15 Scandi terraces we'd love to relax on this summer
Dreaming of a place to sit outside, enjoying Scandi living from dawn to dusk? Then you need a Scandi-style terrace. Often seen almost ‘wrapped around’ the house or cabin, a terrace offers so much potential to create the perfect summer living space.
Here are a few of our favourite terrace ideas we wish we’d thought of (and if you love these… wait until you see the rest of these summery homes!). If you need ideas for furniture for your terrace, don't miss our Scandi Edit.
1 The ‘sit where you fancy’ terrace
Creating different sections or ‘zones’ inside, might seem obvious, but the same can apply to your terrace too. We love the terrace of Sofie’s Swedish cottage, which has a sofa, build from palettes and big cushions, a dining area for relaxed mealtimes, through to a shady spot to retreat to when the sun gets a little too hot.
See more of Sofie's home in Vol 6 Summer Simply Scandi.
Photography: Lina Östling/House of Pictures.
2 The shady alfresco dining table
Shelter from the shade – or sometimes rain – is a must, whether that’s a lovely sun shade or porch built out to make more of your terrace, allowing you to dine outside, whatever the weather. Who can imgaine sitting here on Tine's terrace from her Danish allotment home into the autumn months, wrapped up with blankets and the warm glow of candles?
Take a tour arounf the rest of Tine's home in our Vol 2 Summer Simply Scandi.
Photography: Tia Borgsmidt/House of Pictures.
3 The peace-and-quiet spot
In our Vol 10 Summer, we wrote about having a space to sit and just ‘be’. How about this hammock, hung from the trees at a quiet corner of Sofie’s Swedish cottage? Imagine moving from your bedroom to hammock, to wake up gently with the sun…
Enjoy the rest of Sofie's home in Vol 6 Summer Simply Scandi.
Photography: Lina Östling/House of Pictures.
4 The outdoor sofa area
Gather the gang together on this socialble sofa on the terrace of Cathrine's Swedish home, which is made for afternoons in the sun, thanks to its simply overhead canopy. Need extra seating, grab wicker and rattan chairs from indoors, dressing with sheepskins and cushions for extra comfort.
Don't miss the rest of Cathrine's house in Vol 6 Summer Simply Scandi.
Photography: Helene Toresdotter/House of Pictures.
5 The early-evening retreat
Can’t use your terrace during the week, unless you are WFM? Then make sure your plans allow your space to be utilised into the evenings too, with a heat source, such as a firepit (or at least a few blankets) and somewhere to kick bag and relax, while being close to the house to pop in and grab a drink when needed is a bonu, like Linda's Norwegian costal home.
See more of Linda’s home in our Vol 5 Spring Simply Scandi.
Photography: Filippa Tredal/House of Pictures.
6 The terrace behind sliding doors
The large terrace of Katharina's Danish coastal summer cottage extends in front of a sunroom, where large sliding doors can be opened back, making one unified space. There are floor-to-ceiling length linen curtains, which can be pulled across if the sun gets too harsh.
Love this preview? Find Kathrina's home in Vol 18 Summer Simply Scandi.
Photography: Rikke Westesen/Living Inside.
7 The one with the daybed (and pooch)
Why not go large and choose a double daybed for your terrace, just like Emilia's Danish summerhouse? The sunbed, from Tine K Home, has proved a great buy, with Emilia confessing to spending many hours here.
To see more of Emilia's home, order a copy of Vol 14 Summer Simply Scandi.
Photography: Tia Borgsmidt/House of Pictures.
8 The ready-for-the-beach terrace
Hit the sand at a moment's notice by kitting your terrace out with all you need (also gives you a place to dump things on your return, with hooks and a washing line for wet swimming things. This pretty-but-practical terrace corner belongs to Malene and her two daughters. “I wanted to create cosy spaces outside that complemented the interior, providing a seamless link between indoors and out,” says Malene. On her deck, you’ll find pale wicker furniture, a swing chair, and wild grasses, flowers and plants in baskets. “I prefer a more natural garden, nothing too neat,” she confesses.
Visit Malene's summerhouse in Simply Scandi Retreats Vol 1 Summer 2024.
Photography:Iben Kaufmann/House of Pictures.
9 The zoned terrace
Use furniture and planters to create outdoor rooms on your terrace, positioning to form a socialble corner, where you can chat with friends in the sun. This pretty terrace is part of Emily's Danish home, where inside and outside have merged effortlessly.
Discover more of Emily's home in Vol 18 Summer Simply Scandi.
Photography: Anitta Behrendt.
10 The perfect summer bedroom
Imagine waking up here, and sitting either in bed with the doors open, or heading out the terrace with your coffee! The colours used for the bedlinen are echoed in the bamboo outdoor furniture, making this space flow indoors to out effortlessly. The lucky owners are Carina and Mads, and their Scandi retreat is just 900m away from one of Denmark’s best beaches at Dronningmølle.Enjoy the rest of Carina's home in Simply Scandi Retreats Vol 1 Summer 2024.
Photography: Tia Borgsmidt/House of Pictures.
11 The terrace with pattern
We love how Lotta's Finish holiday home combines bold patterns with its natural outlook. Lotta loves prints from Marimekko and has used one as a tablecloth in this sunny dining spot, with its view through the trees towards the jagged shore. The extensive windows help reconnect the building with nature – during the summer, the doors are flung open and the wraparound deck doubles the living space.
See more of Lotta's home in Simply Scandi Vol 10.
Photography: Krista Keltanen/Living Inside.
12 The terrace with a roof
The semi-detached Norwegian home of Marsona abd Korab has a great terrace, which has doubled in size since the family moved in. The outdoor seating area is protected by a pergola, with a separate dining area and hammock.
Disover how this terrace works with the rest of Marsona's home in Simply Scandi Vol 10.
Photography: Filippa Tredal/House of Pictures.
13 The one that made our first Simply Scandi Retreats cover
Our wish-list for our Simply Scandi Retreats cover image was long… we wanted to see a place to sit and dream, somewhere with an amazing view to enjoy, blue skies, a connection to water, a sense of nature, somewhere obviously Scandi, and of course, a great story to share. And the shot we chose for the cover of our first bookzaine has it all. Belonging to Milla and Toni, this summerhouse stands on the Turku archipelago in Finland.
Escape to Milla and Toni's home in Simply Scandi Retreats Vol 1 Summer.
Photography: Krista Keltanen/Living Inside.
14 The terrace made for fika breaks
This Swedish terrace is part of the beautiful garden belonging to Jeantte and Pelle. Part of the lawn was removed in favour of a much larger deck, with more lawn taken up and replaced with a mix of gravel, concrete and raised beds. “We built a pergola with a comfortable seating area, which made a great space for socialising and contemplation,” says Jeanette.
Step outside with more of Janette and Pelle's garden in Simply Scandi Retreats Vol 1 Summer.
Photography: Pernilla Wästberg/House of Pictures.
15 The terrace with corners to style
One of our favourite things about a terrace, apart from the extra seating and flexibility they offer, is that you can create pockets of Scandi style around them. Just like Mette has at her log cabin summerhouse in Northern Zealand, Denmark. Her terrace, which is 100 sq m, offers plenty of areas to relax, read or simply watch the clouds roll by. There’s room for plants, cosy corners, dining and shady seats. Find more ideas from Mette's summerhouse in Simply Scandi Retreats Vol 1 Summer.
Photography: Tia Borgsmidt/House of Pictures.
