How to Embrace the Danish Art of Hygge

What is Hygge?

There’s no direct English translation for the Danish word Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh), but we Brits often describe it as a sense of cosiness. Visit Denmark describes hygge as ‘creating a nice, warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people around you.’ Sounds appealing to us! 

Despite having up to 17 hours of darkness a day, Denmark dominates the World Happiness Report rankings year after year and we think hygge has something to do with it! So, as the days are at their shortest in the UK we thought it was the perfect moment to adopt a Scandi way of living. Here are some hygge-inspired cosy changes you can make to your home this winter.

Take Lighting Seriously

Don’t stop at candles when lighting your home. Being surrounded by darkness means that the Danes take lighting very seriously, so turn off the brash overhead light and position small lamps through the home to create soothing pools of light help create the vibe. A hyggelig home also draws in as much natural light as possible, try window shutters for a flexible option that allows you to capitalise on daylight and then cosy right up and keep the heat in when the dark sets in.

Create Cosy Nooks

An essential element of any hygge home is having nooks to curl up with a blanket and relax. Known by Danes as their hyggekrog, this special space provides the perfect place to read a book and keep cosy. Layer throws and sheepskins to create a warming feel.

Think About Every Room

It’s easy to forget the bathroom when making your house cosy, but the space provides so many opportunities to bring out the hygge in your home. Make your bathroom a place for rest and rejuvenation by burning essential oils to fill the bathroom with glorious scents, or try adding a few drops to your bath. Big, fluffy towels are also great additions 

Keep Things Natural

Wood accents form a key part of Scandi design, try introducing furniture and features in light ashwood into your design scheme, such as a beautiful wooden table with a live edge. Greenery may be lacking outdoors right now but bringing it into the home can help keep things hygge. Try ferns or aloe veras in wicker baskets and ceramic pots to bring your Scandi home interior to life. Natural materials like leather, stone, and wood will also help bring the outdoors in.

Light the Fire

A crucial part of Danish culture is gathering around the fireplace with family and friends, as it warms you up and provides the perfect moment to be thankful for the important people in your life. A flickering fire outdoor or indoors gives a space a sense of hygge. If you don’t have a fireplace in your home, try arranging candles of different sizes and shapes into clusters to create a similarly cosy feel. 

Less is More

Finally, remember that living Danishly is about keeping things simple. Surround yourself with things that really make you happy - hygge is not about extravagance, but enjoying the sheer simplicity of your immediate surroundings, and appreciating items of sentimental value.