How To Hygge Your Home

When the weather outside is frightful, you want to make your indoors as warm and cozy as possible. You want to get hygge (hue-gah). Created as a concept and lifestyle by the Danish in the 18th century, it’s now a core part of their culture. What exactly does it mean? There’s no single English translation for the word but it embodies “coziness” and “enjoying the simple pleasures of life”. Pretty great, huh? The word may apply to a way of life but it also embodies decor too. Here’s how to get hygge this winter!

1. The main point of hygge decor is creating a peaceful, serene space that’s free of clutter. That makes the first step – streamlining. You can’t truly relax in spaces that are overwhelmed with clutter and mess. So, do a Marie Kondo and get rid of any extra items or mess you have that don’t bring you happiness.
2. Whether you’re making your entire home hygge or just a few spaces within, keep in mind the color scheme shouldn’t be bright or jarring. Stick to neutral colors like light greys, browns, and creams, that promote peace and harmony for a truly relaxing space.
3. What’s more relaxing and stress-relieving than nature? Bring the outdoors inside by placing a few plants around your home. Or, if you have a black thumb and are capable of killing anything green, go for adding natural materials to your space – items like leather, wood, and stone.
4. We all know how important lighting is in setting a mood, so to really get into the hygge mood, bring in lots of soft lighting. Turn off harsh overhead lights in favor of items like candles (electric or put in extremely safe places!) or twinkly strings of lights. This is guaranteed to make your space look more cozy.
5. Finally, indulge in the ultimate cozy comfort by adding more soft and fuzzy to your hygge areas. Surround yourself with fuzzy blankets, fluffy throw pillows, shag rugs and the like to create a relaxing space you’ll love to be in!

The hygge concept is a truly lovely one and now that you’ve created your hygge space, it’s time to grab a book and a cup of coffee or cocoa, bundle up in all the soft, and relax. You’ll have no trouble making it through the rest of winter in your incredibly cozy home!