Discover Your Decorating Style: How to Create Swedish Country Look

Soft light drifting through cotton curtains and illuminating the beauty of white formal furniture and fresh toile de Jouy patterns; rooms that feel positively angelic in their grace and calm – that’s Swedish style at its best. Drawn to this look are those who appreciate mid-1700s French styling yet prefer a lighter, more casual approach. The result: a style that’s still highly refined – yet also poetic. Swedish style combines country charm with understated grandeur, warmth and simplicity with elegance and uncluttered sense of space and light. Although inspired by the past, it is contemporary, too, and is not only pretty but also practical.

The spare lines and light colors most often associated with this style originate in a style that emerged under the influence of King Gustav III of Sweden (1771-92). This appropriated the strict neo-classicism of Louis XVI, merged with Rococo gaiety and gave it a gentler, more accessible edge that was distinctly Swedish.

Creating the look:

Swedish style can range from the earthly rustic to the strikingly sophisticated, and you could opt for one extreme or another, or a combination of each.
Distinguishing elements are clear colors, clean lines, and unfussy, natural materials, put together in a way that emphasizes light and space. Avoid clutter, and pick pale woods , sheer or checked fabrics, painted furniture and lots of sparkling glass and mirrors. Accessories should be minimal and light…

Walls:
To set off painted furniture walls should be interesting but not overpowering, light color such as a linen tone is preferable.

Floors:
Eighteen century Swedish wooden floors had wide planks in natural tones; today’s updates can include a thin wash of white for a light though pristine effect.
If you are installing a new wooden floor, avoid dark woods such as oak and opt instead for ash; existing floors, if too dark, could be lighted by lime washing. Equally, painted floors are attractive – a good choice would be an off-white base with diamond patterns or floral borders.

Fitted carpets are not particularly appropriate, but you could get away with a one-color, neutral style if it’s not overly luxurious. Adding a selection of narrow, flat woven rugs and runners will give a great deal of authenticity – these could be in cream, ivory, or taupe for a sophisticated, modern look.

Lights:
Swedish style demonstrates a mastery of the use of light, making the most of reflection and refraction in glittering glass and metal, resulting in a look that is highly functional and also extremely attractive. The most typical light fitting is the eighteenth-century-style chandelier made from glass and brass, easy to find in reproduction form, either pleasantly simple or complex and ornate in design. Mirror-backed wall sconces in a curvy Rococo style are another way to add sparkle to your home. As a simpler alternative use wrought iron fittings that are very peasant-like. or choose streamlined modern styles.

Colors:
Choose pale restful colors for their ability to reflect light. Pearly Gustavian tones include white, cerulean blue, slate, grey-green and silvery grey.

Fabrics:
Fabrics are an important part of the freshness of Swedish style, and no pattern establishes the look as effectively as toile de Jouy with the detailed outdoor scenes (toile is French for linen). The Swedish look is light and airy and this theme is continued strongly with soft furnishings. Unbleached muslin is suitably ethereal, especially for windows, while blue, yellow, green are good colors to use all over in cotton, linen, wool. Patterns may be fairly robust – gingham and strong checks, or pretty and delicate, perhaps in a form of tiny, trailing florals.

Accessories:
The elegance and simplicity of the Swedish look would be ruined by the addition of too many fussy accessories. Beautiful glassware, silver and ceramics – etched drinking glasses, smooth silver platters and white-glazed porcelain vases would make an understated and yet attractive display in any room. Mirrors with carved and gilded frames are another way to add a touch of pretty glitter, while pale wood-framed mirrors make a more basic alternative.

Furniture:
English country pieces will make an excellent base for decorative painting, whether it be distressing or simple covering with one color of wood stain. Furniture pieces that employ gentle curves, delicate tapering legs, upright shapes, subtle carved details and pale paintwork have great elegance that lends itself to contemporary homes. Reproduction Gustavian-style furniture is becoming easier to find and you can approximate the look by painting sugar-almond colors on plain yet elegant wooden chairs, tables, chests, shelves and glass-front cabinets. The overall effect should be easy and unfussy, mixing antiques with new pieces, junk shop finds with valued family heirlooms. Aim for a clean-lined and pared-down look – this furniture need space in which to breathe, and rooms should be uncrowded and verging towards the sparse, although retaining a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere.

Summing up the style:

an overall feeling of airiness, and a generous use of snowy white;

the classicism of Louis XVI furniture with its symmetry and straight lines, with an occasional Louis XV rococo design;

wood furniture in natural tones or painted in tones of white;

fabric coloring that pairs white with other colors such as blue, rose, black, lavender cream;

upholstery patterns that include toile De Jouy, checks, and stripes;

white curtains in a lightweight or sheer material, with the simplest treatments;

the finish:crystal chandeliers, classical motifs, and blue and white ceramics.