The spirit of Lagom is brought into each house, reflected in the layout of living space according to the criteria of “just enough” and “balanced”.
It’s easy to get caught up in Scandinavian terms (including some Nordic countries), including the word “lagom“. It is very difficult to translate this word into English or Vietnamese, but its meaning can be described as “neither too much nor too little”. lagomyou’re aiming for a balance that’s right for you.
Simply understood, lagom is a vehicle to help you achieve happiness, halfway between minimalism and cluttered spaces. Extreme orderliness or unpleasant clutter can both make you uncomfortable. However, lagom helps you know what is enough.
Niki Brantmark, author of “Lagom – Knowing enough is freedom” said lagom possibly related to the Viking term “laget om” (roughly translated as “circle of the group”). A bowl of mead will be passed around the circle and it is important that each person sips only the right portion to leave enough for the others. “Today the word lagom is deeply ingrained in Swedish society,” she said.
The house with lagom spirit often uses sunlight and items from natural materials. Photo: Whittney Parkinson Design
One of the biggest misconceptions about lagom is that people often associate it with “hygge”, a Danish concept that means coziness and comfort.
Hygge has more to do with the feeling and atmosphere one would get from being in a room full of pillows, candles, fireplace, and objects that exude coziness. That is not to say that a space where lagom is applied cannot be cozy, but the essence of the two words is different. Lagom focus more on finding equilibrium in a space.
So how to bring lagom into your home?
Lagom is not an extreme concept, so it can be used in homes with many different design styles. There are no strict rules, but the core goal is to create a place where you feel comfortable, one that isn’t filled with things that would literally or figuratively crowd your space.
“Start by looking at the furniture in your home. Are there any items you don’t use or don’t like? If so, get rid of those things so you can focus on making your home a practical and pleasant place to live. Think about the areas of your home that you enjoy spending time in and, in turn, adjust slowly and carefully,” Brantmark shares.
She suggests simple steps like rethinking the layout of the room, repositioning furniture, and refreshing the colors. All of which can turn unused corners of the house into your favorite areas.
Plants are also a factor that helps you balance colors with other items in the house. (Photo: Instagram dommdotcom)
The beauty of lagom is that it is truly personal. For example, what is too much for one person may be just enough for another. Scandinavian home design often favors white, light, neutral or “earth” tones (including natural colors of earth, moss, plants, and rocks). Besides, the choice of furniture and decorative items is also extremely important. The house needs to have a beautiful style but must be neat and bring a sense of peace, “brightening up the dark winter”.
That doesn’t mean if you’re an eclectic (mixing different styles) you shouldn’t apply lagom. Lagom can be an important part of Scandinavian-inspired designs, but it can also appear in homes that don’t emphasize minimalism or don’t have calming colors. The reference palette is just the starting point in creating a balanced space.
“Nothing superfluous, no frills or fussy designs. Shelves don’t get too full. Instead, individual items in the house have space to ‘breathe’ and help you see. Scandinavian homes tend to be an oasis of peace,” Brantmark continued on how to apply lagom in interior decoration.
Always remember that lagom is about balance. Applying the Swedish spirit of lagom, you can create a space that suits your living needs, simple but always full.
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