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If you’ve been on Pinterest at all in the last year or so you surely would have come across the word ‘Hygge’ a few times, usually associated with gorgeous pictures of fires and snuggly warm beds. But what is Hygge and why on earth is it being paraded across your Pinterest feed?
Pronounced ‘Hoo-gah’ the concept is one of cosiness and that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you’re at home. It is a Danish ritual of enjoying life’s simple pleasures – something we love the idea of and think everyone can add into their lives.
And while Hygge is something mostly associated with winter, you can Hygge your way to happiness any time of year with these few basic starting points.
1 – Declutter Your Home
We’ve said it before and we will say it again – decluttering your home will change your life. Seriously. Clearing the physical clutter not only helps clear the mental clutter, but it helps you have space to breathe and relax.
Simple things like paper clutter might not seem like a big deal, but if you walk past that paper clutter 10 times in one day, that’s 10 subconscious associations with the clutter and angst that pile of paperwork brings. Even if you don’t realise it.
With the cosiness of Hygge, there’s no place for clutter, after all Hygge is meant to be simple. And clutter is anything but simple. Even if this is the only thing you do, you’ll feel much better for it.
2 – Add Soft Textures
Hygge is all about cosiness – the new favourite word for many designers and lifestyle lovers. To create more cosiness in your home add soft textures like cushions and throw blankets. Dress up hard floors with soft rugs and add layers of styling.
You don’t have to go and spend a fortune and you don’t have to Hygge your whole house. Choose one or two rooms (maybe your living room and bedroom) to focus on first and add your soft texture layers there.
During the summer months, it may be a good idea to switch up your big woolly blankets with soft cotton ones to get the same effect without the heaviness of the wool.
3 – Add Warmth With Candles and Simple Homely Items
Cosiness and warmth go hand in hand and together create a beautiful Hygge space. Candles are pretty much essential to Hygge so add them liberally! You can also add extra cosy, homely items like photos of family, beautiful stacks of books or gorgeous teapots to make your space more comforting.
Remember to keep it simple though, while it may be tempting to add every cosy item you can think of, Hygge is still meant to be simple.
4 – Focus on Self Care and Slow Living
The whole point of Hygge is so slow down and relax in a space that makes you feel cosy and comfortable. It’s about creating happiness and focusing on self care will help make this happen.
Use your new Hygge space to take time out of the busy that surrounds you to enjoy a hot pot of tea, read your favourite book or just sit and relax. We are starting to realise how important self care is in our lives and how we need to give to ourselves first before giving to others (otherwise we soon won’t have anything left to give!!). And what better way to enjoy self care practice than with a beautiful, cosy, Hygge space?
Another benefit of your Hygge space is the reminder of living slow. It’s so easy to get caught up in the rush of our day to day that we forget to actually slow down, take a deep breath and evaluate our surroundings. A beautiful Hygge space is a wonderful reminder to do exactly this.
5 – Don’t Try Too Hard
While there are thousands of inspiring posts on Pinterest and Instagram that will show you beautiful Hygge spaces, remember: there is no one right way to Hygge. It’s all about the feeling. The feeling of cosiness, of contentment and of happiness. Enjoying beautiful things with beautiful people. And what feels wonderful and Hygge to you may be different to me.
So go ahead and use these posts as inspiration and a place to get ideas from but don’t try too hard. If you’re stressing yourself out about your Hygge space then you’re not really getting what it is about. Stop, relax and think about what makes you feel good, what makes you feel comfortable and what makes you feel cosy and create a space with that in mind.
And remember, Hygge isn’t just for the winter months, you can create this space for yourself any time of year and make it what you want it to be. Enjoy!
