Scandinavian style growing in popularity

People looking for properties for sale in Windsor and elsewhere in Berkshire may find themselves living close to one of the residences of the queen, but it is the home of a female prime minister that may provide inspiration for the interior design.

While cinema goers may have seen The Iron Lady, it is not Mrs Thatcher but fictional Danish premier Birgitte Nyborg who might have some significant influence.

Shown to British audiences via BBC 4, the show Borgen depicts Mrs Nyborg as having a Copenhagen pad that is a "light-suffused, Scandi furniture-stuffed home", according to the Daily Telegraph.

And the look is something that the Scandinavians know how to carry off, Danish fashion and interior designer Malene Birger told the paper.

Ms Birger - whose own experience of designing her own home's interior is extensive through relocating over 40 times - said the key aspect is "symmetry, always symmetry".

She continued: "If the chunky thing is here, you need something chunky there. Then you need something very light to offset the chunky. It could be a beautiful lamp - but it's important the shade isn't too heavy. You have to think about it all very carefully."

And the Telegraph is not alone in recognising the influence of Borgen, which was also mentioned by Guardian blogger Huma Qureshi after she visited this month's Home show in London.

Ms Qureshi noted that around a quarter of the stalls and designs on display at the event were Scandinavian in origin, a situation she partly attributed to the impact of the show and a long-running Danish influence on interior design styles.

Mette Breindahl, the manager of Danish company Ferm Living, told the columnist: "Danish design is clean and honest, the colours are complimentary - less is more - and everything is functional."

So for those seeking an interior with such qualities, a Scandinavian flavour may provide the ideal look and feel.