4 Designer Secrets: Creating Timeless Elegance with Danish Modern Style
People who prefer modern interior design are often interested in Danish Modern style as well because of its minimalist appearance and natural materials. It’s a look which aligns with the modern aesthetic. But how is Danish Modern style recognized and how can it be integrated into a home with other styles?
What is Danish Modern style?
Danish modern is a graceful modern style that originated in Denmark in the mid-twentieth century and hit its peak in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. Danish modern, sometimes called Scandinavian style, is a blend of the German Bauhaus principles of modernist design, and the handcrafting techniques of the traditional Danish cabinetmakers.
Key Elements Defining Danish Modern Design
- Clean lines
- Minimal ornamentation
- Importance on functionality
- Use of mostly teak and sometimes rosewood to emphasize beauty and durability
- Use of natural fabrics of silk, cotton, linen, wool
- Fine-quality craftsmanship was employed so that the furniture was durable. The designs were crafted using a 360-degree design to ensure that the furniture looked good from every angle. Additionally, rounded edges are a common feature of Danish furniture. Rounded edges offer modern, sleek appeal. Scandinavian furniture designs tend to also feature lighter and more airy frames.
4 Ways to Showcase Danish Modern in Your Home–Mixes with Most Any Style
Because Danish Modern lines are simple and clean and the wood is typically midtones with a warm feeling, furniture of this style can mix with just about any other style including modern, midcentury modern, transitional, southwestern, traditional, eclectic, boho, and European genres. To create a Danish Modern look in your home, try the following different ways:
1 Textiles
Place an area rug made with natural fibers such as wool, silk or cotton in a living area (Check out rugs at Nordic Knots)
Brighten up a neutral piece of furniture with colorful, bold-patterned textiles made into accessories such as pillows or table linens. For example, a Marimekko fabric.
Select nubby handwoven natural fibers such as wool, silk or linen to create accent pieces like throw pillows, throws, stool/seat covers
2 Home Decor
A wide variety of home décor items such as dinnerware, cookware, home décor, tableware and linens with a defined Scandinavian style can be found at certain stores that sell homewares with a modern aesthetic such as IKEA, Crate & Barrel, and Room and Board.
One iconic brand, DANSK, is particularly popular for its colorful and durable enamel cookware and other minimalist-style housewares.
Georg Jensen, is a Danish brand known internationally for its simple but elegant modernist silver housewares such as serveware, silverware, and home décor. It can be found in many luxury department stores.
3 Teak or Rosewood Case Goods and Cabinetry
To emulate the Danish modern presence of the 60s/70s in your home, select a durable wood that was most commonly used by the skillful Danish cabinetmakers: teak and rosewood. Admittedly, today new furniture made of teak or rosewood is challenging to find. Most likely, teak and rosewood furnishings crafted in the 60s and 70s will only be found in vintage midcentury modern shops and are considered collector’s items. A piece can also be custom made from teak. (Rosewood is no longer available due to extinction in Brazil.)
When renovating or building new construction, it’s my experience that walnut or teak flat-panel (aka slab) doors be selected for your kitchen and bathroom cabinetry to achieve a Danish modern/Scandinavian minimalist look in your space.
4 Iconic Danish/Scandinavian Furniture Pieces
To punctuate the Danish modern aesthetic in your home, add an iconic Danish furniture piece as a focal point to your living space or bedroom or office such as one of the following. Your interior designer will help you decide which piece(s) will fit your space best, give the most impact and be the best value, and as important, bring you the most pleasure and comfort. Your designer can also offer you designer trade pricing on many of these pieces. As mentioned, the teak furnishings will likely be found in vintage midcentury modern shops which this designer is an expert at finding.
These iconic pieces were designed by Scandinavian designers:
Teakwood tables, dining chairs
Teakwood case goods such as: sideboard, tall or long chest of drawers, nightstands
Beware! There are plenty of “knock-offs” available of all these furnishings–lower price, yes, but inferior quality. If you would like an authentic piece which is comparable to buying a piece of art and will often appreciate in value, it must be purchased from an approved distributor. Your interior designer can help you obtain an authentic vintage piece or a marked reproduction. (Vintage midcentury modern furnishings are my area of expertise.)
A Personal Note
On a personal note, this author has had her Danish modern teak furniture (dining room table and 8 chairs with matching sideboard and some living room end tables) for nearly 40 years. My set has lovely rounded edges as mentioned. They are all still very beautiful and for the most part in very good condition. Absolutely durable! Just minor wear and tear by a family of 4 and this crazy Italian who loves to cook and entertain.
Claire Cavalieri is a modern interior designer in the Dallas area. Her designs are known for creating a home that doesn’t just cater to the visual senses but they also actively promote pleasure and well-being. Claire loves flower arranging, ballroom dancing, and pasta. Find Claire at https://cavalieridesigns.com/
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