Simply Suomi: 5 everyday delights that make Finland fantastic
Finland ranks high in international comparisons for education, freedom of press, equality and social security. The 2016 World Happiness Report placed Finland as the 6th happiest country in the world. Helsinki ranked 3rd on the 2016 Metropolis Magazine most liveable cities list. Life here is good.
Rankings provide one perspective, but personal experience offers another. Living abroad highlights specific Finnish comforts that are easy to take for granted. Four pillars define the Finnish lifestyle: simplicity, design, functionality and access to nature. These five everyday items represent what makes life in Finland efficient.
1. Oras Taps
Taps with separate handles for hot and cold water are inefficient. The user experience is poor and requires unnecessary effort to reach the desired temperature. The Finnish Oras mixer tap solves this problem. It prevents burnt hands and wasted time.
2. IDO Toilets
IDO manufactures porcelain products with clean lines in Finland. These toilets are functional. They flush reliably. A toilet that does not flush fails its primary purpose. Most models include a double flush function to save water and maintain ecological standards.
3. Abloy Locks
The Abloy system is standardised. Every lock operates with a simple turn and push. Doors lock automatically upon closing. While this may confuse first-time users, it provides long-term convenience. One key can often open every door in a system. In a world of incompatible hardware, this consistency is valuable.
4. Indoor Warmth
Observers often wonder how Finns survive the winter. The cold is strictly an outdoor phenomenon. Finnish houses feature heavy insulation. Interiors remain warm or even hot throughout the season. In Finland, wearing extra layers is a concept reserved for the outdoors, not the living room.
How about astiankuivauskaappi a.k.a. dish draining closet? Just put the dishes there without manual drying, it also helps to keep them in order at the same time.
I guess very much depends on where the sink is. At least the Americans have their sink in front of a window. And nowadays machines make the draining closet unnecessary.
Yes, my cousin pointed that out to me when we visited in July, very efficient. I am going to redesign my kitchen to accommodate one.
When we was buying an apartment in Copenhagen, and i pointed out on every apartment we visited that there is no ‘kuivauskaappi’ and I told how useful and smart it would be to have one, the realtors were all fascinated about the concept and wanted to know more! :)
I thought I was weird for being in love with these toilets. Hahaha
If you like Finnish toilets you should try Japanese. They have computers!!
Hot water on demand full stop!! In Ireland I had to use an electric water heater (the dreaded immersion) every day or use the gas central heating system to heat up the water. If you forget to turn either off you end up with a lovely chunky heating or electricity bill on your doorstep at the end of the month. The houses and tanks are so badly insulated that it’ll go cold again in a matter of hours. In Finland if I want to have a shower at three am or a shave at five in the evening I just turn on a tap and HEY PRESTO! we have hot water!
Indoor warmth–my first visit there in February left me wishing I had brought t-shirts and tank tops for indoor wear instead of turtlenecks and sweaters!
England still has the two separate tap system which really sucks! Plus tiny pedestal sinks with no counterspace
So very true! About every time going abroad for a holiday, I mostly end up missing the sensible plumbing I’m used to back home in Finland.
Then there’s the super cheap mobile broadband without stupid data caps (unless you use TeliaSonera lol). You can even get uncapped prepaid plans from at least Elisa.
I wonder if the writer of this article has ever been to one of the following countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Belgium, Luxembourg etc etc. I mean, seriously, apart from the nature part (which can also to be found in several other countries anyway), what is all so special about this list? Sure, those double taps can be encountered in the UK for example, but that’s because those houses have been there for ages, it’s history. The majority of the houses in the Helsinki area have only been built after the 30s and many others only after the 60/70s so no wonder it has modern amenities. But sure, go ahead and hold on to your own make-believe about your precious Finland. But sometimes it is also good to open your eyes and see the world for what it really is :)
Indoor warmth, proper toilets and access to nature are some of the things that I’ve really learned to appreciate about Finland, during my time living in… Denmark.
These really shows why little things can make a big difference to everyday lives
I’d like to add that these things in the list is all thanks to our passion for safety regulations and love for beauty of simplesity. But looking from the side of loose/free spirited people there are lots of rules that may be too strict. For example dogowners can’t keep their dogs free on walks. Even in the forests. There is always (at least)that one neighbour who is afraid of dogs. In 90’s our german sheperd used to hangout with its doggygang formed from the neighbourhoods dogs. They took long walks by themselves. And people just enjoeyd watching them afar. Nobody complained, even when they walked in the park of a mentalhospital. In the begining of the new century dogs could go free if owner was closeby. Nowadays they have to be all times leashed. And I’m talking about friendly dogs and dogs that don’t attack on people or other dogs. In the past our German Sheperd roamed free when folks where still home minding their own business and now our little Bolonka (size of a quineapig) has to be in leash when taking it to a little strol to the woods.