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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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