How to Decorate with Gustavian Scandinavian Furniture
Jun 13th, 2011 by Jane R.
Do you love the sensibility and clean look of modern Scandinavian furniture, but not a fan of the ultra-minimalism that seems to have become a defining feature of the style? Consider adding a few Gustavian pieces – a style that was developed in Scandinavia to simplify the popular look of Louis XIV while making beautiful furniture accessible to those on a budget.
The Gustavian style is simple to pull off at home – you can even integrate pieces into many existing decor themes. The use of light is extremely important, so Gustavian homes use pale colors like pastel blue, beige, tan, cream, and lots of white to reflect as much sun as possible. Drapery is kept to a minimum, and hidden storage is a must to accomplish the un-cluttered look. Crystal chandeliers are popular, but can be substituted with any simple modern pendant to bring the room up-to-date.
As long as you love simple, refined spaces filled with elegance and history, Gustavian-inspired interior design ideas may serve you well.
Identifying Gustavian-Style Furniture
Imagine your favorite IKEA furniture, but with a little more ornamentation and texture. Instead of blocks and geometry, the Gustavian focuses on elegant, organic lines. Furniture is designed to allow as much light as possible to illuminate the room – through the use of open-backed chairs and breezy dish hutch racks, for example.
Worn, chipping paint is a desirable feature in this kind of Scandinavian furniture. Gustavian furnishings are often made of light, soft woods, usually with hand carved or painted details. These painted details were an economical way to mimic more expensive pieces, a process that can inspire many one-of-a-kind home decorating ideas.
Be prepared to experiment with many DIY aging techniques – Gustavian is such a popular style that an authentic piece can fetch an outrageous price tag. Thankfully, a large part of this Gustavian Scandinavian furniture is the simplicity and hand-crafted details, making this look a great candidate for many weekend projects to come.
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