Home Decor – Getting Hygge With It!

What the H is Hygge?

It’s simple, literally! Hygge  (pronounced “hue-ga”) is a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being by enjoying the simple things in life. Sometimes called “cozy Danish”, this style is all about warmth, contentment, and yes, simplicity! You might think of it as “Danish Zen”. Popular across Scandinavia, you can feel ‘hyggeligt’ just by walking through your local Jysk or Ikea store. Admit it, you’ve felt it, haven’t you? Even if you couldn’t pronounce or made fun of the names of the products as you walked through the showroom. Secretly you wondered how you could bring that feeling into your own home–and you can! All you need is to pump up that creativity inside you.

First, a geography lesson: Only the countries of Denmark, Sweden and Norway make up what we call “Scandinavia”. Finland, Iceland and Greenland are referred to as the “Nordic countries”. The Balkans, meaning Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are a short ferry ride to the east of Sweden, as is Russia.

Located in the far northern hemisphere, summers are short in Scandinavia, but blessed with long daylight hours for that part of the year. But as autumn arrives, the region is plunged into increasing darkness and cooling temperatures. We may associate coziness with winter, but you can hygge at any time of year with the right ingredients, especially a dash of creativity.

Warm is Cool

First, the basics: this Danish style is big on warm and cozy. Colors are kept neutral but on the “warm” side of the palette, to invoke the cozy comfort feel. Colors have “temperature”. If you refer to the classic color wheel, the spectrum moves from warm (yellows) through to the cools (blues) traveling through the reds, then to purples, blues, greens and circling back to yellow. Note that Cools and Warms are opposite each other on the wheel.

#1 – Keep a warm but neutral palette. Think soft white, cream, tan, warm gray, taupe, maple. If you choose accents, pick colors from nature, like green apples, autumn leaves or earthy browns. Hygge is as much about how the color “feels” as well as looks.

Layer on the texture

#2 – Comfort is King! The tactile sense is key to how hyggelig a place feels. Choose items that are delightful to the touch. Knitted wool, thick fleece, fluffy pillows, smooth woods. Don’t forget the feet! Faux fur or shag accent rugs will tickle your toes and add contrast to a smooth wood floor.

The Best (and Simple) Things in Life are Hygge

You don’t need to hire a decorator to transform your home into a haven of hygge. Tiny additions can have a big impact!!

#3 – display a selection of new, exotic or flavoured coffees in your coffee tray, tin or basket. The aroma and the packaging will make you smile and entice you to take time out to enjoy a cozy, warm treat.

#4 – instead of room fragrance mists, place a few cinnamon sticks in a shallow ovenproof dish with a bit of water and place in your oven on a low temperature. Your house will never have smelled so cozy!!

#5 – Scout out a new and fragrant bubble bath, bath oil, or fizzy bomb, and enjoy an extra-long soak. And don’t forget the candles!

You can never have too many candles

The warm glow of candlelight is timeless and inviting. With those long winters, it’s no wonder that the Danes are said to be the biggest consumers of candles. They are absolutely central and fundamental to the hygge concept.

#6 – candles are always a good investment. They are inexpensive and come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Stock up when you see a good deal. They’ll never go bad or out of style.

#7 – Mix and match. There’s no such thing as candles that don’t go together. Try groupings of wide, multi-wick candles with slimmer, taller tapers or stout pillars. Combine jarred or tinned candles of varying sizes. Use a candle plate to set them on rather than spending money on holders.

#8 – fragranced candles add atmosphere to a room, but can overwhelm or give off a different feeling than intended. Unscented, white candles can be appreciated for their simple glow and purity – a quality Danes admire!

Can the clutter

“Living Danishly” is about simplicity and serenity, especially in small spaces. Clutter is distracting and very un-hygge.

#9 – Create more space by purging unnecessary or unused items. This activity by itself feels good; and leaves more room for living rather than storing.

#10 – with the clutter gone, you can surround yourself with those things that you really love and make you happy, whether it’s a painting or a cherished childhood toy.

Make the most of summer by taking hygge outdoors!

#11 – Make time to sit out in the sun with a favourite book or magazine and a cold drink. Make a “reading corner” in a convenient spot complete with a comfy deck chair. Add a clamp-on shade, a drink holder, a covered box or basket of paperbacks and you’ve got an outdoor library space!

#12 – Take everyday occasions, like family dinners, into the garden. Forget elegance; your colorful, mismatched plasticware will be perfect on any outdoor table.

#13 – Outdoor movies are popular in city parks in the summer. Why not make your own outdoor movie night by bringing a TV screen and the popcorn outside?

#14 – As summer wanes, nothing beats gathering around a dancing fire in the evening. Check out the many models of gas and gel-powered fire tables and bowls available. You can even make your own!

#15 – pick up a 4-pack or more of Tiki torches and create a perimeter for your mini luau or just a space to sit and converse with friends.

And bring the outdoors in!

#16 – use natural elements like wood, leather, stone, or greenery to add nature’s touch to your hygge home. Add a piece of unique driftwood on a shelf or wall; a bowl of stones gathered from a favorite beach. Buckle a leather belt that’s no longer being worn around a pillow or volume of books for a unique conversation-starter. Greenery doesn’t have to mean houseplants. A willow wreath or neat row of small planter pots with cacti or grasses adds a touch of flora without all the upkeep. Bringing in a garden tool or decoration can also make us feel closer to nature and the outdoors.

Create a hyggekrog

Translation: a Nook!

Every hygge home needs a cozy space for reading, relaxing and generally just feeling good, safe and snug. It doesn’t have to be big or a separate room. A window seat is ideal, but any corner can be a dedicated ‘nook’ with a little creativity.

#17 – start with an armchair big enough to curl up your legs in if you wanted to. Add textured pillows and/or throws that are soft and comfortable. A small side table will help define the nook space and provide room for drinks, pens, phones and books if it has a drawer or a lower shelf. No side tables to spare? Try an oversized basket or vintage wood/coal bucket that you can fill with books or magazines.

#18 – Dig out those long-suffering framed photographs you’ve kept hidden in a box and find them a home on one wall of your hyggekrog; you’ll get a cozy lift of nostalgia and a feeling of satisfaction whenever you see them.

Light is Right

Danish design likes to bring in as much natural light as possible to enhance the bright and clean feeling of hygge. When darkness does prevail, candles are the go-to choice for warm cozy light, but artificial light is also a necessity.

#19 – to keep the warmth in artificial lighting, choose individual lamps as opposed to overhead lighting. Choose lamps for both design and purpose; sufficient for the task (like reading) but pleasing to the eye and the feel of the room.

Hygge loves History

The Danes believe that objects in the home should be more than just things, and hold sentimental value or speak to the past. They don’t have to be perfect, just have meaning or tell a story.

#20 – Reuse and recycle objects that have a past!  Get creative and repurpose or refinish an old item. A beloved armchair from a family member can have more value than something bought new, but it doesn’t have to be furniture. Think kitchen or farm tools, like a solid wood cheeseboard or rolling pin, an old milk pitcher or cream can.

The concept of hygge is only one of thousands of home decorating styles you can adopt. Whatever style you choose has to be one that makes you feel good, comfortable and excited to come home to!