Get the Scandi Barn style: from hygge to high ceilings

Have you heard of hygge? It’s a word coined by those in the Nordic north, to describe the cosy contentment associated with enjoying life’s simple pleasures. It encompasses comfort and living well, so it makes sense that this Scandi sensibility can extend to home design too. It is most noticeable in the form of the Scandi Barn style - a popular and dramatic look that is perfect for modern living.

The Scandi Barn style was built to connect good design with the wellness of the inhabitants that lived inside, by complementing the surrounding natural landscape. That means minimal decoration, and open spaces for a functional approach to living.  James Hardie ambassador  and award-winning architect Joe Snell says it best; that the Scandinavian Barn look is one that “combines tradition with modernity.”

To truly answer the question of what is the Scandi Barn style, it takes nailing a variety of distinct features, to transport your home from the suburbs or countryside to the picturesque Nordic coast.

One great way to get the Scandi Barn look is through using versatile materials that complement the style and each other. James Hardie’s range of durable and reliable products are designed for modern homes. 

What makes the Scandi Barn Style?

It’s important to capture the essential features of the Scandi Barn - a prominent roof shape, no eaves, open space and bold street appeal - to make the most of the style.

The triangular roof shape is an important element to nail, in order to create a dramatic look that maximises space. This style is characterised by a symmetrical, steeply pitched gable roof, with clean and straight lines, and no eaves. The classic barn shape should be pitched forward from other parts of the home, to emphasise a contrast that is born of a modern philosophy of simplicity.

While the exterior is the true symbol of the Scandi Barn style, you can also get the look through careful design choices in the interior. The minimal approach emphasises light-filled, open spaces, with living designed around versatile communal areas.

The style favours neutral colours and fabrics, such as grey linens and warm timber tones, to highlight the strong relationship between design elements and nature. To stay true to the sparse Scandi interior style, you can also reduce clutter in the home by installing built-in furniture, and make the most of your high ceilings with skylights that infuse the room with light.

The materials to make Scandi style a reality

As always, using the right materials will help the house stand the test of time, while also keeping maintenance efforts low. 

Versatile vertical cladding products such as Axon™ Cladding by James Hardie or Stria™ Cladding by James Hardie can both help you successfully achieve the Scandi Barn style. These practical and considered designs can complement and contrast with the cladding styles on other areas of the house. 

For example, you could install vertical cladding on the upstairs exterior, and apply a different approach on the downstairs. Linea™ Weatherboards by James Hardie or the subtly rendered Hardie™ Fine Textured Cladding by James Hardie can both do the job - and these products won’t warp or rot, and are moisture, insect and fire resistant.  Designed by Glow Building Design

These fibre-cement panel options arrive pre-primed and ready to paint, and the typical approach with this style is to create a bold look with dark paint, to further foster a striking street presence. 

“While many may think of light and bright colour palettes for Scandi Barns, they also have the potential for dark and brooding exteriors in greys and blacks,” says Joe Snell. 

The Scandi Barn style in practice: meet the Kew home 

The leafy Melbourne suburb of Kew may be 15,978 kilometres from Norway - but that doesn’t stop a Scandi Barn from popping up on an unassuming street. 

A white-weatherboard heritage façade hides a modern Scandi Barn style extension toward the rear of the home, which is painted in a dark grey - courtesy of a shade called Black Caviar. For the striking panels, Clancy Constructions chose Matrix™ Cladding by James Hardie, due to the lightweight qualities, which make the product easy to work with and install. 

But colour is not the only contrast. Highlighting the philosophy of simplicity, which underpins the style, the home owners wanted to create a connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces. They created a fluid outdoor entertaining space, framed by a set of sliding glass doors, which leads to a lush backyard with dark decking, in contrast to the light and neutral indoor tones. 

“Scandi Barn is on trend and can be seen in rural or urban settings across the country because of its simplicity, striking exposed beam ceilings, open-plan living spaces and bold street presence,” says Christian Hansen. 

And last but not least - the hygge. That’s reason enough to go Scandi! 

Inspired to get the Scandi look? Check out our lookbook to see what could lie ahead for your home: The Modern Look Book