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A Scandinavian tastemaker endorsing an IKEA product is the decor equivalent of a dentist-approved toothpaste. There’s something comforting about knowing that, even with all the gorgeous high-end brands and designer collaborations at their disposal, Swedes and Danes love a good Billy bookcase as much as the rest of us. Which products do they consider a cut above the rest? To find out, we polled three popular Scandinavian bloggers known for their minimalist, hygge-laden aesthetics. (Think: muted, tone-on-tone color schemes, medleys of natural materials, and tons of cozy texture.) Here, these design pros share their all-time favorite IKEA picks. Get ready for simple silhouettes and clean lines—nothing too busy and everything crafted to stand the test of time.
The Storuman Lamp
Our first recommendation comes from Allan Torp, the Copenhagen local behind Bungalow5. “In a proper Scandi-style home, you need a paper lamp,” he explains. “The Storuman fixture is perfect for a corner or even on a bookshelf; it gives a great cozy light, is LED, and is only $18.”
The Ivar Storage System
“The Ivar cabinet is practical, clean, and simple, and can be easily customized to suit your home decor,” says blogger and author Niki Brantmark of My Scandinavian Home, who lives in Sweden. She recommends mounting the piece on your wall to free up floor space, then getting creative with the finish. “Paint it the same color as your wall for a truly minimalist look that’s bang-on trendy,” she adds.
The Sinnerlig Pendant Light
Malene Møller, who runs the Danish design blog Boligcious, has the woven Sinnerlig lamp at the top of her wish list. “I have often used this lamp when styling images for magazines,” she says, adding that she loves the cozy atmosphere it creates and its slightly oversize silhouette. “The natural material is authentic and gives a down-to-earth feeling. The day I buy a summer house, I will buy several of these lamps.”
The Sinnerlig Cork Jar
Turns out, the Sinnerlig range in general is a Scandi must-have. “I loved—as in fan-crush love your teenage idol—the Ilse Crawford collection, which was literally ripped from warehouses worldwide in minutes, especially the items in cork,” says Torp. While most of the line may be sold out, you can still purchase the brand’s other cork items. Use these glass jars to house pantry staples in the kitchen or cotton swabs in the bathroom.
See more ways to bring Scandinavian style home: We Asked Scandinavians for Their Top Tips on Mastering the Style Seriously Cool Color Combinations We’re Stealing From the Danish 20 Times Danish Design Made a Room