Rainbow REVELATION

The traditional half-timbered façade of this 18th-century cottage in Sweden belies its personality and colour-filled interior

- KATIE PIKE

A move to the countryside often comes with the added bonus of more space to roam, both inside and out. But in relocating from a 1930s house in Malmö, Camilla Iveteg and Ivan Jurman also considerably downsized, giving up lofty high-ceilinged rooms and square-footage to live out their dream of a more bucolic lifestyle. The couple moved to this cottage on the outskirts of a small commuter village in Skåne, Sweden, in 2020. Although it's only an hour away from Malmö, the forest is on their doorstep, and they have ample outside space to play with.

It's sometimes assumed that small spaces require calm, minimal schemes to make them appear bigger. For Camilla, who has always loved colour, this was never an option. 'When people visit, they see this tiny 58 square-metre house, filled with colour, pattern and belongings, and wonder if I find it overwhelming. It has the complete opposite effect on me, though – I think I need the colour and pattern to make me feel calm and peaceful,' she says. 'When I'm in a space that feels too bland, it stresses me out.'