Designing for the Desert

I have always loved Scandinavian design. Since moving to the desert southwest, the colors and textures of the region have seeped into my aesthetic. It’s hard not to be inspired by such a beautiful place. Sometimes visitors to our store are surprised to see us right here on Main Street. "What does Scandinavian design have to do with the Southwest?"

What I have discovered designing in this landscape, is that the desert and Scandinavia speak a similar visual language. Drive out into the open desert and from a distance it reads as pure minimalism: simple layered shapes, a restrained palette, nothing excess. Get closer and incredible amounts of texture and color are revealed. Nordic design works exactly the same way. Simple at a distance, full of variety and possibility once you get into it.

Scale matters

Scandinavian design has always understood proportion. Forms are considered, there is a reason for every line. In a desert home with windows that frame red rock formations, that restraint becomes essential. Visually complex furniture can compete with the landscape outside. Clean-lined pieces let the view stay the view.

Using color

Nordic interiors use color carefully. There is a misconception that Scandinavian homes all have creamy white minimalist interiors. While this might be true for some homes, in the spaces I’ve experienced, color is used with intention and delight. Think of the beautiful buildings down Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark or the rainbow of colorful homes across towns in the area. The variety is not just used on exteriors, interiors can be highly designed and also full of intentional color.

The instinct here is often to reach for beige and cream, and just stick to layering neutral on neutral. It can feel safe that way. While beige has its place, the desert palette is far richer than that. I'm always inspired by the colors here. Terracotta, sky blue, sage green, coral pink. These are neutrals in this landscape, not accents. We can use them to inspire our use of color. Let them be your base, and then bring in the more intense colors of the region through rugs, pillows, and art. The deep rust of the bluffs, the sharp green of a prickly pear, the pops of pink or yellow from cactus flowers, the bright cyan blue sky. Cool whites read cleanly on walls and make a space feel open and airy. Stone tones and warm ochres hold their depth. Deep charcoals and soft blacks ground a room without absorbing the heat of a south-facing wall.

Material as the connection point

This is where the two sensibilities feel most naturally aligned. Scandinavian design has generally favored natural materials: wood, wool, stone, linen. They have also been innovators in designing with recycled plastics and other materials. The desert has its own material language: sandstone, terracotta, clay, jute, iron, linen, woven cotton. That shared material vocabulary is worth noting.

A room furnished with teak and oak, layered with wool and linen, with a clay vessel on the shelf and an iron accent on the table reads as both Nordic and desert without effort. The materials do the translation. When I source for Ökenhem, I think about this constantly. The pieces that belong here are the ones where the material already speaks the desert’s language, even if they were designed in Stockholm, Copenhagen, or Oslo.

Does Scandinavian design equal minimalism?

Not necessarily. You can “love stuff” and still find ways to integrate Scandinavian design. There is a version of minimalism that is cold and clinical: the empty room, the deliberately bare surface. That isn’t what we are about. And it is not what we love to see in a desert home when the land provides texture, pattern, and drama through every window. Personally, we may lean towards fewer objects, but better ones. We prefer to create spaces that breathe without feeling hollow. We love color, pattern, and something old to balance out the new. We love rooms that feel intentional, not underfurnished. However, if you are a collector, well designed goods will be a great addition to any space.

Modern design in the desert isn't a new idea. Starting in the 1930s, a generation of modernist architects and designers (many Bauhaus trained) moved to work in Palm Springs and surrounding communities. They discovered that working in the desert demanded the exact the kind of design thinking they were trained to do. Architects like Richard Neutra and Albert Frey found that extreme landscapes called for restraint, honest materials, and a deep respect for how light moves across the terrain. Incorporating Scandinavian design elements is really a continuation of the desert modern conversation.

Living in the desert and loving Scandinavian design is not a contradiction. The two sensibilities have more in common than they appear. Start with materials that speak both languages, let the light tell you what colors belong, and trust that a room can be both considered and full of life.

Need help bringing Scandinavian design into your desert home? We offer a full range of design services. Everything from selecting fabric for a sofa to a full home design. If you have a project, we'd love to help. Reach out here.