 2takes viewers back to 1979, where young Donna (Lily James) embarks on a series of adventures throughout Europe following her Oxford University graduation. On her journeys, she makes the acquaintances of Harry, Bill and Sam – the latter whom she falls in love with. In the present day, pregnant Sophie dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her mother's old friends and boyfriends on a Greek island island.