Like all things à la vogue, hygge came and went. Suddenly, we were talking about còsagach (Scottish cosiness), lagom (Swedish moderation and balance), and ikigai (Japanese search for meaning).

To the Danes, however, hygge is not a here-today-gone-tomorrow trend but an ingrained way of life. Their long, dark, and unforgiving winters have made them masters of comfortable confinement. Hygge is all about feeling at peace; creating an environment and atmosphere that calms and nourishes body, mind and spirit.

So let’s use hygge as an excuse to pause and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. A candlelit bubble bath, dinner with friends, or snuggling on the couch for a night of Netflix-and-chill – whichever cosy self-care activity gives you that much-desired “hyggelig” feeling. 

How to hygge your home

Hygge is not only about aesthetic. It’s about finding pleasure in small things, like your morning cup of tea beside a sunny window or lying in on a Sunday morning when it’s raining outside. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all hyggelig solution. But because the focus of hygge is to create a cosy atmosphere, you can start with introducing the right colours, natural materials and comfortable textures to your home. 

1. Choose calming colours

Colour can calm or excite us, evoke peace, or unsettle us. Wondering how to choose colours to inspire feelings of calm, cosiness and joy? Opt for warm neutrals in natural textures. 

2. Create comfort corners

Create pockets of comfort that invite you to take a break, like a corner of your couch draped in plush cushions and a soft blanket (we love the Ecru Throw by Claire Gaudion). 

3. Surround yourself with memories

Frame photos of your loved ones and create a feature wall. And surround yourself with quality decor items and handmade objects that bring you joy. 

4. Add a feel-good vibe with fragrance

Set the tone for inner peace with calming scents. Smell is the strongest of the senses and is best able to influence brain activity. At night, a scented candle will create an atmosphere of calm, soothe nerves and relieve stress.

5. Accessorise your bed

Take hygge to bed. Many of us have experienced a sleep issue at one point, especially in the last year when our worries have been keeping us awake. You can use hygge to turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary to get much-needed rest. Choose quality bed linens, fluffy throws and huggable cushions – and don’t forget comfortable pyjamas. 

When life is getting you down, stop and take a breath. Now say, “hoo-gah.” With a sprinkling of preparation and lashings of self-care, hygge can be the big, warm hug you need.