What is Scandinavian ? This new approach to design was a combination of beauty, simplicity, and functionality. The element of functionality had been influential for some time in Scandinavian architecture, as seen in the Bauhaus Movement. The harsh climates of northern Europe (particularly during winter) had long influenced Scandinavians to prize utility and simplicity above decoration. The formulation of a specifically Scandinavian style of modernist design may have begun during the '40s, but it was not until the beginning of the 1950s that it began to take shape as a recognizable entity. The midcentury modern style was heavily influenced by the appearance of Scandinavian design on the world stage in the early '50s. Most furniture arrangements were uncluttered and simple, giving the entire space a cozy, content feeling described as hygge in Danish.