The time-honoured Danish tradition known as hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-gah’, rather than ‘huggy’) has become something of a global phenomenon over the past few years, prompting homemakers around the world to embrace cosy, calming Scandinavian habits.
Perhaps one of the main reasons for this hygge obsession is the way in which it can help make a long, dark, cold winter more bearable for anyone living in more northerly climes, where darkness reigns for the majority of each day.
Whatever the reason, if you are keen to introduce some hygge into your family’s life this winter, there are plenty of ways to make the most of this mood-boosting Scandinavian philosophy. Read on for some helpful tips for making your home more hygge-friendly so you and your loved ones can have a cosy and contented winter – even when “the weather outside is frightful”.
Stick To Soothing Colour Schemes
A significant part of the hygge lifestyle is creating a calm and soothing atmosphere, where you can rest and recharge your batteries. To help create this tranquil effect, it’s best to decorate your home using neutral colours that won’t be too bright, brash, or discordant.
Using gentle nature-inspired hues such as white, cream, grey, lavender, duck egg blue, and pale green is an easy way to create that soul-soothing effect – not just on your walls, but also in your choice of soft furnishings and other décor. This includes everything from curtains and cushions to rugs, throws, and bedding.
Use Strategic Lighting To Create A Warm & Cosy Glow
Hygge’s primary focus is creating a feeling of cosiness, and if you use your lighting cleverly, you can effortlessly create an inviting and decidedly cosy atmosphere.
If you don’t have young children – or cats, for that matter – you can place lit candles around your lounge and dining room when night begins to fall, for that gentle flickering glow. Of course, if you do have young kids or curious felines, flameless LED candles will work just as well.
A roaring fire is another decidedly hygge feature, creating a rich golden point of light, not to mention delicious warmth. There’s nothing like cosying up around the fireplace, toasting marshmallows and sipping cups of hot cocoa for that truly hygge sense of family and togetherness.
Another wonderful way to create a cosy atmosphere with lighting is by hanging twinkling garlands of fairy lights around the home, or placing Himalayan salt lamps in strategic spots. Salt lamps are supposed to have a range of health benefits, as well as emitting a warm and gentle light.
Fill The Air With Festive Fragrance
A hygge home doesn’t only look and feel cosy and delightful, it smells like it too. Tap into the spirit of hygge – and of the holiday season – by scenting the air of your home with some delicious and evocative smells that evoke feelings of warmth, joy, cosiness, and celebration.
In Denmark, the birthplace of hygge, homemakers achieve this by using natural fragrances where possible, rather than simply placing scented candles here and there. You can emulate them by placing pretty bowls filled with beautifully fragranced pot pourri throughout the home. In fact, if you’re in the mood, you can even create your very own pot pourri from scratch, using your own favourite ingredients to create a bespoke scent.
Another easy and low-cost way to fill the house with the scents of Christmas is to create orange pomanders, a simple festive craft that your children may be eager to help with.
To make them, simply buy several oranges and stud them all over with cloves, then place them around the home. Over time, as the fruit begins to dry out, it will release a tantalising scent of orange peel and cloves. To make the fragrance even stronger, you can dust the oranges with your favourite festive spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
Think About Texture
Since hygge is all about warmth, cuddles and cosiness, it’s important that you think carefully about the different textures you have in your home.
Softness is key for creating a hygge atmosphere, so you may want to invest in some delightfully fluffy blankets, throws and cushions in every room, so your loved ones can easily snuggle up and get comfortable and cosy.
If you have tiled, wooden, or laminate flooring, which can feel cold underfoot in the wintertime, you may also want to lay down some thick fluffy rugs here and there around the home – and treat yourselves to some warm slippers so you never have to step directly onto a chilled floor. Hygge insists on warmth and comfort, after all!
Read: The IDEAL home office aromas for stress, relief, relaxation and more
Keep Your Home Clear Of Clutter
A cluttered and disorganised home is definitely not conducive to generating feelings of hygge in your family. Being surrounded by an untidy jumble of belongings can create subtle feelings of stress and agitation that prevent you and your loved ones from feeling truly relaxed and content.
As a result, it’s important that you keep clutter in your home to a minimum. Dedicate a little time each day to walking around your home and tidying away anything that has been left out of place.
Of course, keeping a tidy home shouldn’t be your sole responsibility by any means. If you haven’t done so already, you should ask your children to take responsibility for keeping their bedrooms free from clutter – for example, by making sure they always place their dirty laundry in the basket and put away any books and toys after they have finished playing with them.
Create Cosy Bedrooms For Restful Winter Slumber
During the winter months, when darkness encroaches on our lives and we often get up to go to work and come home in the gloom, our bodies can crave extra sleep.
Having a warm and inviting bedroom helps to create the perfect atmosphere for deep and restorative slumber during those long, dark nights. To achieve this soothing feel, you can use those hygge elements of soft textures, gentle twinkling lights, and neutral colours already mentioned.
When it comes to the bedroom furnishings, you can also improve each bedroom’s aura of hygge by selecting good-quality, long-lasting pieces that provide both comfort and subtle elegance. For example, when it comes to choosing the ideal bed, rather than settling for a generic frame and mattress, you can select an attractive bespoke bed customised according to each family member’s preference.
As the bespoke beds experts at Wow Beds tell us, once you have the perfect furniture in place, you can add extra hygge elements in the form of fluffy rugs and thick, soft blankets, and decorate using vases of dried flowers that will look beautiful throughout the winter.
Read: 8 ways to transform your bedroom into a tranquil space
Decorate Your Home With Nature’s Help
Last but not least, another simple but effective way to generate a heart-warming feeling of hygge throughout your home is to head outside and find some natural decorations.
For example, your family can go for a walk in the woods and collect pine cones, and sprigs of holly, ivy and mistletoe, which you can use to create your own handmade wreaths. Just be aware that plants such as ivy are toxic if ingested, so keep them out of reach of young children and pets.
When it comes to choosing a Christmas tree, a real one is the hygge option – but to keep your festive season environmentally friendly, consider selecting a young fir or spruce planted in a pot, which you can then transfer to the garden when Christmas is over.
Have A Hygge Holiday Season
As you can see, transforming your home into a warm, cosy, and comforting hygge haven is as easy as pie, and it doesn’t have to cost you much either. Using these simple but effective tips, you will soon have a Danish-inspired home that lifts your spirits and makes you feel a rosy glow of contentment every time you enter this festive season, gifts, crackers, sprouts and all. Merry Christmas!