Brightness, elegance and comfort

As is the case with many architectural and design styles, Nordic décor is not just a simple furnishing trend, but a real way of life.
Brightness, functionality and a connection with nature are its key concepts. This article provides lots of tips on how to furnish your home in a Nordic style, also explaining how aluminium window and door frames integrate perfectly into this style thanks to their extraordinary technical and aesthetic features.

Nordic style: where it comes from and its

Although it became popular a few decades ago, Nordic style continues to win over architects, interior designers and furniture enthusiasts. The reason probably lies in its ability to combine essential aesthetics, a deep connection with nature and everyday comfort. The result of Nordic décor is, in short, a home where every room expresses warmth, simplicity and harmony. In a historical period where minimalism and attention to the environment are themes dear to many, it is not surprising that Nordic style is so highly appreciated and sought after.
The Nordic style consists of simple elements that are easy to recreate even in Italian homes. Priority should be given to quality materials, maximising the brightness of rooms and opting for unadorned shapes and palettes.

What is Nordic interior design?

Nordic style originated in the early decades of the 20th century and is also known as Scandinavian style, precisely because it developed in the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark). In these countries located in Northern Europe, the presence of the sun can be reduced to just a few hours during the winter months, so it is necessary to make the most of the little natural light available. Added to this need is the innate sloping of these peoples towards concepts of simplicity, minimalism and sustainability.
The result of these needs is the Nordic style, which is achieved through the skilful use of simple, bright and functional architecture. The aim is to create a beautiful, comfortable, intelligent and pleasant home environment at any time of the year, even during the longest and darkest winter.

The main features of the Nordic

Nordic furniture is primarily based on a concept of minimalism, which does not necessarily mean straight, sculpted lines typical of modern furniture style1. In a Nordic-inspired home, everything refers to a natural context in terms of colours, finishes, materials and elements. The concepts to always keep in mind are light, balance, simplicity and sustainability: a Nordic-style home is a truly welcoming refuge.
Here are the most important features of the Nordic style:

• natural light: brightness is the most important feature of Nordic style. Everything in a Nordic home aims to maximise the amount of natural light entering the home as much as possible, creating a harmonious union between the internal spaces and the external environment. From this point of view, aluminium windows are excellent, as their slim profiles and large glass surfaces help to allow more natural light into the home.
• neutral and bright palette: the preferred colours of the Nordic style are light and neutral. White, light grey, beige, light woods… These shades help to reflect light better and amplify spaces. Darker colours, such as black or anthracite, can sometimes be used, but only in small amounts to give the home contrasting character.
• natural materials: nordic décor uses materials that highlight their tactile or visual qualities, creating a continuum with the natural context. The preferred materials are usually solid wood, ceramics, glass and fabrics such as wool, linen and cotton.
• simple and essential shapes: the minimalism typical of Nordic homes can be seen in the choice of soft, almost ethereal lines that refer to the typical shapes found in nature. Redundant or overly frivolous lines and shapes are avoided, with a preference for proportion and balance between elements.
• functionality of elements: the previous point is linked to the functional feature of the Nordic style. In a Nordic home, everything has its own specific function, and in most cases, frills or embellishments of little use are avoided. This does not mean that a Nordic home cannot be designer or aesthetically beautiful, but rather that beauty must also have a function, without wasting space or being useless.
• handmade and eco-friendly details: nordic homes are very often furnished with pieces of furniture and design objects inspired by nature and local craftsmanship. Given the deep respect for nature typical of this style, it is also very important to choose materials and solutions that have a low environmental impact, whenever possible.

Ultimately, when furnishing your home in a Nordic style, the most important thing to do is to internalise the concept of hygge, which is typical of Nordic culture. This Danish/Norwegian word has no direct translation in English, but refers to a concept of warmth, intimacy and well-being. Hygge is a lifestyle (and therefore a style of furnishing) that corresponds to feeling at home, to the feeling of security and satisfaction that comes from spending time in your own soft and cosy ‘nest’.
The hygge living experience is one that encourages small moments of everyday well-being: a cup of tea while it rains outside, a warm blanket, the soft light of candles.

Modern Nordic style furnishings: tradition and innovation

The features seen above refer to the classic Nordic style which, for about a century, has been winning over lovers of nature, balance and minimalist style. However, it is also true that Nordic style is capable of evolving over time, gradually integrating more contemporary elements. This has given rise to modern Nordic style, a mix of soft lines and industrial details, hi-tech materials and modern pieces, sober colours and more dynamic chromatic details. Once the key concepts of Nordic style have been retained (brightness, simplicity, nature and comfort) you can then indulge yourself with more contemporary solutions that better meet the living requirements of today’s homes.
Here are some features that can be combined with classic Nordic furniture to achieve a contemporary Nordic style home:

• bold combinations of materials: light woods and natural fabrics have not disappeared entirely from modern Nordic style. However, they are now accompanied by details in opaque black metal, concrete, smoked glass and more technological materials. These combinations create striking, contemporary contrasts, making Nordic style slightly more eclectic.
• a more varied colour palette: light, sober tones are complemented by touches of colour that bring dynamism to rooms and create visual depth. However, these colours are always sober: it is difficult to find bright red or fuchsia in a Nordic home, for example. Colours such as petrol blue, terracotta, teal, sage green, ochre and so on are more suitable.
• influences from the Japandi style: the Japandi style is typical of Japanese homes, which share with the Nordic style a deep-rooted concept of minimalism, simplicity and harmony. Although very different in their more traditional final execution, the two styles can be blended to create a home that adopts essential, quiet and meditation-oriented spaces, but in a contemporary style equipped with every comfort.
• smart and sustainable design: environmental sustainability can never be overlooked in a Nordic-style home, even in its most modern version. In this case, however, attention to the environment is supported by smart technology, which allows for greater energy savings and, of course, a smaller environmental footprint. In the modern Nordic home, therefore, the green light is given to home automation solutions that combine beauty, practicality and efficiency.

A concrete example of the evolution of Nordic style towards a more innovative result is the use of aluminium, especially in the manufacture of windows and doors. Today, aluminium is chosen mainly for its high technical performance, but also for its aesthetic versatility.
Its slim profiles, minimalist design, opaque or wood-effect finishes and wide choice of colours (including the most sober and natural ones) make it a material that is particularly consistent with a modern vision of Nordic style. In this context, aluminium windows therefore contribute to clearly defining the unique identity of the home environment, while remaining an eco-sustainable solution.

How to furnish your home in Nordic style: 5 tips for each

Furnishing your home in a Nordic style means choosing furnishings, colours, materials and elements that harmonise with each other and create functional and welcoming environments. The Nordic-style home reflects an ideal balance between man, nature and objects in every space.
Below are some tips for furnishing the different rooms of your home in Nordic style.

Nordic-style entrance and passageways

Since the concepts of harmony and continuity are so important in Scandinavian style, it is important that the entrance, corridors and hallways become points of connection (both visual and stylistic) between the different rooms of the home.
Among the furnishing elements for these spaces, you can consider benches or storage units in white or light wood, perhaps combining them with a small console table or a metal coat rack with a clean and essential design. Combining aesthetic consistency and practicality, these pieces of furniture can be combined with a useful full-length mirror, which helps to amplify the light even in the most cramped spaces.

Nordic-style living room

The living room is the perfect setting for the Nordic style; this is where you spend long winter hours reading a good book under a blanket or sharing a cup of tea with loved ones. In short, this is the room where hygge is expressed to its fullest potential.
Start with the sofa: comfortable, spacious, welcoming, characterised by soft lines and natural fabrics. You can combine it with a coffee table and an open library: more traditionally in light wood (or in a combination of wood and white), but also in glass or metal to give the living room a more contemporary contrast.
The Nordic-style living room is completed by green plants and soft cushions, large-weave rugs and throws in natural fabrics such as linen and wool, in neutral or pastel shades. In general, the tones of the Nordic living room are light: white, beige, pearl grey, light woods such as birch, ash and pine.
Lighting is now clearly fundamental. Large windows that let in natural light are placed beside floor lamps and pendant lights with a minimalist and delicate design.

Nordic-style kitchen

To be consistent with a Scandinavian style, the kitchen must become a realm of practicality and warmth without frills, where brightness and order are the protagonists. Light-coloured surfaces, minimalist wall units, abundant use of natural wood and simple, essential lines are to be preferred. For a more modern effect, the neutral palette can be enriched with small touches of colour or opaque metal details.
It is best to opt for a range of accessories reduced to the essentials, to ensure that every space in the kitchen is well organised. Go for integrated appliances and a few well-chosen accessories, such as light-coloured handmade ceramic jars for storing ingredients. Finally, artificial light can come from pendant lamps with a typical Scandinavian design.

Nordic-style bedroom

Intimacy, harmony, well-being and relaxation: these are the keywords for a Scandinavian bedroom.
The furnishings are minimalist: a low bed in light colours, light wood bedside tables, chests of drawers and wardrobes with simple lines. The fabrics are what bring the bedroom even closer to the Nordic style: we therefore recommend choosing linen or organic cotton bed linen and cushions, perhaps combined with soft, loosely knitted blankets.
The walls, which are always light in shades of white, can be enriched with botanical or geometric prints with soft lines and colours that are not too bright. Finally, to promote relaxation and a natural sleep-wake rhythm, the lighting should be warm and well diffused.

Nordic-style bathroom

In the bathroom even more than in other rooms, it is essential to combine aesthetics and functionality with furniture made of natural materials that are resistant to humidity. It is advisable to opt for minimalist, suspended furniture, soft shades, opaque surfaces and tiles with simple patterns.
Neutral colours can be combined with wooden details, black satin steel taps, clean-lined ceramics and other minimalist accessories, never in extremely vivid colours. You can complete your Nordic-style bathroom with green plants, which decorate and purify the air at the same time.

Aluminium windows and doors and Nordic style: an unexpected but perfect combination

Regardless of the room in the house, in a modern context, Nordic style is best expressed when supported by structural elements that are consistent in terms of aesthetics and functionality. This is where aluminium comes into play.
Although it would be more natural to choose wooden window and door frames for an architectural style that favours natural materials, aluminium is actually the perfect material for those who love the Nordic style. Here’s why.

Maximum brightness with slim aluminium window and door profiles

It has been seen that, when furnishing in a Nordic style, natural light is the key element around which the entire home design must revolve. From this point of view, aluminium is the material that allows you to obtain window and door frames that maximise the entry of natural light into the home.
This is due to two main reasons:

1. thanks to its exceptional mechanical strength, aluminium allows windows to be made in very large sizes without the use of additional supports, as is necessary with window and door frames made from other materials;
2. when compared to wooden or PVC window and door frames of the same size, aluminium frames have much thinner structural profiles, even just a few millimetres. This allows for even larger glass surfaces, increasing the amount of natural light entering the home and the feeling of continuity between the internal and external environments.

Aluminium window and door frames: clean lines and minimalism

Along with the need for as much natural light as possible, the other main feature of the Nordic style is its clean, uncluttered lines. Thanks to their essential, contemporary aesthetics, aluminium window and door frames integrate perfectly into rooms furnished in the Scandinavian style. It is no coincidence that aluminium is the material of choice for those who choose to live in minimalist spaces.

The Nordic style requires design flexibility, and aluminium windows and doors offer 100% of that.

One of the advantages of aluminium is the almost unlimited choice of colours and finishes for window and door frames, allowing them to blend harmoniously with the Nordic style of your home. For example, METRA Building aluminium window and door finishes can be opaque, sandblasted, anodised, with a very natural wood effect… and you can choose your favourite colour from a wide range of neutral, soft and natural colours that blend perfectly with the typical features of the Nordic style.
The customisation of aluminium can also be found in its shapes. Whether you are looking for large sliding glass doors overlooking the garden or balcony with aluminium profiles, full-height windows or customised solutions, aluminium allows for great freedom of composition.

Aluminium meets the needs of Nordic style lovers who want to respect the environment

Aluminium is a naturally occurring metal that can be recycled 100% and an infinite number of times without ever losing its extraordinary qualities over time. Furthermore, aluminium is one of the most environmentally friendly materials in terms of energy and production costs.
These characteristics make aluminum a material that is very consistent with a Nordic approach to living, which focuses on respect for the environment and low ecological impact.

Aluminium window and door frames: strength, insulation, energy savings

Finally, it should not be forgotten that aluminium window and door frames perfectly meet the functional requirements of modern homes, in all types of climates and environments. Although lightweight and flexible, aluminium is an extremely resistant material, even in difficult climatic conditions; this makes it ideal for the manufacture of window and door frames in efficient and long-lasting homes.
Furthermore, modern and now perfected thermal break solutions guarantee excellent levels of thermic insulation, increasing efficient energy use and thus reducing energy consumption costs, with consequent energy savings that should not be underestimated in the long term. Soundproofing is also guaranteed with aluminium window and door frames: by reducing external noise, the comfort of the home, is improved in line with the pursuit of well-being, harmony and hygge typical of the Nordic style.

Choose METRA Building aluminium window and door frames for your Nordic-style

Furnishing your home in a Nordic style means embracing a philosophy that combines simplicity, functionality and warmth. In this context, natural light plays a leading role, which is why window and door frames also play a fundamental role. Aluminium window and door frames perfectly meet all the requirements of the Nordic style, thanks to their clean aesthetics, slim profiles and extremely high technical performance.
METRA Building aluminium window and door frames are the ideal solution to give a modern and consistent touch to your Nordic-style home. They feature excellent thermic and soundproofing insulation, are extremely weather-resistant and can be customised in a wide range of colours and finishes to achieve the Nordic style that best suits your desires.