In Egypt, where daily life is shaped by constant commotion and movement, a growing segment of Egyptians is turning to minimalist interior design. Originating in the 1930s in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, the style of design was once confined to industry insiders as a hallmark of the Nordic region. Nowadays, the aesthetic –defined by sleep lines, muted neutral palettes, uncluttered spaces, and natural materials– is gaining traction in Egypt, specifically Cairo. What started as a niche trend has become a mainstream movement, with local furniture stores and Instagram influencers alike embracing the Scandinavian ethos of “less is more.” The appeal lies in its promise of calm, simplicity, and order, a visual counterweight to Cairo’s relentless pace, and a striking contrast to Egypt’s long-standing tradition of maximalism and ornate furnishing. “I wanted my home to feel like a retreat from the city,” Nourhan Hamza, a 32-year-old marketing manager living in Maadi, told Egyptian Streets. “When I discovered Scandinavian minimalism, it felt like a breath of fresh air—clean, functional, and surprisingly cozy.” After the COVID-19 pandemic confined societies to their homes, transforming their dwellings into spaces for work, study, socializing,…
