Filtered throughout the pages of home decor magazines, portrayed in Instagrams, and emulated in retail stores, the Danish concept of “Hygge” seems to be everywhere these days. Pronounced like “hue-guh,” Hygge is a Scandinavian mindset set around achieving a comfortable and cozy lifestyle. When residents of countries like Denmark and Finland are rated as the happiest in the world, you gotta think they must be onto something with this whole Hygge thing, right? Well, for my son’s nursery, I felt drawn to the promise of peaceful, soothing, snuggled-up coziness and sought out ways to reflect that when designing his room.
Here are five ways I’ve found to bring Hygge into your home:
- Natural textiles: The idea is to utilize fabrics and materials straight from the earth. Think 100% cotton, stone, leather, etc. Utilize less plastics & polyester and opt for more wood & wool.
- Neutral tones: Any color that is calming works well into Hygge design: grey, beige, white, ivory, black, pastels. Think colors found in nature. Steer clear of neons, loud pops of color, or in-your-face prints.
- Keep the fire burning: Lighting a fire is the ultimate way to set the Hygge mood. Most of us in Texas don’t want to light our fireplaces year ’round, so the second best option is lighting unscented candles. Note: obviously not a good idea to have candles in a nursery so my solution was adding a Himalayan salt lamp! The lamp’s warm blush glow gives that fireside feeling while simultaneously emitting beneficial negative ions into the air.
- Less is more: Clutter equals chaos. Minimalism is key here! However, we all know where there are kids, there are toys…natural woven baskets are a good storage solution. Keep only what serves you and donate the rest.
- Proclaim peace: This is probably the most important aspect of adopting the Hygge lifestyle. We can’t change the weather outside or what’s happening in the news, but we can create the world we wish for the inside of our own homes. As moms, we are in charge of our home’s atmosphere and energy! Do we want our family to feel like they are coming into a place of rest as they walk in the front door? Do we want them to feel welcomed as if their home is a place of sanctuary and comfort? Some ways to achieve this are with soothing music, warm meals around the table, and family togetherness –i.e. movie night with fluffy blankets and hot chocolate. Most of all, we can foster this feeling in our own countenance, in the words we speak, and in the love we show.
