Getting "Hygge" with it

Just as our winter storms are at their peek, the Danish lifestyle trend of hygge is sweeping across the nation. Pronounced like HOO-gah, it roughly translates to coziness. This Danish word describes a comfortable feeling of warmth, wellness and contentment. In the freezing temperatures that have been creeping their way down South, hygge sounds like a concept I want to get on board with!

Hygge is a way of life to Danes. In Meik Wiking’s bestselling book, “The Little Book of Hygge,” he explains that the national obsession with all things cozy is part of the reason Denmark constantly ranks at the top of lists of the world’s happiest countries. With the coldest winters and shortest days, Denmark naturally finds ways to brings coziness and light to their days.

With the recent freezing temperatures in our area, chances are you have already experienced hygge without even trying. Snuggling up with a cozy blanket on the sofa in front of the fire with a good book and a cup of cocoa falls perfectly into that description.

The feeling of hygge also carries over to describe a current style trend gaining popularity in the United States. The trending topic on social media has been growing steadily since 2017. Viewed as the opposite of minimalist and modern design trends, which can be considered bland and cold, homes that reflect hygge often contain natural tones of wood and soft textures like linen, knits and faux fur. Lighting plays a large role with the use of lamps and yellow bulbs to create a soft and warm glow throughout the home. Natural light from a fireplace or candles helps to cast a soft glow.

While you might not be looking to overhaul your entire home to follow this trend in style, it’s very easy to add a little hygge to your home:

• Focus on cozy spaces: You don’t have to redo your entire living room! Create a cozy space by adding comfort to the areas you use most. Add extra throws or blankets to your sofa, along with pillows of varying textures include chunky knits and faux furs.

• Get back to nature: Replace a metal coffee table or end table with one constructed from wood. Look for wooden accents such as candleholders. Adding more natural elements to the room helps create a warm space.

• Stick to earthy tones: Swap out loud colors in your cozy space to more warm, earthy tones such as greens, browns and yellows.

• Let the light in: Get rid of heavy window treatments and opt for soft, gauzier fabrics. Open the windows and let in the sun and air. As the sun sets, swap to light from sources such as a fireplace.

Getting “Hygge” with it