How To Practice The Art Of Cozy Living With Hygge

Hygge is the Danish concept of coziness, the art of creating comfort through treasuring the moment and surrounding yourself with things you love.

Hard to explain and even harder to pronounce, the Danish word ‘hygge’ (pronounced ‘hooga’) translates roughly to ‘cosiness’. It may be hard to say, but that hasn’t stopped people finding out that hygge might be a recipe for a happier life. Oxford Dictionaries even shortlisted hygge as one of their Words of the Year 2016! But what is hygge really?

‘Hygge is about embracing things – enjoying cake, not checking work emails all weekend, spending time with friends and family. It’s about the simple, small pleasures that make life great, which perhaps sometimes pass us by.’

This is a new term to me ‘hygge’, but I’m mesmerized by it and I want to it! I’ve compiled a list of things that represent hygge and added excerpts from articles that help express the term.

New Yorker: The Year Of Hygge, The Danish Obsession With Getting Cozy — “Winter is the most hygge time of year. It is candles, nubby woolens, shearling slippers, woven textiles, pastries, blond wood, sheepskin rugs, lattes with milk-foam hearts, and a warm fireplace. Hygge can be used as a noun, adjective, verb, or compound noun, like hyggebukser, otherwise known as that shlubby pair of pants you would never wear in public but secretly treasure. Hygge can be found in a bakery and in the dry heat of a sauna in winter, surrounded by your naked neighbors.”

The Guardian: The Hygge Conspiracy — “But for all the earnest cultural analyses, linguistic glosses and quotations from Kierkegaard, it is the images, more or less common in style to each title, that one falls for: hands cupping warm mugs; bicycles leaning against walls; sheepskin rugs thrown over chairs; candles and bonfires; summer picnics; trays of fresh-baked buns. To look at them is to long for that life, that warmth, that peace, that stability – for that idealized, Instagrammable Denmark of the imagination.”

Candles (preferably vanilla and cinnamon scents), scents you prefer as long as you enjoy it.
Textures! Soft and flush textures.
Throw blankets (lots of them). Cotton, thick and plush, but any throws will work as long as you enjoy it.
Light creamy and pastel colors. I can see how this would lift your mood especially the cream and light blue shades. If you don’t have those colors (as I do not) enjoy the space and colors you do have.
Warm cups of tea, hot cocoa or coffee. Coffee for me!
Fireplace is a must! We live in the south so the fireplace doesn’t get used often (it’s just not cold enough), but if you have one use it as often as possible during the winter. It alone creates a warm fuzzy feeling.
Eat well! Warm, rich, hearty, and healthy foods. Comfort food comes to mind for me like stews, soups, rich creamy homemade chicken soup or chicken n dumplings. As long as you enjoy it! Winter foods are my favorite.
Enjoy the space outside as much as the inside. Bring the out doors inside. Add a few green plants, flowers, etc.
Have dinner and spend time with family and friends. Linger with them don’t be in such a hurry really enjoy one another.
Technology! Put away technology when possible turn the world off and enjoy your space, people and most of all enjoy yourself.
Warm baths with candles, rose petals, bubbles, oils, etc. Add wine to your bath for drinking (I add wine with everything).
Enjoy it seems to be the theme here! As long as you enjoy yourself, company, food, space, etc. The most important enjoyment is to enjoy yourself!