Refined lines for Chinese tastes

When the Swedish furniture giant Ikea first opened its shop in Beijing in 1999, it hoped Beijingers would embrace its Scandinavian style of minimalism. It achieved its goal.

Danish freelance furniture designer Thomas Winther-Rasmussen, 33, said it's the emphasis of light in the rooms that makes Scandinavian design and furniture different from others.

In Scandinavia, it gets dark many hours earlier in winter while in summer the night shortens.