What is lagom: basic principles in interior design

A lot has already been written about Scandinavian styles, but very little is known about Swedish Lagom. In fact, this word is not translated at all. It can mean "moderately", "enough", "neither more nor less" - the golden mean. These words are the foundation. They imply the economical use of things and resources, simplicity, brevity, strict minimalism, practicality and modesty.
It is noteworthy that the word "lagom" is universal: if you ask a Swede how he is doing, he can simply answer: "Lagom". This is the Scandinavian worldview.

Lagom philosophy of life

The basis of lagom is a few simple principles that you adapt to very quickly and start living by them:

1. Household budget management: competent distribution of money, saving, taking care of tomorrow.
2. Indifferent attitude to the decor. In lagom interiors, you will never find an abundance of figurines and figurines: they only collect dust and do not carry a functional load.
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3. Recycling, sorting, reuse. Sweden is a country where about 100% of waste is recycled, which is why it is considered one of the most environmentally friendly. The inhabitants of this Scandinavian state are very careful about nature, save as much as possible resources, do not hesitate to use products from recycled materials and always give a chance to items for a second a life.
4. Lagom interiors have an abundance of living indoor plants. Direction fans make them any free space. And this has a lot of advantages. The premises are lively, bright, positive.

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5. Minimalism and practicality are the main principles in organizing a home. It is important that it is functional, durable and comfortable.
6. No luxury. Here, first of all, we are talking about the rejection of expensive pretentious things that are bought thoughtlessly and unconsciously. However, this does not mean at all that the Swedes are stingy and poor. They just take any purchase very responsibly. A Swedish resident would rather buy one expensive item that will last a long time than spend money on low-grade and low-quality products every year. This applies to absolutely everything - from a car to a toothbrush.

The Swedes are always against littering. Their advantage is that they never hoard things and do not get attached to them. If it comes time to unload the closet, they can do it with ease. Have some clothes become too small or no longer bring positive emotions? They boldly give it to those in need.

Lagom principles in interior design

You should always remember: lagom is not a separate direction in the design of rooms. This is the philosophy of life, its style, which is reflected literally everywhere - from food to interiors.

Lagom is based on several principles. If you decide to bring it into your house, then you should know them:

1. Long service life. All things that you buy must be of high quality. This immediately excludes disposable items, synthetic materials, low-grade products. In fact, the lagom philosophy is a “friend” of eco-life that cares about the environment.
2. Austerity and restraint. Any room looks laconic. They shouldn't have a lot of furniture. The basis is space, lightness, the absence of unnecessary details.

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3. The palette is calm pastel colors. No sharp contrasts, just a soothing gamut.
4. The interior should be enjoyable. Do you want to put the sofa against the far wall, even if it doesn't look there? Feel free to carry out your idea! The lagom philosophy is about feeling satisfied with everything you do.
5. Competent storage organization. The Swedes have a place for everything. You are unlikely to see scattered combs, tubes in the bathroom or things in their homes. Convenient storage systems are the key to success and a clean home.
6. High-quality and textured textiles. Lagom is coziness, warmth, incredible comfort and pleasure. That is why Swedes pay a lot of attention to textile products in the home. Soft blankets, blackout curtains, textured bedspreads, cute decorative pillows on the sofa - all this is about lagom.

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7. A categorical "no" trash! All old things turn into new and needed ones. Nothing stacks in closets and top shelves. If the thing is not needed, another owner is found for it, who will give a new life.
8. Live plants. They are everywhere: on the windowsills, by the bed, in the bathroom and in the kitchen, on the floor in the hallway. Any free space is for indoor plants that purify the air, fill it with oxygen, and just look amazing in the interior.

As you can see, lagom is not a style or direction. This is a deep and important philosophy on how to exclude unnecessary things from your life and focus on the really important things.