Illuminate your home with Nordic lamps that combine minimalist design with an understated elegance

In the winter months, candles and small lamps are placed near the windows of many Scandinavian homes to create a cosy warmth and an uplifting mood. That’s why for most Nordic designers, the lamp is often among one of the first pieces they designed, making lighting collections a key part of their design history.

These lighting pieces combine ingenuity with minimalist silhouettes in a variety of colours, shapes and materials that also answer to a number of requirements: bright and strong for cooking, reading and other tasks, or a more delicate glow for relaxing and chatting. Add a Nordic touch to your home with these elegant finds.

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1. Creative Threads

Designed by Benjamin Hubert for Muuto, the Strand pendant lamp is also the first collaboration between the award-winning British designer and the Danish company. Made from a sprayed cocoon material tightly clinging to a spinning steel frame, the lamp’s silhouette presents a cloud-like appearance. Available in various shapes and sizes, the Strand lamp appears like a large lantern hovering in space, making it a refined addition to any room.

Available at Grafunkt

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2. Modern Classics

The “Luxus” model 6631 is part of the iconic Kaiser Idell lighting collection designed by Christian Dell in the 1930s; decades later, this table lamp is recognised worldwide as an icon of Bauhaus design, illustrating the movement’s genius for creating versatile designs that still look modern. Now produced by Fritz Hansen, the lamp is known for its curved form and its use of steel and brass; direct light to where it is needed by turning the shade or by loosening the clamp at its base.

Available at Fritz Hansen

(Related: Think That The Fritz Hansen Showroom Is #DecorGoals? Jaime Hayon Discusses The Inspiration Behind Its Design)

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3. Ghost Story

Designed by Simon Legald for Danish company Normann Copenhagen, the Phantom lamp features a dramatic silhouette inspired by the outline of the traditional chandelier. The ivory veil that covers the steel frame of this lighting piece is made from a semi-transparent resin material that’s tightly wound around the steel skeleton, akin to the way a silkworm spins its cocoon, creating an outline that appears like an echo of the traditional chandelier.

Available at Danish Design Co

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4. Taking Root

With the intention to create “products that can be used every day and become part of people’s lives”, the JWDA table lamp by Jonas Wagell for Danish brand Menu conveys elegance while celebrating the rugged beauty of concrete and brass. The floor lamp is the latest addition to the series, done in a similar style while featuring a travertine base, brushed brass stem, oval glass shade, and a knob that functions as a switch and light dimmer.

Available at Menu

(Related: 9 Japanese-Inspired Lighting Pieces For The Minimalist)

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5. Gravity Falls

Space Copenhagen has created the new Gravity collection for Danish brand Gubi, comprising a table lamp and a floor lamp. Combining a lightweight shade and a heavy cylindrical stone base that anchors it in place, the lamp is a beautiful blend of functional style and understated elegance. The base is available in black and grey marble or blackened steel, while the shade is available in either a canvas material or a matte-white finish.

Available at Danish Design Co

(Related: How Space Copenhagen Unites Food, Furniture And Design In Their Projects For Noma Restaurant And Stellar Works)

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6. Bulbs of Style

Designed and made in Finland, the Octo pendant lamp is one of the most iconic products from Finnish company Secto Design. The onion-shaped light looks as enchanting displayed individually or in a group; the simple form adds to its timeless appeal. The collection is made of PEFC-certified form-pressed birch by highly skilled craftsmen and is available in natural birch, white and black laminate as well as walnut veneer.

Available at Studio 216 / Flexform, 200 Newton Road, #01-01

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7. Fabulous Fungi

“I wanted to create a lamp that prioritised versatility,” says Spanish designer Jaime Hayon, explaining the inspiration behind the Setago collection he designed for &Tradition. Seta, the Spanish word for mushroom, references the shroom-like proportions of this quirky table lamp, while its portable nature is signified by the suffix “go”: this desk lamp has no electrical cord and can be easily carried from one room to the next.

Available at &Tradition

(Related: Home Tour: A Museum-Inspired Minimalist Apartment)

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8. Sunny Addition

Created by Birger Dahl in 1954, the Dokka collection is an iconic mid-century design known for its stunning simplicity. Relaunched by Norwegian lighting brand Northern in 2007, the pendant light is now crafted in painted steel, and is available in monochromatic shades including black, dark grey and white. Other colours in the collection include light yellow, rust red and dark green, which evoke semblances of warm sand, terracotta and lush landscapes.

Available at Danish Design Co

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9. Sweet Spin

Serbian designer Ana Kraš created the Bonbon collection for Danish brand Hay with the intention of turning her drawings into lamps with precious handcrafted details. This collection features an original weaving technique; Kraš wrapped cotton-wool yarn around powder-coated steel frames to create unique shades that vary slightly in their appearance and texture.

Available at Hay

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10. Firm Foundation

Produced by the Danish company Ferm Living, the Rest lamp features a glass sphere that looks as though it is resting on a solid marble ring. The lamp creates a focal point in a room and is the perfect lighting detail to add a Scandinavian touch to your home.

Available at Ferm Living

(Related: Home Tour: This Minimalist Penthouse At Duo Residences Combines Scandinavian Chic With Japanese Influences)

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