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Style report
Modern Nordic warmth

Ready for a living room upgrade? Take a look at this season's inspiration. In this Scandinavian mid-century modern inspired living room, retro-style furniture and patterns tap into the vintage vibe, making it feel both contemporary and nostalgic all at once.

A neutral coloured living room with a wood ceiling, colour block paintings on the wall and colourful decorative textiles.

Great furniture, soft textiles and artsy accessories all come together to create a room that will have guests asking "Where did you get that?". Accessories are a quick and affordable way to elevate a room. The soft textures of throws, cushions and rugs add a warm, inviting touch, while bold blue accents make the space pop against the earthy, neutral colour scheme. Vases and prints add an arty look, but the best part is, you don't need the budget (or expert eye) of an art collector.

Keywords

Welcoming
Aesthetic
Bold
Sophisticated

Patterns and materials

A close-up of a glass shade in white with pink blobs.
A close-up of a dark wood veneer texture.
A close-up of a colourful, rectangular textile print.
A close-up of orange boucle texture fabric.

Colour palette

Cobalt blue
Deep orange
Dark brown
Salmon pink
A black metal mesh chair with patterned cushions, on a rug in a living room.
The corner of a living room with storage under long windows and large coloured canvases on the wall in the background.

Dark, low level KALLAX units offer plenty of space for books and treasures, while keeping a low profile. It puts that often overlooked space below the window to work and creates an extra surface for proudly displaying favourite items.

A close-up of the edge of a pale sofa with a blue blanket on a colourful patterned rug.
A blue velvet, natural and patterned cushion on the corner of asofa.

Cushions and throws are an easy way to add colour and cosiness – and best of all, you can just swap them out when it's time for a change. Follow the three cushion rule: start with a plain, solid cushion, then a second cushion with contrasting material or a pattern, followed by a third that really stands out.

"When designing the MARKBLÅMME rug, I started with the colours. Beautiful browns and burgundy tones that complement each other. I also wanted to play with the weave and yarns. All the beige parts are made of a shrink yarn, creating a lower area, so the brown and pink parts stand out more. This enhances the check design and you can also feel it when you stroke the rug."

– Paulin Machado
Designer

Black and white designer portrait of Paulin Machado.
A pink and white globe shaped lamp on a stack of matching pink and brown books, on a wood storage unit.
A pink and red lamp sits on a dark wood trunk, with green flora to the left.
A pink illuminated candle sits on a dark wood surface surrounded by pink blossom, with light reflecting from the window.

Different light sources allow you to layer with light and create just the right mood. The soft curves of the shade and the built-in speaker in the base of the KULGLASS Bluetooth speaker lamp amps up the style and sound.

Shadows on a wall reflect on a collection of carefully assembled paintings, trays and vases in matching colours.
A long surface filled with coloured glass vases and bowls on decorative plinths.

Group tonal and matching coloured decorative objects together for an artsy theme. Simple, affordable bowls and vases are transformed into sculptural installations – art on a budget.

Shop the style

Where did you get that?

Impress yourself – and everyone else – with a fresh new look for the home. For more great furniture, cosy textiles and artsy accessories at low prices, along with plenty of inspiration for the season, visit your local IKEA store, or just click the button below.