Pernilla Bergquist is an unabashed, fervent fan of color.

Just one peek into her home on Providence’s West End tells you everything you need to know about the cheerful force behind Pernilla Interiors: Bold, bright hues abound and Scandinavian patterns pop up in vibrant window treatments, art, lampshades and wallpaper selections.

The circa 1904 home is sunny and cozy, lively yet tranquil at the same time. But perhaps her friend, Harry Adler of Adler’s Design Center & Hardware, describes her style best.

“He said, ‘Well, I can’t necessarily find a common thread in your style when you do work for other people, but it always looks happy,’” she says. 

So who better to turn to during these dark February days for some ways to bring color, light and a touch of Nordic coziness into our lives? The Swedish native, who cofounded Kreatelier with Line Daems in 2007 before leaving to start her own interior design business, was more than happy to oblige. 

Go Bold

Bergquist loves to push clients out of their comfort zones and play with color. 

“There is so much fear of color,” she says. “I’m amazed at how many people chicken out and decide, ‘Let’s just do beige and gold.’”

If that sounds familiar, Bergquist suggests starting small. 

Choose one or two colorful pillows, and maybe some fun lampshades, too. It’s easier than reupholstering, say, an entire sofa, and then you can swap out the pillows whenever you like.

Or maybe play around with a small area and see what happens. Bergquist transformed her once-cramped office into a jewel box of a cozy TV room, with moody teal paint and botanical-themed Marimekko wallpaper to match, along with colorful pieces by local artists Kirstin Lamb and Jens Retlev. Vibrant pillows and a blanket crocheted by her sister in Sweden complete the look.   

You can even bring bold hues into one of the most unlikely places in the home: the kitchen.

Bergquist redid her kitchen last year, painting the Ikea cabinets white, adding new hardware and uncovering a window to turn the once dark room into something bright and cheerful. Glossy brick-red Moroccan tiles — leftover from another project — make quite the dramatic backsplash.

“I love the uneven glaze and edges,” she says.

Bring in the Light — and the Outdoors

Swedish winters are notorious for being snowy, cold and dark. A typical January day in Stockholm will see the sun rise at 8:30 a.m. and set around 3:30 p.m. So Swedes use lots of little lamps and candles to compensate for the extra darkness.

“I’m obsessed with real candles,” Bergquist says. “I go through a lot of Ikea [candle] boxes. It creates the best dinner ambiance.”

Adding flowers and potted plants works wonders, too. Forcing bulbs early for indoor use is another Swedish trick; Bergquist loves to have hyacinths around Christmas and tulips at other times to introduce hints of spring around her home. 

Get Cozy

Another winter staple you’ll find in Swedish homes is sheepskin. 

“It’s a great thing to just put on anything and make it look cozy,” she says.

Comfy throws, blankets and quilts look equally chic when draped over a couch or bed and provide much-needed warmth during the chilly winter months. Bergquist is an avid quilter and has piles of her handiwork neatly arranged at the foot of her bed, with a sheepskin throw artfully nestled on a rocking chair that once belonged to her grandmother. 

Curate Those Collections

Books, pottery, dinnerware: They all provide pops of color when smartly arranged. 

Bergquist tucks rows of books into living room shelves and her nightstand table for entertainment just within reach. Colorful groupings of Swedish Dala horses circle the living room, and delicate Danish pottery enhances the dining room with gentle hints of cornflower blue. She bought her first Bjorn Wiinblad piece at eighteen, and has been collecting ever since. 

There’s an art to arranging collections, however. Place them haphazardly around the room and the effect can look cluttered. But display them closely together and they’re transformed into art.

If All Else Fails, Embrace the Darkness

Sometimes you just have to work with what you’re given. 

Embrace the long, dark nights by hosting a board game night with friends, some wine and a charcuterie board or two. Or invite folks over for a movie night with hot cocoa and popcorn. Every Tuesday, Bergquist hosts a “puzzle and guzzle” night with friends: They work on a small puzzle, enjoy some wine and just laugh and chat the whole time. 

“It doesn’t take that much effort,” she says. “In February, everyone has to survive in Sweden. It’s so dark. But you just make the best out of it. And then you embrace the summer and it’s fantastic.”