Proving Scandi interiors needn’t be all white: inside The Home, Copenhagen by Ferm Living

While I was in Copenhagen recently, I couldn’t resist squeezing in a visit to Ferm Living’s brand-new showroom in the heart of the city. Looking over the central square of Amagertorv, The Home is a beautiful, old apartment designed to showcase Ferm Living’s ethos – namely, what home means to this well-known Danish brand. Spread across five rooms, their furniture designs, lighting, homeware and textiles are carefully curated to create a space where you want to linger and stay a while. Or preferably forever… The question on everyone’s lips when they visit –’ can I move in?’

For me, the richly hued space is also a lesson in how to use colour to bring a sense of warmth and feeling to an interior. If you read this blog, then like me, you’re probably partial to a light-filled, monochrome Scandinavian space, but if used well and in just the right places, colour can be clean and minimal too.

To be honest, I’m a little scared of using colour; worried that I’ll tire of it quickly and have to start decorating all over again. I like creating timeless, elegant spaces that don’t go out of fashion. If anything, The Home showed me that Scandinavian interiors needn’t be all white and being bold with colour can create brilliant, inspiring effects. Who would have thought to paint the ceiling of the living space, below, in a deep burgundy red-brown? I certainly wouldn’t but it somehow works, grounding the space and creating a cosy setting.

The brand’s A/W17 collection, also titled The Home, has a hint of Nordic decadence, merging the clean lines and shapes of Scandinavian design with vibrant colours, rich materials and textures. Designs have an element of understated luxury and refined sophistication.

‘It’s that certain scent, a familiar atmosphere, walls that know your name. So much more than just a place, The Home is where we feel at ease. It’s the space that lets us grow into who we wish to become. It’s where we are who we are.’ Ferm Living

Ferm Living’s minimal Turn Sofa, above, for instance, is complemented with their Herman Lounge Chair and Borders Kelim Rug. The space has an autumnal look that perfectly suits this time of year as the evenings get shorter and we long to be inside at home.

Spaces at The Home are prevented from appearing too dark and oppressive by the huge windows that bring natural light in.

Colour can also be used to delineate spaces and create zones, like with this corner workspace. It humanises the tall space by bringing the eye level down to the level of the desk and chair.

Using colour on the panelling brings out the period details, but if your home is not blessed with the same elements, painting the skirting boards and door frames in a contrasting colour to the walls can add interest and hue without painting the whole room. Perfect for people like me who are bit hesitant to go the whole hog!

Deep green in the kitchen was another revelation for me. Sometimes kitchens can look clinical and bare, but this space is warm and inviting. The green has been used sparingly – on one wall, around the kitchen units and for the kitchen units themselves. Sections of white and the white frames of the windows stop the space feeling too dingy. The colour makes features and accessories really pop too.

If the use of colour still seems a little scary, add it slowly with accessories, such as Ferm Living’s Green Plant Box. Plants and herbs in the kitchen also add life and help create a happy, healthy space.

Shop the look:

I hope Ferm Living’s has inspired you to be bolder with colour too. I’ll certainly be testing out some ideas in my own home, watch this space!

The Home is not open to the public unfortunately, but you can get another look at the spaces with this video on Ferm Living’s site.

All images: Cate St Hill