If you’ve ever been to Sweden, Norway or Denmark – or if you’ve ever seen photos of these countries – you’ve probably seen the picturesque wooden houses painted charming shades of red, yellow or white, inspired by farmhouses once found in Sweden . “The typical traditional Swedish farmhouse is two-story, often red, with a steep tiled roof to shed snow,” says Flammia. “There is often a lovely little porch or vestibule perfect for putting on or taking off warm clothes.”
Inside, these homes often had low wooden ceilings and raw wooden floors, which Flamma says is good at keeping the heat in in colder climates. – Traditionally and in modern Swedish homes, there is a lot of light-colored raw wood, sometimes on all surfaces, says Flammia. “I remember seeing some homes that gave off the wonderful smell of freshly cut wood.”
To keep residents warm during the potentially harsh winter months, Scandinavian-style houses typically feature fireplaces made from beautiful glazed ceramic tiles, along with wood-burning stoves to heat individual rooms. Often the second floor was like a loft area, with raw exposed wooden beams and low, sloping ceilings.
Of course, not all Scandinavian homes share the same characteristics, certain exterior and interior features define the overall design style:
Exterior
Wooden construction
Wooden cladding traditionally painted red, yellow, white or black
Two stories
Blind windows with many panes of glass and no screens
Brick roof with a steep slope to shed snow
Porch or vestibule for putting on or taking off warm clothes
Interior
Low wooden ceiling
Raw wood floors, which are good for keeping the heat
Fireplace with glazed ceramic tiles
Wood stoves
Stone, wood and metal materials
Exposed wooden beams and low pitched ceilings in rooms on the second floor
Many connections to the outdoors through windows
Skylights to provide more light
The story of homes in the Scandinavian style
As with many home styles, Scandinavian-style houses are rooted in functionality. According to Flammia, the Scandinavian homes have their roots in Viking longlands, which then developed into farmhouses often connected to barns and outbuildings with courtyards. Many later Scandinavian homes emulate this original farmhouse design.