Pinch interior design tips from these real Scandinavian homes

Hallå! When can we move in?

Planning a big decorating push and still keen on the Scandi look? You might as well take some inspiration from the real McCoy.

Here are pictures of real Scandinavian homes - selected from the best of Houzz award winners - to help kickstart your interior design moodboard. Because it's pretty obvious at this point that these guys know how to decorate (oh, and do that Hygge thing... and also whatever lagom means)

Look away now if you're a not a fan of wood floors / grey paint / smug storage solutions.

1) Add extra definition to a grey colour palette with this simple trick

Not sure which shade of grey to use in your bedroom? Try them all! Then throw in a bit of taupe for good luck. The trick then is to pull the room together with one bold contrasting shade, in this case it's the matching slim black frames and black bedside table that gives the neutral colour palette some definition.

2) Warm up painted white floorboards with a bright woven rug

If you're worried a pale grey or white floor might make your house look too much like an art gallery, try throwing in a colourful woven rug to warm it up. This covered seat with wide storage drawers is also an efficient way to get rid of your extra hallway clutter.

3) Mix up a white palette with pale wood furniture and leather

Again this mostly-white kitchen could run the risk of looking a little too stark, but it's beautifully warmed up by those pale wood chairs and the battered leather chesterfield in the foreground. When you're channelling a Scandi look, if in doubt mix up your whites with leather and wood.

4) Match or mirror geometric patterns

You can mix as many patterns as you like, so long as you stick to the same pallete. In this case, it's mostly greys and black.

5) Open up a small bathroom space with an indoor window

We would marry this bathroom if it were legal. Love the marble/plant combo (very now) and how that inside window and mirror makes the space look much bigger than it is. Unless you're a real exhibitionist you'll also want to include a sturdy wooden blind.

All 5 houses are from the Best Of Houzz 2017 award winners, an annual competition based on the most popular pics among Houzz's 40+ million users. To find out more go to Houzz.co.uk/BestOfHouzz2017