Welcome to Nordic Simplicity.

Keeping things simple is the key to breathing easier. Nordic Simplicity is the haven you return to when you want ro refresh your enthusiasm for the simple things in life, and get thrilled by what colours can do to lift your mood.

I am Jorunn Hernes and I live on the remote west coast of Norway.

I am an introvert and an INFJ.

I am a weird, bubbly and enthusiastic kind of introvert, so nobody knows I am an introvert because when I am out in public I talk too much. And then I lie awake at night fretting about all the dumb things I blurted out.

I don’t care for small talk. I often scare away strangers by asking them what book they are reading at the moment. If I had a tattoo it would be “I Kill Small Talk For Fun”.

I believe that you are more than the sum of your outfits, and that dressing for your body shape is way too limiting.

I believe that colours can change your mood, uplift your soul, and potentially change your life.

I believe that playing with colours is the best alternative to watching the news.

Norway commentary

If you are looking for content about life in Norway, there are a few stories in the Nordic Simplicity archives. For example, my father used to steal sugar cubes from cafés.

This is me making coffee at the cabin, thinking about my father stealing sugar cubes

Or, the time when my breasts made me eat a whole bag of crisps. And learn How to start a conversation in Norway. Here’s a roundup of most of these stories.

Colour commentary

I also write about style. With very unfabulous photos of myself. Like this one: How to dress the spare tire. And I answer real questions from real readers, like How to wear monochromatic outfits.

And there’s more content about simple style, like this article, where I explain simple ways to take any plain dress and make it interesting.

Illustration from How to make any plain dress interesting

And How to sell torture instruments. Or How to keep warm and look cool.

Image from How to keep warm and look cool

There is also content about colour analysis Seasons, like this article.

If you want to see more, check out the whole archive of previous posts.

What more can I tell you about myself? I have been a certified personal colour analyst for more than a decade. Which is like being your personal trainer, but with colours instead of dumbbells.

…and this is where it gets spine-tingling:

I am currently in the process of simplifying my own life. I feel like I am standing on a diving board, ready to jump. Until recently, I have been doing personal colour analysis from my studio here at home, and I have traveled with my drapes, seeing clients in London and Oslo also. I have just now decided to retire from active colour analysis and will not have a studio where I see clients anymore.

That’s such a big change that it should be written in capital letters: BIG CHANGE. What now?

Keep posting every week? THAT IS THE PLAN

Play more with watercolours, coloured pencils and dipping pens? YESSSSS

Write about colours and how they affect us? OH DEFINITELY

Write more about art, like the monthly Start With Art series? ABSOLUTELY

I even have a new assistant to help me write:

Anton, my new assistant. And yes, those are my pyjamas. I do my best writing in the early morning hours.

Do join me, as we drink copious amounts of tea together and refresh our enthusiasm for the simple things in life, and figure out where to go from here.

Keeping things simple is the key to breathing easier. Write that down.