February 6, 2011
Swedish Furniture; A Primer
Whilst it might be hard for the average North American to distinguish between various variations of Scandinavian fashions, the delicate appeal of Swedish Furniture is simple to pick out from the IKEA-flavored herd when a consumer knows what he is shopping for.
The initial and most obvious distinction between Swedish-style furniture and the varieties ubiquitous in the other parts of Northern Europe is that Gallerie Furniture is typically light colored. Though other places typically preferred to make use of many different wood varieties, from dark walnut to lightest birch, Swedes appeared specifically receptive to the bleak days and prolonged dark nights of the Scandinavian winters and coped by developing quite pale and warm rooms.
Walls, flooring and decorations were almost always painted or otherwise finished in very pale pastel hues or light wood finishes. Birch and beech were normal woods for both furniture in addition to floors. Oak Living Room Furniture was also finished or cushioned in colors that complimented this color palette. Compared to Danish furniture, which is almost never painted, Swedes were just as likely to paint their fixtures in white or pastel tones as they were to stain them. Softly colored stencils were commonly applied for additional interest. To prevent homes from appearing completely anemic, the Swedes enjoyed themselves by adding splashes of bright red on white backgrounds upon their tablecloths and clothing. That particular palette furthermore has appeared on upholstered furniture as a cure for the soft grays and greens which were more typical.
The Swedish artist Carl Larsson is normally recognized for making the Swedish form of designing visible to the world. His pictures of day-to-day life from 19th century Sweden have given all of us a wonderful time capsule of tints and forms of Swedish home design. One of the highlights that are noticed by many modern observers is the delicate proportions of Swedish furniture when in contrast to German or Norwegian pieces from the same era. Legs on case goods are slim and fluted, and decorative table borders are quite typical. The upholstery on chairs and benches, in addition to being light colored, are often very simple, free of the gratuitous tufting or piping which is common in most of Northern Europe. The basic seat covers allow the subtle traces of the wooden frames to be the central element of each piece.
If you have become interested in Swedish interior design, one can find numerous places where an individual can get Swedish made or inspired fixtures and materials. IKEA is the obvious starting point, although a rapid google search may reveal many online in addition to brick-and-mortar enterprises that are known for Swedish furniture rather than generalized Scandinavian designs.
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Filed under House and Home by ckahuna