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An extra small Scandi living room that is big on playfulness and style

Joyful primary colors, bold graphic patterns, and smart, space-saving furniture star in this extra small modern living room. The white base and bright pops of colors make the space appear larger, giving it a playful and light feel. Scandinavian style is not as serious as it seems: here’s how to do it in a fresh, lively, and easy-going way.

A small colourful living room has bold blue walls, a light grey FRIDHULT sofa-bed and a red TINGBY side table with castors.
A small colourful living room has bold blue walls, a light grey FRIDHULT sofa-bed and a red TINGBY side table with castors.

When form and function play together

This room features the elements of a modern Scandinavian style: a clean white base combined with primary colors – here we used red and blue – bent wood and raised furniture for an airy look. And of course, functionality is key. Storage that optimizes the wall and multi-purpose and moveable furniture works wonders for this extra small space.

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Several IVAR cabinets are placed on the blue walls of a small living room with a sofa-bed, easy chair and side table.
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Make room for joy

Moveable furniture, like this coffee table on wheels, is great for small spaces, making the room flexible for different activities. Like playtime! Check out these toys and play rugs in colors that match the Scandi look of this living room.

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A SKRATTMÅS obstacle course and a blue whale soft toy are on rugs in a small living room with blue and red tones.
A video of a red TINGBY side table with castors being pushed, and a child playing with toys in a living room.
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Smart storage to keep a small space organized

In this studio apartment, a shelving unit – used as a room divider – separates the dining area from the living room while providing plenty of storage that is easily accessible from both sides. Stash away gadgets, games, and clutter (or anything you need to store) in these boxes that fit perfectly on their shelves.

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A BARNDRÖM box with a cat design is filled with toys and placed on a MARKKRYPARE rug with LILLABO toy vehicles on it.
A white KALLAX shelving unit with 4 inserts is used for storage and as a room divider in a small and colourful living room.
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Statement walls with playful curves

We painted decorative curves around the TV bench and sofa bed to add to the playful Scandi look of the room. The rounded shapes also balance out the square forms and rigid lines of the furniture, helping to soften up the visual expression.

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A white KALLAX TV bench with a beige table lamp and a TV hanging above is placed against a wall with red painted curves.
A FRIDHULT sofa-bed is arranged as a bed and furnished with black and white textiles and a red GURLI cushion cover.
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Big, bold, graphic patterns inspired by nature

Big and bold graphic patterns are hallmarks of modern Scandinavian design. The MAJSMOTT cushion cover is a wonderful example of this. A tip for mixing and matching cushion covers: stick to a color palette (here, it’s black and white) when using different patterns. Designer Emma Hagman was inspired by nature when creating the cushion cover. “I started out drawing by hand, to get a lively feel. I like how the hand makes things naturally asymmetric,” she shares. “Random checks, untamed leaves, and details from nature were my inspiration. For me, Scandinavian design is not only simple, but also warm, nature-inspired, and often bold and large-scale.”

A MAJSMOTT cushion cover is on a light grey sofa-bed along with other cushions, beside a red side table with castors.

An easy-going Scandinavian design living room that makes you smile

White combined with pops of blue and red, light wood, bold and graphic patterns, and smart storage make up this cheerful living room. Here, form and function come together in a playful way, creating a space that accommodates everyone’s needs, and is a joy to live in.

A pine IVAR cabinet and a pine IVAR storage box on wheels are placed against the blue walls of a small living room.