How do you redesign your home’s interiors into something sleeker, more curated and more minimalist? The answer to that may seem like it can be found in modern and contemporary design, but there’s a more specific term for such a concept. It’s also more than a design trend as it’s a specific lifestyle that originated in Europe. If you’re not too familiar with the term “lagom”, our interior design team explains what this term is about and how it can reshape your way of living.
Swedish Origins
The term “lagom” is a Swedish word that comes from the phrase “lagom är bäst”, which roughly translates into “not too much, not too little”. It dates back to the Vikings as it comes from the word “lag” which translates to “team” and “laget om” which means “around the team”. This is a phrase used by the Vikings when a horn full of mead was passed around so everyone gets a fair sip. They get an equal amount, which isn’t too much or too little. The phrase was later shortened to lagom, and even today, the term remains a guiding principle for many people in Sweden and across the globe.
More Than Just Minimalism
Some people think that lagom is hardly any different from living a minimalist lifestyle. While this can be true, lagom is considered more as another form of minimalism. While it may have some aspects of minimalism, it differs from the sophistication of the art deco period or bold colors paired with a lack thereof in minimalist design.
Lagom is all about having just the right amount, which can be interpreted into living a balanced, sustainable and enjoyable lifestyle. While this concept requires making big changes to certain habits to achieve this, following the lagom lifestyle helps you both physically and mentally as you lock into the right spot between doing and contemplating. It strongly pushes back against the Western “go big or go home” mindset and instead encourages calm and serenity while also being satisfied with having just enough for your lifestyle.
Designing a Lagom-Inspired Home
Just like the Scandinavian-inspired “hygge”, lagom is a Swedish philosophy that encourages balance in all aspects of life. It defines how everything in moderation is the key to attaining happiness. And because it’s part of the many aspects of Swedish culture, it’s what makes the country one of the happiest in the world.
Over the last few years, lagom has been trending in the home remodeling industry. However, to incorporate the concept properly in your design, you should understand that this is more than just a popular design trend. If you’re already planning a major home renovation this summer and want to follow the lagom concept, you can start by discussing it with an interior remodeling contractor. Since it builds on the concept of minimalism, focus more on sleeker yet functional features and design elements.
Lagom Tips to Consider for Your Home Design
- Keep Only What You Need
This essentially means removing items and pieces that may otherwise cause clutter in the design. Some of these items may hardly have much use in your interiors and occupy space that may otherwise be used for something more functional. Lagom is a concept that aims to meet the needs of its occupants, which is why fewer items are required. Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to sell off most of your current stuff.
As a top remodeling contractor, we suggest rearranging them if they fit into your lagom-inspired interiors or keeping them somewhere else if they’re unnecessarily taking up space. Once you’ve decluttered your items to what you only need and love, you’ll feel a big difference in your interiors. This is because you’re already surrounded by the things that bring joy and serve a purpose in your home design!
- Maintain Harmony and Balance
Lagom is a philosophy that steers away from overcomplicating your life and focuses on the simpler things that keep you happy and content. As you’re planning out your interior space, make sure to create a sense of harmony and balance through the colors and design elements you choose. Focus on just a few key colors that can be applied throughout your home’s interiors for consistency and elegance. Don’t go overboard with accessories but you still can add a few houseplants to help bring in a bit of nature and stability.
- Stick With Neutrals
One of the best ways to achieve balance in your lagom home design, we recommend establishing neutral tones throughout your home’s interiors. From there, you can add color through accents that can come from different objects. For instance, if you’re going with white walls in your kitchen remodeling project, you can incorporate color through wall art, furniture and appliances. You can also go with neutral furniture along with your walls, but we suggest adding a touch of bright hues so that you get the right balance. This is also beneficial as you can always change the color palette without spending too much on redoing the whole interior!
- Choose Items That Fit the Concept
For smaller homes, lagom is a great concept to follow to make the most of your living space. This means considering better storage that can free up more room and ensure a less cluttered home. You also don’t need to replace all of your furniture, but we recommend adding a bit of perception of height to make your space look bigger. This can be achieved by placing statement furniture pieces that stand out within the interiors. They don’t even have to be brand new, as you can go with secondhand furniture that gets the job done. You can even consider refurbishing the furniture as well, which helps in adding more character to your lagom-inspired home without making a big carbon footprint on the environment.
Planning a lagom-inspired home? You can count on the experienced bathroom and kitchen remodeling professionals of Cottage Industries, Inc. to guide you throughout the process. Give us a call today at (610) 293-9750, or fill out our online request form so we can talk about your plans for your living space.
