Creating a Hygge Home

When we talk and think about a feeling of hygge in the home: it means creating a peaceful, serene and inviting space that you will enjoy and feel calm in.

CANDLES EVERYWHERE
It is no secret that hygge and candles go hand in hand a bit like jelly and ice cream. Lighting candles is an essential part of hygge, and in the The Little Book of Hygge written by Meik Wiking eh actually refers to candles as “instant hygge”. In fact, Danes burn more candles per person than anywhere else in Europe. But why are they so important? A candle gives a warm, cosy glow and instantly makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. Candlelight instantly gives you a soothing, calming feeling and sets the mood in an easy and quick way.

NATURAL MATERIALS
Scandinavian interior design is heavily influenced by nature, and so by bringing natural materials into the home brings in hygge. Natural materials such as wood, leather, wool and cotton create a welcoming and homely touch. Another way to bring nature inside is by adding greenery through plants. They help bring a fresh feel into the house without having to open a window especially in the winter when it’s cold and have a soothing effect as well as helping to clean the air.

CALM COLOUR SCHEME
Stick to a calm colour scheme by adding neutral, muted tones. By choosing a calming palette of white, greys and light tones you will set the perfect mood for hygge. Since winter can sometimes be dull and quite long, picking light colours in the home can create an open and airy space – especially in a smaller house. White, grey or lighter accent colours like for instance pastels on the walls will make it feel inviting and harmonious. But if you are thinking about picking a calm colour scheme, then go for shades that make you feel calm. For me, that would be shades of green, which I have got a lot of in my house in different rooms and also where I work.

TOO MANY PILLOWS
One of the easiest ways to add hygge to your home is through textiles like pillows and cushions. And if you ask me; the more the better! Fill your home with comfort and personality by adding pillows in different colours and patterns that suits your home, but have the point above in mind about keeping to a calm colour scheme that will set the tone and be gentle on the eyes. I suggest also thinking about textures, so for instance add a few fluffy, furry and chunky knitted pillows that really screams hygge.

COZY BLANKETS
Talking about textiles, another must-have is cozy blankets and throws to add to the hygge factor in your home. Think again about the colour scheme and textures, and make sure you mix it up. An easy way to create a homely and harmonic feeling and great for snuggling up in on chilly evenings with a good book and a coffee. If you are feeling particularly crafty, why not buy some jumbo chunky wool and make your own in your colour scheme. There are some good videos on YouTube that tell you how to do this and you can create a blanket in approximately 1.5-2 hours.

RELAXING MUSIC
It is commonly known that listening to music can have a relaxing effect on both your minds and body, especially if you choose slow, soothing tunes or simply calming background sounds. It can have a beneficial effect on us physiologically while also slowing down the pulse and heart rate, and decreasing stress.

THE SMELL OF… VANILLA
Or anything else that bring you personally that hygge feeling whether it is coffee, chocolate, fresh flowers, citrus, vanilla… you name it. A smell is not just a fragrance, it is just as much a memory, so having a scent in your home that brings you back to a pleasant time in your life will help you find hygge. A go-to scent for relaxation for many is for instance lavender, which can help calm the mind and body almost instantly.

For me, the smell of vanilla is a really comforting calming smell. I love the smell of vanilla pods and vanilla ice-cream. For a great refreshing smell, my go-to’s are bergamot, lemon and lime. They give the room that they are in such a zing, a real burst of energy which I love.

So there we are. This time of year, with Spring beginning to appear on the horizon, is a wonderful time to bring some hyggelig into your life.

Until next time, take care and peaceful wishes.