Interior Design Trends 2026: Scandi Maximalism

Scandi homes & interiors expert shares tips on incorporating Scandinavian design’s latest trend into your home this summer.

Anyone seeking interior inspiration this summer need look no further than the latest interior design trend of Scandi maximalism.

Catharina Björkman, Scandi homes & interiors expert at Contura, explains: “Traditional Scandinavian design is rooted in the concept of minimalism, focusing on neutral colour palettes and clean lines.

“In contrast, Scandi maximalism invites us to experiment with bold colours, contrasting textures and more fluid shapes in our homes – making the ‘new Scandi’ aesthetic ideal for anyone looking to inject their homes with the joyful energy of summer.

“It is important to note that the core principles of Scandinavian design, such as the emphasis on balance, functionality and embracing the natural world, remain key. This helps to ensure that our home maintains its purpose as a productive and peaceful space – even when embracing a more maximalist aesthetic.”

Read on for Catharina’s guide to refreshing your home with the ‘new Scandi’ aesthetic below…

Add a burst of colour

Channel the Scandi maximalist design aesthetic by incorporating a fun splash of colour into your interiors.Look to nature’s kaleidoscope of colours for inspiration, from soft earthy browns, sage greens and sky blues to – if you are looking for something bolder – bright grassy greens, sunset oranges and dandelion yellows.

A simple way to incorporate a burst of colour into your home is with a statement piece of furniture. Think a bold-coloured sofa in the living room. You can further embrace the Scandi maximalism trend by then adding in some soft furnishings or decorative items of the same or similar colours. For example, if you have a bright orange sofa in an otherwise neutral space, consider a tonal scheme (using the same colour in different shades) for small furnishings like lampshades, photo frames or artwork to help bring the aesthetic together.

This will inject the room with a joyful dose of colour whilst simultaneously bringing a calming sense of balance and cohesion to the space.
If looking to add a more dramatic dose of colour to your home, consider the colour drenching technique. This involves painting all the surfaces in a room, including the walls, doors, skirting boards and ceilings, in a single shade. This will help to create a room that feels both stylish and peaceful – removing harsh contrasts between the room’s large surfaces as well as giving it an added illusion of space.

Play with patterns

Patterns are another great way to embrace Scandi maximalism, adding personality and warmth to your home when used well.An easy way to incorporate patterns into your interiors without adding unnecessary clutter or overwhelming a space is by swapping out plain doorknobs in favour of playful, patterned ones. The same can be done to the handles on old or plain furniture in need of a glow up.

Another subtle way to add pattern to your home can be by using texture. For example, when selecting placemats or coasters, consider opting for woven designs made with natural materials such as rattan or jute – which will bring more warmth to your kitchen setting compared to solid plastic equivalents.Patterned wallpaper can be a great option for those seeking a more visually impactful look. Nature, once again, provides a perfect source of inspiration when selecting your print, from peaceful leaf-inspired patterns to fluid floral designs.

Embrace personality over polish

Personal treasures are what help to turn a house into a home, so there’s no need to shy away from incorporating them into your interiors. In fact, Scandi maximalism encourages us to use our homes as a canvas to express our personalities and tastes in a fun and unapologetic manner – though, importantly, in a way that does not add a sense of chaos or clutter.

Rather than stuffing books away to gather dust in various cupboards and corners, find a neat way to proudly showcase them – whether on a singular floating bookshelf or in a bespoke wall-to-wall bookcase, depending on how many you have. You can even experiment with how the books are organised within, such as grouping them by colour for a visually appealing rainbow effect.

In any case, displaying your beloved book collection will add a fun pop of colour and personality to your home whilst maintaining an organised, calm feel.Another way to infuse personality into your home design is by utilising your favourite photos. Embrace the Scandi maximalist aesthetic with a gallery wall, where a selection of photos and art – usually of varying sizes – are displayed alongside one another as part of a cluster, channelling the notion of organised chaos.

Don’t be afraid to play around with this decorating technique by choosing frames of different sizes, colours and textures too. You can experiment further by adding patterned mounts or bold-coloured borders to make the chosen image or artwork pop within the frame.
Just be careful to ensure that the design feature is well-contained on the chosen wall space to preserve the sense of balance in your home interiors.

For more information, please visit www.contura.eu.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

• Rooster PR will coordinate comment, interview and profile opportunities for Contura UK Country Manager, Phil Wood.
• The Contura PR team will also arrange visits to the nearest Contura Design Centre dealerships or the Contura showroom in Doncaster to see the product range.

For further press information, please contact:
Josie Waddington | Tilly Everard | Elsa Findlay | Julie Aguilera
Rooster.
T: +44 (0)203 440 8930
E: Contura@Rooster.co.uk
W: Rooster Contura Newsroom

About Contura:
Contura is Europe’s leading manufacturer of wood burning stoves, offering an extensive range of classic and contemporary wood burners; from traditional insert stoves suitable for existing fireplaces, to freestanding statement models made with innovative materials such as soapstone.

Starting at £1,295, Contura stoves are premium yet affordable. Award winning, timeless Swedish design means the products complement or enhance any style of home, whilst also offering outstanding performance, maximum efficiency, practicality and ease of use.

Designed and assembled at the factory located in Markaryd, Sweden, and manufactured to the highest standards, Contura stoves are highly energy efficient, offering powerful convection, superior combustion technology and clean burning systems. All Contura stoves are DEFRA Clean Air Act exempt and thus approved for use in Smoke Control Areas.

Contura stoves can be purchased through a network of 165 independent retailers nationwide.

Contura is part of the NIBE group, a Swedish manufacturing company producing world class solutions in sustainable energy across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Contura is a founding member of the Stove Industry Association (SIA) in the UK.

Contura is a proud supporter of Eden: People+Planet’s efforts to restore and monitor over 241,150 hectares of land, creating jobs to support local communities and the environment in the long-term. Since 2018, Contura has funded the planting of over 170,000 trees.

For more information, please visit www.contura.eu