With Christmas just around the corner, are you searching for last minute on-trend gifts for your loved ones? Or maybe one of your New Year’s resolutions is to freshen up your Suffolk home with a stylish new look. Whichever end of the scale you find yourself, if you’re looking for a design concept that evokes a cosy and comfortable atmosphere, whilst intensifying the overall satisfaction that you get from your home – it’s time to embrace the intimate, yet simple Danish ritual of ‘hygge’.
How do you pronounce ‘hygge‘ ?
Similar to the English word ‘hug’, in both sound and meaning, hygge is pronounced “hue-guh”. Defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “to cherish oneself; to keep or make oneself snug,” you already begin to understand that hygge is more of a lifestyle choice that allows you to enjoy the simple pleasures that life has to offer us. Hygge can be achieved by relaxing within the comfort of everyday, inexpensive things together and epitomises the art of creating a good atmosphere.
‘What freedom is to Americans, hygge is to Danes’
So how can you conjure up a sense of hygge in yours and your loved one’s home? Here’s our top 5 hygge home tips to make 2019 your best year yet!
1. Minimise clutter
Traditional Danish hygge refrains from the Western obsession of buying material goods on mass aka consumerism. With this firmly in mind, it’s widely understood that it’s incredibly difficult to relax and unwind in spaces that are too overwhelming or crowded. So, to make your hygge experience as joyful as possible remove any items that fail to bring you comfort or joy – only keeping furniture and accents that are meaningful to you and your family.
2. Bring the outside in
‘Getting back to nature’ is scientifically proven to reduce stress levels, allowing your body to relax and rejuvenate. Imagine bringing the outside in with an enlightening conservatory, orangery or lantern roof extension. Cosy up in your new or revamped extension space with a good book and a steaming mug of hot chocolate surrounded by greenery; embracing hygge couldn’t be easier!
3. Make the most of low-level lighting
Dim and soft light creates a much more snug and ‘homely’ feeling, so turn off the lights and rely on subtle floor and table lamps to add an air of hygge to interior spaces. Fairy lights and organically inspired lighting sources, e.g. wood or blown glass, will add further touches of authentic Scandi style into the mix.
4. Get Hygge fever (don’t worry, it’s nothing bad but it is contagious!)
Cuddling up in front of a warming, flickering fire creates an instant air of hygge. Don’t worry if you don’t have a fireplace, simply gather different sized candles together for a similar effect. The warming glow of hygge truly comes alive throughout the coldest winter months and is enough to get anyone in the festive spirit!
5. Hygge living room inspiration from our Pinterest board!
Hygge interior design – bring the Scandi into your home this winter
This year, Denmark is in the top 3 happiest countries via the UN’s World Happiness Report and has featured in top positions in the four most recent reports. Out of 156 countries, the UK is ranked as the worlds 19th happiest place to live and with many other of the world’s richest nations much further down the list, it just goes to show that money truly doesn’t buy happiness. Considering the uncertainty that surrounds Britain with the ongoing Brexit chaos, maybe we all need a little hygge in our lives!
