These Four Walls

  • BLOG
    • INTERIORS
    • TRAVEL
    • LIFESTYLE
  • ABOUT
  • WORK WITH ME
    • BRINGING YOUR BRAND STORY TO LIFE
    • INTERIORS / PRODUCT STYLING & PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO
    • TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO
    • PRESS, FEATURES & AWARDS
  • DESIGN SERVICE
  • SHOP MY HOME
  • BUY MY BOOK

Home tour | A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black

June 11, 2018

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

Happy Monday everyone! It’s home-tour time again, and today I have a beautiful Swedish apartment decorated in blue, white and black to share with you.

I’m a total colour-phobe when it comes to interiors (read why in this post), but the soft greyish blue used in this Gothenburg pad is one of the few shades I could happily incorporate into my own home – it’s wonderfully soothing and reminds me of lazy days by the sea. It works brilliantly with tan and warmer woods such as oak (see my recent review of Nobis Hotel Copenhagen for an example), but here it’s paired with black and white to create a muted, minimalist vibe. It’s a palette that could feel cold, but the apartment still looks homely and inviting thanks to lots of texture and some very clever furniture and accessory choices.

Most of the apartment is taken up with an open-plan living space, whose white-painted beams and bare wooden floorboards lend a loft-like feel. The kitchen and dining area is airy and bright, with white-fronted units, dark worktops and a dining table flanked by an assortment of black chairs. At the other end is a sitting area, where a blue wall and large rug are used to define the space and create a slightly cosier ambiance. I particularly love the statement painting behind the sofa (IKEA’s ‘SÖDERHAMN with loose linen covers), the HAY ‘Pion’ lamp on the windowsill, and the striking Bolia marble coffee table with its built-in magazine rack.

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

The blue walls continue in the bedroom. This space has no window of its own, but the owners have installed crittall-style doors to let some natural light flow through from the living area. They’ve also chosen to work with the dark, cocooning feel rather than fighting against it, adding piles of comfy-looking linen and a striking ‘Formakami’ pendant light, designed by Jaime Hayon for &tradition and inspired by Asian paper lanterns. The result is a tranquil little sanctuary that’s perfect for rest and relaxation.

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

The apartment also encompasses a spacious home office / second bedroom with a bank of built-in cupboards to hide away clutter. They’re actually made up of IKEA’s standard ‘PAX’ system, but unusual leather handles have been added to personalise the look. The glass ‘Cluster’ lamp on the desk (available via Artilleriet) adds another eye-catching feature, as does the Flos ‘AIM’ light suspended from the ceiling.

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

And last but not least is the hallway – a space that’s an afterthought in so many homes, but not here. A large coat stand and shoe rack means it’s very practical, while monochrome artwork, a rug and an oversized potted plant create a welcoming first impression.

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

How about you? Do you like this pared-back scheme? And what do you think of blue, black and white as a colour combination?

Photography by Jonas Berg for Stadshem; styling by Grey Deco

Related

7 Comments · Interiors

Comments

  1. Vritika | Luxury Villas says

    June 12, 2018 at 8:27 am

    The apartment looks serene and calm with earthy tones of wall paint and decor. Looks really relaxing 🙂

    Reply
    • Abi says

      June 12, 2018 at 9:09 am

      It’s very relaxing isn’t it? A lovely home to unwind in, I think

      Reply
  2. Becka says

    June 14, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    Oh that is so warm and soothing. I’m just about to redecorate a bedroom, so this is very inspirational.

    Reply
    • Abi says

      June 14, 2018 at 3:25 pm

      Glad you like it! That soft, powdery blue is perfect for bedrooms. Good luck with the decorating!

      Reply
  3. Helen Orrock says

    July 11, 2018 at 6:08 pm

    Love the tones and the wooden floor

    Reply
    • Abi says

      July 11, 2018 at 6:18 pm

      It’s gorgeous isn’t it – so many nice ideas to steal.

      Reply
  4. Street Glimpse says

    August 24, 2018 at 8:47 pm

    Wow it looks like that entire room is only made of three colors. Love the minimalism. The lighting really makes it pop as well. Wish I could see it in person, or at least a virtual 360 tour perhaps, haha!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

HELLO

Abi Dare | These Four Walls blog

I’m Abi Dare – a stylist, photographer and writer based in Bristol (UK). I set up this blog to share interior design, travel and lifestyle inspiration for simple, relaxed living at home and beyond. You’ll find home tours, advice and tips, interviews, reviews, postcards from places I love and more – always with a focus on soft minimalism, muted colours and timeless, considered design.

‘Top 10 UK interior design blogs’ 2025, 2024, 2023 & 2022, Vuelio

‘Best Interior Design Blog’, uFurnish Home Awards 2024

Winner of the ‘Blogger’ category in the Sweetpea & Willow Home Influencer Awards 2023

‘Best Design & Architecture Blog’, UK Blog Awards 2019

BUY MY BOOK

Order a copy of my first book, The Soft Minimalist Home – Calm, Cozy Decor for Real Lives and Spaces, published by Ryland Peters & Small and available now.

NEWSLETTER

Sign up to my newsletter

Subscribe here to receive more interiors, lifestyle and travel inspiration straight to your inbox.

WORK WITH ME

Photography, styling & content creation | These Four Walls blog

Discover how I can help you tell your brand story through photography, styling and content creation…

DESIGN SERVICES

Interior design services | These Four Walls

Find out how my interior design packages could help you create a home you love…

DISCLOSURE

These Four Walls occasionally contains paid-for content, gifted products and affiliate links (where I receive a commission on sales of the products concerned). All such content is clearly marked. Thank you for supporting the posts that make this blog possible.

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bloglovin

INSTAGRAM

A few snaps from the gorgeous @gubiofficial showro A few snaps from the gorgeous @gubiofficial showroom in London, which I visited during @clerkenwelldesignweek earlier this week. I missed the opening event for this last year, so it was great to finally have a look around in person. The light is stunning, as is GUBI's selection of contemporary and classic designs - including the sculptural and futuristic F300 lounge  chair, first designed by Pierre Paulin in the 1960s and recently relaunched. 

Which room or corner is your favourite...?

#minimalistinterior #danishdesign #scandiinterior #scandiinspo #nordicminimalism #scandinaviandecor #softminimalism #interiorsinspo #interiorsinspiration
Eight years ago today. Carousel posts didn't exist Eight years ago today. Carousel posts didn't exist then so I'm using our anniversary as an excuse to share some of my favourite wedding photos.

I have so many happy memories from the day, but what I remember the most is all the laughter. And the funniest best men's (Chris had four!) speech I've ever heard. I wish we'd had a videographer just to capture that.

Anyway, thanks @small_round_things for the last eight years - and for the 13 before we actually got around to tying the knot!

Venue: @pyneshouse 
Photography: @taylorandporter
Back on the grid after more than two weeks. Thanks Back on the grid after more than two weeks. Thanks to everyone who sent messages checking I was OK - I just lost my Instagram mojo and needed a bit of a break. Anyway, here are some phone-camera snippets of life lately...

1.  Guard cat on duty while I work
2.  Evening light hitting the last of the Japanese quince blossom in the garden 
3.  Country drives
4.  Coming across 17th-century graffiti while house-hunting
5 & 6.  A lazy Sunday stroll on Clevedon Pier, on one of those hazy days where the sea and sky seem to merge into one
7.  Keeping drooping spring blooms going for as long as possible 
8 & 9.  Wisteria at @ntbarringtoncourt in Somerset 
10.  Brunch at the always-wonderful @lunitapasteleria 
11.  Enjoying the balmy spring breeze 
12.  Stunning mosaic floors at Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire 
13.  Bluebell season
14.  My kind of wine
15.  Wild garlic 

#springhassprung #slowsimpleseasonal #cornersofmyworld #lifelately #blossomseverywhere #thisprettyengland #thelocalwayfarer #westcountry #littlestoriesofmylife #poetryofsimplethings #seeingthepretty #tinytinymoments
[AD - PR product] I've always loved marble as a ma [AD - PR product] I've always loved marble as a material, and the beige Kunis Breccia version of the @newworksdk 'Kizu' table lamp caught my eye immediately. I now have this design in three different colourways around the house, and this is definitely my favourite to date! 

#softminimalisthome #softminimalstyle #neutralhomedecor #simplehomestyle #minimalistdecor #simpleinterior #mycosyhome #neutrallivingroom #minimalistlighting #scandiinterior

PRIVACY POLICY | Copyright © 2025 THESE FOUR WALLS BLOG

This site uses cookies to give you the best possible web experience. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with this.OKReject cookiesLearn more