Nordic lifestyle – the ingredients of healthier and happier living

26.4.2017 by Sanna Huovinen

This post was created in co-operation with Levi Spirit villas and Bonden home accessories.

People living in the Nordic countries belong to the happiest nations in the world. The close relationship with nature has made people appreciate simple, authentic things, which correlates with a healthy and ecological style of living. Draw inspiration from the Nordic lifestyle and make your life happier!

Plenty of surveys have arrived at the same conclusion: Nordic nations are among the happiest in the world. Some of the key features of happiness and quality of life are related to health and safety. These qualities also reflect the Nordic societies in general. Culture and geography are the most often cited explanations for the high level of satisfaction related to the Nordic way of life.

The Levi Spirit luxury villas in Finnish Lapland offer unforgettable stays for people who are looking for quiet relaxation in harmony with nature.

Nature provides space and serenity

The Nordic climate with its wide variations from cold to warm and light to dark means that nature affects the daily life even in urban surroundings. People still have their roots close to the bare landscape marked with endless forests, free-running rivers and numerous lakes. These often harsh circumstances have also led people to respect nature and use the resources it provides in a sustainable way.

In hectic urban environments, many people are in danger of losing their connection to nature. However, research suggests that even short periods of time spent in nature help to lower our stress levels and induce a feeling of relaxation. For us Finns, our forests, lakes and fells are places to where we constantly return to find inner peace and happiness. If the distance to nature is long, it takes a little extra effort to find the time and place to enjoy it – but it’s definitely worth it!

COllect moments, not material stuff

What makes you feel good every day? The more you think about it, the more likely it is that your everyday happiness is mostly coming from little things and moments. Enjoying beautiful landscapes and objects, relishing peaceful moments between the daily duties, knowing that the base pillars of your life match with your personal values.

When the weather outside is frightful, it’s nice to lean back in front of the fire.

The Nordic peace of mind links to a focus on the essentials in your life: less materialism and wealth, more internal contentment via natural or even organic thinking and things. A key source of Nordic health, happiness and well-being is engaging with the natural stream of life and living in it throughout every single day.

Choose Natural materials for healthy and ecological living

In the North, people living surrounded by vast forests have learned to understand and love the benefits of wood. This is why they also bring natural elements to their homes. Building houses out of logs is a Nordic tradition reaching back thousands of years.

Today’s modern industrial log technology can also bring the benefits of natural wood to urban architecture. Massive log structures enable precise and quick production of healthy, ecological and safe houses with a wide variety of design options.

The scent of wood is known to relax the mind and reduce stress. That is why so many of us have the experience of a good night’s sleep in a wooden cottage or house.

The use of natural materials is satisfactory in many ways. Health, safety, ecology and visual factors are all speaking for their use. The ecological, breathing and naturally antibacterial Finnish pine is the perfect material for building healthy log homes. Furthermore, using renewable wood in construction is an ecological choice, providing endless versatility for visual design.

Home accessories by Bonden are designed to inspire all senses. Surround yourself with the softness of wool blanket, feel the soothing texture of felt and smell the vague scent of lamb wool.

We are constantly surrounded by visual stimulants, but we should deliberately pay more attention to stimulating our other senses, too. Wood matches perfectly with other natural materials. Combine these materials – and you create an environment that is not only beautiful to look at but also good for all senses.

Invest in timeless and functional design

Scandinavian design is popular around the world. It reflects the mentality and culture born in the wild where people are used to the limitations and possibilities provided by nature. This style represents the idea of “less is more”. Quality precedes quantity, meaning that every detail is carefully considered.

You can live by these principles by surrounding yourself with things and designs that are timeless, ecologically produced and durable. This way you please both yourself and those closest to you, instead of focusing on impressing your neighbours or other peers. Carefully selecting what you purchase leads to good quality of living, caring about your environment and feeling that each thing you possess is there to be enjoyed for a long time to come.

Nordic style homes are full of light airiness, calming in design and practical in use. Open views to the surrounding landscape, large windows maximising natural daylight, harmonious colour scheme and the sounds of silence – these are the design principles that guide architecture in the Nordic countries.

Minimalism, efficiency and durability also mean that your mind and all your senses are at ease. This makes room for enjoying the surrounding nature and the cheerful company of others.

Honkarakenne supplies high-quality log houses for more organic, healthy and ecological living. Honka log homes are crafted from the finest Finnish wood, with almost 60 years of knowledge and experience. 

Levi Spirit is an exceptional destination where you can feel at one with Lapland’s amazing wilderness. Honkarakenne delivered in the area three high-quality villas that were designed to fit the theme “A piece of Arctic Luxury”. The Levi Spirit was selected among the 25 most romantic hotels in Europe by French Elle magazine.

The Bonden collection includes design essentials made of Nordic nature-based materials: cushions, shawls and module boxes that are designed to have a longer lifespan. All materials and products are ecologically and ethically manufactured.

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Log building is not limited only to small-scale private buildings. The material is very versatile and its benefits also scale up to large public buildings. Read on and get new ideas and support for your own building project!