When I was pregnant and looking to create the space that my child was going to inhabit in New York, I was soon informed through choices on the market and word of mouth that my best bets came from either Scandinavian or Scandinavian inspired products – it’s the assumed best for any child. How could it not? It’s minimalist aesthetic, clean lines, and neutral color palettes seem perfect and unsurpassable.
I was happy to inherit great Scandinavian inspired pieces that introduced me to great brands and products, most pieces in muted colors, modern aesthetic and above all NEUTRAL. When out on the park with all the other neighborhood babies, we all blended in and could see we had variations of the same brands, yet as my child was growing – and I started to have some tiny free space in my brain to think about something else than survival– I started to cherish what made my son’s items different and special, a blanket hand knit by grandma, a Peruvian sweater with embroidered lambs, a hand embroidered bib sent from Chile by great-grandma, anything that had the soul of someone behind it, and hence its love.
That’s when I started questioning that, while there's no denying the appeal of Scandinavian style, is our love for Scandinavian design making us color blind?
In a world that’s increasingly interconnected, raising children who appreciate and understand global diversity seems important to me. Children learn and are shaped by stimuli from their surroundings, make connections and ask questions through what’s around them, so what lies within their space is an amazing opportunity for raising curious global citizens. So here’s where I do my pitch and say – even though it does look calming and soothing to have an all muted Scandinavian nursey – dare to mix it up!!!
Yep, you can do it!
Here are a few ways to bring a more diverse range of design influences into your home:
1. Mix and Match: You don’t need to throw anything away! Combine elements that you already have of neutral design with accents that come from other cultures or languages. A minimalist room can come alive with the addition of a vibrant Mexican hand knit rug or original artwork.
2. Cultural Art: Incorporate art and artifacts from different cultures. A neutral living room can feature an African mask (three of them in my son’s bedroom), an Indian tapestry, or a Latin American painting (guilty again), adding depth and diversity to the space.
3. Color and Pattern: Don't be afraid to experiment with color and pattern. While Scandinavian design often relies on a neutral palette, injecting colors and different patterns can create a dynamic and engaging environment.
4. Travel-Inspired Decor: Use your travels as inspiration for your home decor. Bring back pieces that you like, and integrate them into your interior design, the best part of it is that they come with a story you can share with your child and reminiscence about. As a rule of thumb, I generally ask locals where they shop, to avoid the touristy stores that have generic things I don’t connect with. What has worked the best for me is to visit the art galleries (every town has one, I promise!) and ask them where the cool work is at, people are always happy to share names of artists they love.
