Scandi Summers Garden Styling
Written by: Millie Breakspeare
We’re nearly into summer, which means crystal clear blue skies ahead. Before getting into the fun and frenzy of summer holidays, why not take a moment to put your feet up in the garden and just enjoy the sunshine and gentle breeze?
One way to capture the ease and contentment of summer is adding some Scandi-style to your outdoor space. Not sure where to start? Here are some simple ways to welcome the Scandinavian aesthetic into your garden, and create a welcoming atmosphere for family and friends, or a restful retreat you can escape to when the house gets too chaotic.
Calm Colours
What better way to embody a laidback and relaxed summer than with fresh and cool Scandi colours. Think sky blues, natural greens, and pale neutrals.
It’s easy enough to dot these colours around your garden in the form of flowers, cushions, linens and blankets. Friends will find peace and comfort in the simplicity when they join you for a picnic lunch, or you can just settle in with a good book to enjoy the quiet moments, open air, and great expanse of clear sky.
Fresh Florals
One key element of Scandi style is connection to nature and the beauty in its simplicity. Bring this into your space with simple, delicate looking foliage in blues and whites. Remember, you can use artificial flowers which appear soft but are durable enough to be used year after year.
You can hang floral wreaths from trees, outdoor walls, fences, and furniture to add some hight to the space. Meanwhile, wrap foliage garlands across benches, tables, and shelves to add pops of colour to gathering areas – which are sure to be a talking point with guests. For extra sparkle, you can combine them with micro fairy lights so the petals glow as the sun sets, creating a spark of summer joy.
Cosy Nooks
Enjoying your space and taking things slow is something Scandi gardens draw attention to. Why not take this idea and curate your own cosy nook in a corner of your garden? You don’t need to have a lot of space – just a small area you can make your own and relax in until the sun goes down.
Here are some ideas you can consider incorporating into your own summer retreat:
Furniture
Rustic wooden furniture is a good shout for creating a cosy, warm atmosphere. It’s informal and welcoming – perfect for settling in to read, knit, draw, or just watch the world go by. Remember to add cushions and blankets – if you’re going to spend a lot of time here, you want to be comfy.
Lighting
Cosy candlelight makes for a relaxing, intimate ambiance. Group together outdoor TruGlow® candles of different sizes and place them on shelves or tables to highlight different levels and create depth. You can pair them with minimalist black lanterns like Seaton and Bowen lanterns to make the space extra snug while still maintaining an air of simplicity. To add some sparkle from above and tie the scene together, hang white fabric lanterns from tree branches.
Function
One thing not to be forgotten when it comes to Scandi styling, is that the space should still be functional. While your nook may be great to look at, you need to actually be able to enjoy your lazy afternoon pursuits. If you want to enjoy diner under the stars and martinis by moonlight in your own private bistro, make sure you have the correct furniture – folding tables and chairs are brilliant for this as you can easily pack them away to create more space depending on how you want to spend your day.
You can also take full advantage of the plants in your garden to help build your nook, almost creating pillars and walls so you don’t feel as exposed, whilst really making the most of your time amongst nature.
Dining Alfresco
Summer is the time for feasts among the flowers and under the stars. Add a Scandinavian twist for your family and friends with a thrown together tablescape of mismatched chairs, cushions, and blankets to match the laidback energy of a breezy carefree summer.
Make sure you have enough light to eat by, dotting simple lanterns and candles along the table.
As a final touch, hang festoon lights above the table so they can cast a golden shine over everyone.
It’s pretty easy to turn your garden into a welcoming space for respite when the world moves too fast. We hope you’ve taken inspiration from this article, so you can kick back and relax this Scandi summer – it goes by so quickly, make the most of it.
