Maria Skranes: Pastel color dreams in Norway
We interviewed Maria Skranes, a fantastic interior decor expert from Norway. If you love pastel colors, flowers and all the beautiful little things - like us 😊 - you will looove her content.
With her wonderful mix of pastel colors, coziness and pastel-colored playfulness, she inspires every one who comes across her Instagram feed (@interior_in_oslo). Have a look! 🍭
Maria, we love your pastel-colored apartment and all the little beautiful details. When it comes to colors in combination of walls, decor objects and furniture - what are your basic tips?
“Thank you!
In my apartment, I have painted all the walls, but I've kept it in the same color palette so it doesn't feel too noisy. I've chosen light pastel colors that blend well together, so it doesn't really feel like it's a new color in every room.
All my furniture are either white, white-oiled oak or painted in the same color as the walls, so the rooms don't feel too crowded - and it also makes room for colorful interior details without it being "too much".
So my best tip is to keep the big furniture in the same neutral colors, and make the details pop with color.
That way it's easy to change your interior for the different seasons if you feel like it, and you can make big changes without spending a lot of money.”
Where do you start when you go about redecorating a room?
“It depends on the room - but I always think about the purpose of the room first.
What do I need in the room to make it work, and how can I make the most of the space without it feeling crowded?
It might sound weird, but I can often decorate a room in my mind just by stepping into it or seeing a photo of it.
When I've redecorated the rooms in my apartment, It's often been after sitting and looking around the room for a little while - and if I get an idea I have to do it right away.
Sometimes it turns out better than it was, sometimes it doesn't work out (I'm not that good at eye measurements, so things don't always fit where I've envisioned it), and sometimes I keep it for a while and then I go back to how it was. The first vision and solutions are often the best, in my experience.”
Where do you buy all those beautiful pastel decor objects like vases, candleholders? Any online shops?
“I find a lot of my decor objects at H&M Home, Lagerhaus, Søstrene Grene or different online shops such as nordiskehjem.no or ting.no.
I also love going to thrift stores or flea markets to find unique objects.”
What is a cool “pastel home object” that every interior lover should have, let's say the “wow effect” for your home?
“A cool colorful lamp, or a beautiful big vase. A colorful carpet can also make a big statement in a room.”
We love candles! Where do you buy all your amazing candles?
“Oh, me too! I can't have enough of them!
All the candles you see in my photos are from the talented girls at Mila Noire (www.milanoire.com) and Nudes lys (www.nudeslys.no).
I also buy plain candles at Søstrene Grene (www.sostrenegrene.no) for some of my table settings.”
Can you tell us your favorite inspirational Instagram accounts?
“There are so many! I can spend hours just looking at all the beautiful accounts every day. But If I should choose just a few colorful inspirational accounts it has to be:”
@nordiskehjem
@glimtvist
@mehr.von.mia
@cathdelichtenberg
@scandinavische_disco
Thanks a lot, Maria!
👉 Feeling inspired? Follow Maria on Instagram! ✨
