Until today, I didn’t really identify with a style for my home interior. I made up all kinds of names trying to describe it: Country-cashe (short for ‘casual’), rustic-mod, moderustic. Bo-rustahemian. You get where I’m going with this, right?? In reality, my spaces were just messy and no style could show through – BUT – I still had this faint idea of what I was going for. The image below perhaps describes it a little. I’m talking about Hygge.
Image source: one
The difference for me though, is that I’m always thinking of how a place FEELS, not just how it looks. And sometimes, even though I find an all-white, modern interior beautiful… it feels cold to me. It feels hard. So after living in countless apartments across the country and owning three homes, I’ve cycled a bit in my home interior style. But TODAY, I learned a new word, and it resonates with me so deeply, it’s as if I knew the word all along.
Hygge.
Pronounced, “hue-gah” or “hoo-gah”
What is hygge? If you haven’t already heard of this danish concept, I’ll quick break it down for you in a western way. Hygge = insanely cozy. Coziness on all levels:
In your home
-Think warm blankets & pillows, candles and ambient lighting, a fireplace or area of physical warmth.
In your clothes
-Think big slouchy slippers or woven socks, oversized sweaters, comfy pants.
In your mind
-Think ‘feel good music’, a stimulating book, (such as this one, that’s all about Hygge!) or deep, intimate conversation.
In your heart
-Think being surrounded by your immediate family, pets, or an evening in with your closest friends.
In your stomach
-Think delicious warm drinks (like tea, or hot cocoa), sweet small morsels of cake, or even a warm, rich breakfast with bacon, sausage and eggs.
THIS IS Hygge. To be hyggly is to be cozy and content. To be hyggly is to feel comfortable inside and out with yourself, your loved ones, and your status. And to surround yourself with simple comforts. ANYONE can do this! It doesn’t take a lot of money to hygge, and it’s just as much in the mind as it is in your surroundings.
Again, this concept is new to me… but it’s the closest I’ve ever felt to true inspiration when considering my space. Ready to hygge with me? 😉
12 comments
actually you are spot on about the way you consider the room. when decorating you must wonder how you want your room to FEEL and not look like. because it’s not a house you are shooting for a magazine, it’s your home. thanks for introducing me to “hygge”
Agreed. 🙂 I’m glad you like the concept. Cheers!
Great post! Thanks for sharing.
How would you embrace both minimalist life style with the hygge concept? Hygge style might require “unnecessary decoration” such as blankets, pillows, candles..etc.
Thanks again for the great ideas.
I love Hygge. It is my decor style and how I try to find comfort and happiness. Please update on how you are creating hygge in your home.
Hi Audrey! I will try to do an update soon. 🙂 I actually feel like the hygge has been lower because we’ve been so focused and minimizing. But I’m almost ready to finish our book nook, and I think that will up the hygge factor significantly!
I think I’ve been Hygge my whole life and didn’t know it. Nice to know and embrace that part of myself. Nice post. Love your YouTube channel by the way. 🙂
Haha, too funny! I totally understand, I feel that way too! (where has the term ‘hygge’ been all my life?!) 😉
I love hygge and to be hyggelig. 🙂
Thanks for being a real inspiration on YouTube!
Greetings from Norway
I’ve never really identified with a particular style either because most of my stuff has usually been an accumulation of stuff that has been either given to me as a gift, inherited or pass down. The stuff was functional but not necessarily my choice! That has been the story of my life. I’m 50 years old and the youngest of 4 children. I’ve always been passed down stuff and thought that was how it had to be instead of saying “no thanks ” and buying my own style of stuff. I’m sad to say it’s taken me this long to figure that out but am happy to report that you have helped me realize the problem and how to get out of it! Thank you!
I’ve never really identified with a particular style either because most of my stuff has usually been an accumulation of stuff that has been either given to me as a gift, inherited or pass down. The stuff was functional but not necessarily my choice! That has been the story of my life. I’m 50 years old and the youngest of 4 children. I’ve always been passed down stuff and thought that was how it had to be instead of saying “no thanks ” and buying my own style of stuff. I’m sad to say it’s taken me this long to figure that out but am happy to report that you have helped me realize the problem and how to get out of it! Thank you!
I’ve never really identified with a particular style either because most of my stuff has usually been an accumulation of stuff that has been either given to me as a gift, inherited or pass down. The stuff was functional but not necessarily my choice! That has been the story of my life. I’m 50 years old and the youngest of 4 children. I’ve always been passed down stuff and thought that was how it had to be instead of saying “no thanks ” and buying my own style of stuff. I’m sad to say it’s taken me this long to figure that out but am happy to report that you have helped me realize the problem and how to get out of it! Thank you!
Great post! Thanks for sharing.
How would you embrace both minimalist life style with the hygge concept? Hygge style might require “unnecessary decoration” such as blankets, pillows, candles..etc.
Thanks again for the great ideas.