Welcome!
If you're here, I'm betting it's because you want to create a more cozy, happier, hygge lifestyle. Enjoying moments of simple pleasure is more important than ever with all the radical changes our world has experienced and a new normal that seems to keep reinventing itself.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find ways to create the happy moment during your days that will become happy memories by nightfall, and the hygge times of togetherness with those you love that will sustain you as all our lives continue to change. Whether you do so in person or not.
Have a look at what we'll explore in this guide, and then we will take a closer look at exactly what hygge is, what a hygge lifestyle is and how you can dive right in to creating one.
If you're here, I'm betting it's because you want to create a more cozy, happier, hygge lifestyle. Enjoying moments of simple pleasure is more important than ever with all the radical changes our world has experienced and a new normal that seems to keep reinventing itself.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find ways to create the happy moment during your days that will become happy memories by nightfall, and the hygge times of togetherness with those you love that will sustain you as all our lives continue to change. Whether you do so in person or not.
Have a look at what we'll explore in this guide, and then we will take a closer look at exactly what hygge is, what a hygge lifestyle is and how you can dive right in to creating one.
"Hygge is a mindset—a series of lifestyle choices, practicing deliberate moments of cozy comfort to improve your overall contentment and well-being. There’s no one right way to hygge, but you’ll know you’re doing it right when you feel relaxed, unhurried, cozy, and cared for. It’s easy to see why hygge is an appealing lifestyle adjustment."- How to Find Daily Moments of Sanctuary
What is Hygge?
Hygge is an intended focus on creating warmth and coziness, both through what you do and what you place into your environment. It is an emphasis on doing all the comforting things you enjoy, and it’s a way to enhance those moments so that they are even sweeter.
So if you love to read, hygge plumps the pillow on the chair you’re sitting in, brings you a cup of tea, lights a candle nearby in your favorite scent and hangs your favorite throw over the back of your chair in case you get cold.
If you love spending time with your friends, hygge invites them over for game night, but tells them to come in time for nachos & beer first, and promises dessert after the games are over so your friends will stay longer and you’ll have an even better time.
Then, it adds cozy atmosphere in the room where everyone will be by keeping a fire lit so they’ll want to stay inside where it’s so warm and cozy, rather than leaving to face the cold.
Hygge is like a cozy best friend!
Simply put, according to the dictionary, it’s “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).”
Creating a Hygge Lifestyle
Here are a few journal prompts just to get you thinking, as we begin...
(1) What would cozy comfort look & feel like in my own life? In my home?
(2) How can I create moments every day where I feel relaxed and unhurried?
(3) What makes me feel cared for, and how can I create that for myself?
(4) How can I create a lifestyle of contentment?
(5) What can I do today that feels like hygge?
Hygge Morning Routines
What if you could make mornings more cozy?
Denmark winters are cold, dark and dreary.
But Danish people fought back with hygge and they won! Could deliberately creating cozy, hygge moments help you take back your mornings the way it helped them take back winter?
The definition for cozy is giving a feeling of comfort, warmth and relaxation.
And hygge, pronounced hue-geh, is a word that is hard to translate precisely into English, but involves the same kinds of cozy feelings.
What would it be like to add elements of hygge coziness to your morning?
I know it has worked for me, over and over again.
My mornings include a great big cup of tea, and any candle I want to light. Plus, other cozy moments that make each morning easier than mornings used to be.
Could that work for you, too?
Here are 5 ways to create cozy, hygge moments each morning…
(1) Light a tealight candle. This could be especially soothing if you wake up when it is still dark out, or not quite fully light.
(2) Drink your favorite beverage and give yourself time to linger over it.
Let yourself relax fully. And make that moment just about the tea or coffee, not a backdrop for whatever else you are doing.
(3) Spend your first moments in your favorite room and make it look cozy. Open the blinds or curtains to let the sunshine in.
Maybe you could have your beverage on your balcony or patio, so you can breathe in fresh air and watch the birds fly from one tree to the next.
(4) Instead of checking in on social media, to see whose pictures and status updates suggest they are is having a better life than everyone else, spend a few minutes reading, or listening to music that inspires and energizes you.
(5) Give yourself enough time to connect with someone you care about and you get to have the cozy warmth of that connection at the start of your day.
But in this time where we may need a little extra help staying grounded, here are affirmations with a cozy morning vibe...
As an added bonus to immersing myself in the moment, meditating for 10 minutes a day helped me develop a writing habit, a reading habit, a journaling habit, and a happier and healthier life. Simply put, meditation changed my life - and it could change yours too." - Blake Powell in The Mission, Medium.com
Too busy for self care, or for a hygge morning routine? Because any routine can be life-changing, even one that you can only do for ten minutes a day, let's take a look at several possibilities for hygge morning routines that will only cost ten minutes of your time...
10-Minute Morning Meditation
I know. I have heard it, too. That if you really want to benefit from creating a meditation practice, you’ll need more time.
But as stay at home moms, we may not have more time. Should we give up and call it a day? I don’t think so.
You deserve to take time each day to get grounded and centered. Even if you only have ten minutes.
And I've also heard that you have to sit in certain positions to get the maximum benefit. But that doesn't sound very cozy, does it? I say grab the fuzzy socks, throw on the fluffy robe, sit in the comfy chair and let's take a few moments to relax and meditate...
The easiest way might be to simply sit quietly for ten minutes, focusing on breathing deeply and slowly.
You also could meditate on chosen words or phrases, or affirmations, like “breathing in peace,” or “I am centered and grounded,” or “God is with me.”
Your ten-minute meditation could be a walking meditation, spent quietly observing nature.
Or, you could try a guided meditation that is only ten minutes long.
You might spend your ten-minute meditation imagining a peaceful scene, and picturing yourself there.
There are endless variations on these ideas and other ones you can try. The main thing to know is that you don’t have to give up on meditating just because you don’t have much time.
Taking time out to pause during a busy morning will always be a good idea even if that amount of time is short.
And on the weekend, you can give yourself more time to meditate. On a slow living Saturday, you could do a hygge meditation on an intention you have set for your life, and give yourself time to imagine it manifesting, taking in every detail you can think of and really placing yourself there, right in the middle of it.
On your cozy Self Care Sunday, you could meditate on a scene from the past week, taking the time to imagine and practice a few variations of how it could have gone differently.
What if I had said that, instead? Or, what if I had felt more confident, peaceful, or empowered?
Telling yourself a more peaceful version of the story and practicing it in meditation may help you create different outcomes in situations that come up in the future.
Or, you can take time during your Sunday morning meditation to dream up everything you want to experience during the following week. Let yourself see and feel it, as you imagine your intentions for the week coming true.
What do you hope will be your best moments in the week to come? How might you sail through any challenges that come your way?
Giving yourself more time to meditate each weekend gives you the benefit of longer meditation times on days when you’re more likely to find the time to do it. And to enjoy it.
10-Minute Morning Journal Routine
Is starting a journal one of the things you have wanted to add to your morning routine?
If one of the reasons you haven’t yet done it is that you don’t feel like you have enough time to dedicate to it each morning, the 10-minute idea may be a solution. On mornings when there just wasn’t enough time – even if that was every morning – you wouldn’t reject journaling altogether, you’d just spend a great deal less time writing.
And then, you’d have weekends, if you needed them, to make up for lost time. Here are several ways to try a 10-minute morning journal routine…
Create a self-care bullet journal and use it in several different ways…
(1) To write yourself brief love notes or affirmations when time is short.
(2) To set intentions for the day.
(3) To prioritize the intentions you’ve already set
(4) To jot down reminders you want to make sure you don’t forget during your busy morning.
Use your other journal, but set a timer that gentle lets you know your time is almost up.
(1) Do stream of consciousness writing about whatever comes to mind.
(2) Choose a topic for exploration and write down any thoughts that come up during that time.
(3) Think about what is coming up for you that day and write possible solutions for any challenges you know you’ll face.
(4) Write down any insights you gained during brief moments of meditation or prayer.
(5) Write a brief story about how you would like for the day to go, and what would be the best outcomes you can imagine for all that you have planned.
Several of these will tempt you to spend more time than you have, especially at first, but you’ll be surprised at how easily you get used to journaling in short, brief bursts. And you can promise yourself you will get back to it when you have more time on the weekends.
On quieter, slower Saturdays, you can give yourself more time to write.
Journal about your dreams for your life. How can you nurture & support them in the days to come?
Think about any ongoing problems that don’t yet have a solution. Writing about them may help you think of one.
Use your Self Care Sundays to journal about the week you are leaving behind, and give yourself plenty of time to think things through and then, let them go. Brainstorm ways to handle any tricky situations that may be coming up in the week ahead, and set your intentions for the coming week.
Curl up with a pot of tea and nurture yourself as you plan the week ahead.
With a cup of tea, we are invited to relax into all of ourselves, not letting the busy mind run the show. Allow any questions, reflections, or contemplations, but set aside to-dos for later. Keep breathing deeply, savoring your tea and any chosen mindful activity, landing ever more in the refuge of the present moment.” – Katy Taylor, PlumDeluxe.com
10-Minute Tea Time
My morning cup of tea is one of my favorite parts of my morning routine! But sometimes, commitments I have made for my morning keep me from having the full tea experience I want, with my great big cup of tea.
On those mornings, I make a much smaller cup; one that I can drink fairly quickly, instead of lingering over it to savor it as I usually do.
And sometimes, it’s the next day before I can get back to my regular big cup routine.
Do you love tea, too?
If you do, then, instead of skipping your cup of tea on your busiest mornings, just make a smaller cup. That way, you still get to have it, even though it isn’t the normal amount you are used to drinking.
On a slow weekend, you could make a pot of tea and give yourself time to savor each cup, while reading or writing in your journal.
Or sip while watching the trees blow gently from your perch on the front porch.
10-Minute Spiritual Practice or Quiet Time
Is it ever difficult for you to find time in your morning for your spiritual practice or quiet time? And when you do take the time, is it hard not to hear that voice in your head that reminds you of what else needs to be done?
As a stay at home mom, I know this struggle all too well. I’ve often decided that there wasn’t time, that I was way too tired to pay attention long enough, or whatever excuse occurred to my tired mind in those moments.
But an alternative, on days when it feels like there just isn’t enough time, is to have a shorter quiet time. Here are several things you can do, while still cozy under the covers, when you only have five or ten minutes before you simply must face the day…
(1) Read a chapter in an inspirational book you have set on the table next to you before bedtime the day before.
(2) Read a chapter in your Bible or devotional.
(3) Try meditation or contemplative prayer, spending a few moments connecting with divine presence.
(4) Sing a hymn or play music that is connected to your practice.
(5) Pray about anything coming up that day that concerns you.
(6) Keep your journal near your bedside, and write a brief note about any insights that came to you during the activity you chose.
Creating a 10-minute spiritual practice whenever you need one will take away the pressure to spend more time than you have, and free you from worrying about getting it done.
Have a longer quiet time, whenever possible, during a slower evening routine, after the kids are in bed. Or plan for and spend more time with your spiritual practice during your weekends.
Slowing down and starting a self-care practice is one of the best ways to shift the energy of your entire day. When you fill yourself up first, you have so much more to offer others throughout the day.
Before you dive into all your obligations, deadlines and must-do’s for the day, allow yourself ten minutes to not have a single care in the world with some divine de-stressing. – EpicMatcha.com
10-Minute Morning Self-Care Ritual
(1) Light a tealight candle.
(2) Put the pot on to make a cup of tea.
(3) Do a brief meditation or some deep breathing while the pot is heating up.
(4) Say your affirmations while the tea is steeping.
(5) While sipping your tea, visualize the day you want to have & briefly, describe it as an intention in your journal.
(6) As you begin to conclude this self-care ritual, make a wish for your day.
(7) Then, blow out your candle.
Repeat this self-care ritual on the weekends, but give yourself more time for each step, and include as many of the other ideas for a slow morning weekend routine as you would like.
Hygge Your Afternoons:
Afternoon Tea at Home
My ultimate favorite ritual is my mid afternoon tea ritual that I make time and space for every single day. It’s the daily practice of preparing & drinking tea that reminds me – life can slow down, and breaks are important.
-The Grounding Magic of Tea Ritual
Make time to pause in the middle of your day. Don't let the day rush by without stopping to rest.
Develop an afternoon tea ritual. I encourage you to make your afternoon tea moment an event in and of itself, and let it be one of the ways you add cozy moments to your day.
Elevate it from the experience of just drinking something while you're busy doing something else, and create a tea ritual.
Here are simple ideas for creating one.
Turn your afternoon tea break into an elevated and cozy experience, by making it a tea ritual, using one or more of these five ideas...
(1) Light a tealight candle.
(2) Be present to the process of making your tea.
(3) Try a one-minute meditation as you drink it, and imagine a peaceful moment or scene.
(4) Make a wish for your day as you drink your last sips of tea.
(5) Blow out your tealight candle.
Develop an afternoon tea ritual. I encourage you to make your afternoon tea moment an event in and of itself, and let it be one of the ways you add cozy moments to your day.
Elevate it from the experience of just drinking something while you're busy doing something else, and create a tea ritual.
Here are simple ideas for creating one.
Turn your afternoon tea break into an elevated and cozy experience, by making it a tea ritual, using one or more of these five ideas...
(1) Light a tealight candle.
(2) Be present to the process of making your tea.
(3) Try a one-minute meditation as you drink it, and imagine a peaceful moment or scene.
(4) Make a wish for your day as you drink your last sips of tea.
(5) Blow out your tealight candle.
Hygge Evening Routines
Taking time the night before to prepare for the next day will not only make your morning go much more smoothly, but it will also give you a boost when you wake up. There’s something about waking up with a simple plan in place and things in order that jumpstarts your day in a good way. - Crystal Paine, author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode
This guide is about taking a normal routine and elevating, making it cozy. Finding ways to make ordinary moments hygge ones.
And if you do that all day long, by night time, you are ready for a hygge evening routine. Your hygge evening routine needs to do several things.
It needs to prepare you and your family for the next day. It needs to help you recover from the day you just had. And it needs to help you wind down before you go to bed. Plus, it needs to do all of the above in a cozy way!
The entire process needs to feel cozy and relaxing but be thorough. Otherwise, it won't be effective.
A lot of people don't even have an evening routine, and just sort of collapse, toss and turn, and then get up, to do the whole thing over again. It's no wonder we're all so stressed out!
But if you are here, your mission is to a simple life of everyday happiness and hygge moments and that includes the way you get ready for your evening to come to an end.
Create a plan first, and then, keep making adjustments until what you are experiencing is exactly what you want.
And if you do that all day long, by night time, you are ready for a hygge evening routine. Your hygge evening routine needs to do several things.
It needs to prepare you and your family for the next day. It needs to help you recover from the day you just had. And it needs to help you wind down before you go to bed. Plus, it needs to do all of the above in a cozy way!
The entire process needs to feel cozy and relaxing but be thorough. Otherwise, it won't be effective.
A lot of people don't even have an evening routine, and just sort of collapse, toss and turn, and then get up, to do the whole thing over again. It's no wonder we're all so stressed out!
But if you are here, your mission is to a simple life of everyday happiness and hygge moments and that includes the way you get ready for your evening to come to an end.
Create a plan first, and then, keep making adjustments until what you are experiencing is exactly what you want.
Hygge Weekends
It would happen in one of two ways, when I was growing up.
I'd wake up in the morning and smell bacon cooking. Or, I'd wake up and look at the clock, and I would know, that because of the time, my parents were probably trying to decide whether or not to go to church that morning. Once they decided to stay home, I'd talk them into the bacon if it wasn't already cooking, and we'd watch the Sunday morning movie.
Those were days that I didn't have to get out of my pajamas until after breakfast. In fact, I hardly moved from the chair opposite the TV, except to eat, until after the movie was over. The bacon would often come with a side of pancakes, by the way.
They were really happy memories! No place to be, a movie to watch as a family, comfy pajamas for a good part of the day, and comfort food. What could be better?
Sometimes weekends can be a great way to make up for lost time when it comes to self care and coziness. A lot has changed in the way we leave home and come back since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but if you, or anyone in your family, still has more time available on the weekends, than during the week, then weekends can be a great way to be on purpose about togetherness, about creating coziness and hygge moments.
5 Ideas for a Cozy, Hygge Weekend
(1) Lose yourself in a really good book. Not a book you think you should read someday but one you already know you’ll enjoy. Or grab a stack of books, or fill your Kindle so you can have a teapot and book marathon.
(2) Have a family movie marathon or watch all your favorites back to back. Let everyone stay comfy in their pjs and order pizza so you don’t have to pause for grocery shopping.
If you’re planning this weekend in advance, though, make a list of everything you’ll need and get it on Thursday or Friday so it’s already there.
(3) Invite all of your friends to come over and bring tea or food.
Have a game night or share your movie marathon with them. Or, if you’ve seen enough of your friends, plan a bunch of fun family activities to do at home. Have a family game night or a weekend marathon.
(4) Grab your journal and a cup of tea and dream about the week ahead. What would make it truly special?
After you have imagined the entire week, go through what you’ve written a pick a few ways to get as close to the ideal as possible. One each day if you can. Extra points if you do this exercise with your family.
(5) Treat yourself to a catch-up video call or long phone call with a long-distance best friend.
While the rest of the family watches a movie, make a pot of tea and sequester yourself in a closed room and give yourselves all the time in the world to catch up on each other’s lives.
Self Care Sundays: A Special Day of Hygge
Sundays should be sacred. Rejuvenating. Healing. Empowering. - Sahara, at EatFeelFresh.com
Sacred, rejuvenating, healing and oh, so cozy. Think about it.
It's still the weekend, and hopefully, you still have control over the way you spend your time. If you are recovering from the week, and also sinking deep into time with family and time alone for yourself, this is the day to really give it all you've got.
Are you with me?
Here are 25 ideas for extra ways to create everyday happiness and some special cozy moments during your self care Sundays...
(1) Stay in bed an extra hour and catch up on your sleep.
(2) Light a candle and enjoy several hours of its warmth, scent & flame.
(3) Cuddle with the kids and hang out with them. Do something you all love. Maybe even start a family weekend tradition.
(4) Make a morning pot of tea, instead of just a cup and linger over morning coziness.
(5) Make a bigger breakfast, with comfort food that makes the day a special occasion. Or, take the time for a new recipe you've been wanting to try.
(6) Meditate for 10-20 minutes, or longer if you'd like. YouTube has some great guided meditations you can try for free.
(7) Do a yoga routine, with no rush, because you've got all the time you need.
(8) Take an Epsom salts bath and soak away the week's tiredness.
(9) While away the afternoon with a good book.
(10) Make a special meal for dinner, and get your kids, or friends in the kitchen with you to help prepare it.
(11) Listen to a podcast you've been curious about. You may find a new treasure.
(12) Take a walk in nature.
(13) Listen to music you love all day long. You could even create a self care Sunday playlist of music that inspires, encourages or empowers you.
(14) Watch a movie or Netflix series. Want company? Invite friends over and get them to bring the popcorn.
(15) Write in your journal.
(16) Wear your most comfortable clothes or stay in your pajamas all day.
(17) Bake something. Make it a day to indulge.
(18) Plan the week ahead, setting intentions for what you hope to experience.
(19) Plan what you'll wear next week. I used to set them all aside, together, in one section of my closet and would group them as outfits.
(20) Get the next week's meal planning out of the way, too.
(21) Plan a new morning routine to try for the week.
(22) Do the same with an evening routine and start on Sunday night.
(23) After all that planning, take an afternoon nap. Just don't sleep so long you can't get back to sleep on Sunday night.
(24) If you're a woman of faith, take time after church to read through your sermon notes and have a quiet time where you think through how they apply specifically to your life. Jot down your thoughts in your journal.
(25) Catch up with long-distance friends and family. Call them, do a video chat or send an email and use your self care Sunday as a planned way to stay connected.
It's still the weekend, and hopefully, you still have control over the way you spend your time. If you are recovering from the week, and also sinking deep into time with family and time alone for yourself, this is the day to really give it all you've got.
Are you with me?
Here are 25 ideas for extra ways to create everyday happiness and some special cozy moments during your self care Sundays...
(1) Stay in bed an extra hour and catch up on your sleep.
(2) Light a candle and enjoy several hours of its warmth, scent & flame.
(3) Cuddle with the kids and hang out with them. Do something you all love. Maybe even start a family weekend tradition.
(4) Make a morning pot of tea, instead of just a cup and linger over morning coziness.
(5) Make a bigger breakfast, with comfort food that makes the day a special occasion. Or, take the time for a new recipe you've been wanting to try.
(6) Meditate for 10-20 minutes, or longer if you'd like. YouTube has some great guided meditations you can try for free.
(7) Do a yoga routine, with no rush, because you've got all the time you need.
(8) Take an Epsom salts bath and soak away the week's tiredness.
(9) While away the afternoon with a good book.
(10) Make a special meal for dinner, and get your kids, or friends in the kitchen with you to help prepare it.
(11) Listen to a podcast you've been curious about. You may find a new treasure.
(12) Take a walk in nature.
(13) Listen to music you love all day long. You could even create a self care Sunday playlist of music that inspires, encourages or empowers you.
(14) Watch a movie or Netflix series. Want company? Invite friends over and get them to bring the popcorn.
(15) Write in your journal.
(16) Wear your most comfortable clothes or stay in your pajamas all day.
(17) Bake something. Make it a day to indulge.
(18) Plan the week ahead, setting intentions for what you hope to experience.
(19) Plan what you'll wear next week. I used to set them all aside, together, in one section of my closet and would group them as outfits.
(20) Get the next week's meal planning out of the way, too.
(21) Plan a new morning routine to try for the week.
(22) Do the same with an evening routine and start on Sunday night.
(23) After all that planning, take an afternoon nap. Just don't sleep so long you can't get back to sleep on Sunday night.
(24) If you're a woman of faith, take time after church to read through your sermon notes and have a quiet time where you think through how they apply specifically to your life. Jot down your thoughts in your journal.
(25) Catch up with long-distance friends and family. Call them, do a video chat or send an email and use your self care Sunday as a planned way to stay connected.
Hygge Style
When you have closet harmony, then everything you see in your closet is in harmony with who you are, but also, is in harmony with everything else you see in your closet. That's truly the only way to feel peaceful about what's in there, and that is the essence of hygge style.
So, it's not just about wearing clothes that feel good, although that's important. And it's not just about the simplicity of wearing a wardrobe that expresses and honors who you are, although that's beautiful, and you won't have true hygge style without that. But the hygge style trifecta will also include closet harmony.
Hygge Home Decor Ideas
Hygge Your Home
The most important thing to keep in mind as you begin this process is to honor your budget and your time. Hygge-ifying your home doesn't have to happen overnight. Also, begin with what you have already, that you love, because that is bound to save you both time and money.
And the goal is to bring it to every room, getting rid of anything that doesn't warm you and filling it with at least one thing you love, that does. I encourage you to pause for a moment right now, if you can, and go into or envision each room in your home.
What will each room look like when it feels as warm and cozy as you want? Write the answer to that question, each time, in your journal. That's your vision.
And to support your vision, you may want to create a vision board or pinboard. Just make sure it's realistic and makes you feel good when you see it.
Once you have a vision for each room, make note of what you will have to remove from and what you'll need to add in order to bring your vision to life. Start with removing everything that doesn't belong, and then, leave that more spacious incarnation of that room for a day or two, before adding anything else.
You may find, after a day or two, that you don't need to add as much as you thought you would. But even if it needs ten things, only add one to each room, at first.
Because this way, your whole house will get cozier at the same time. You'll feel that sense of hygge as you walk from room to room, even if only one thing has been added, partly because what doesn't work will have been removed, creating energy space for the hygge elements.
Once you have added something in each room, go back to each one and ask, "does it need anything else?" and write that answer in a bullet journal list. Then, I would do the same thing again and add one thing to each room, and then one thing more, until you know your home is finished.
It may not take very much, because hygge really is not about starting over and replacing everything. Hygge cannot be bought. But the things that help to create the feeling of hygge can. :)
Once your home feels like hygge, go through this process once a season to refresh it and see if any changes are needed.
Create a Hyggekrog or Comfort Nook
Welcoming comfort. Your cozy reading room or nook needs to become a haven of comfort so that you find yourself wanting to stay a while.
As moms, we don't always have large pockets of time to ourselves. So the scene needs to be set already, waiting for you to step right in, pick up where you left off and get right back to reading time.
Slowing life down, or creating a hygge lifestyle in the larger sense, happens in moments. And you can empower them by making your home a place that invites you and your family to stop and rest. To pause for a moment.
Silent support for the lifestyle you want to create.
Each member of your family deserves that feeling of welcome, and a cozy space - in addition to their bedroom - that feels like a haven made just for him or her. The cozy reading room or nook or hangout room can be one of those spaces, and can be furnished in such a way that it serves the whole family.
Be sure to personalize it in ways that reflect each family member.
But start with the basics to create a foundation of coziness everyone can enjoy. These basics are an essential way to get started and then, anything else you add will be icing on the cake.
Here are the 9 essentials...
(1) The ultimate in comfy seating: a chair and a half or a sink-deep comfy sofa.
(2) Great lighting: a floor lamp right next to the reading spot, and additional lighting in an overhead lamp, or table lamp somewhere else in the room.
(3) Big windows and a lovely view: for letting in light, but also maintaining a connection to nature during those moments when you lift your gaze from whatever you're reading. No view? Add art.
(4) A bookcase with plenty of room for your collection of reading material. But I suggest creating some spaces on the bookcase so that it's not just a wall of books, so your room feels more spacious.
(5) And end table next to your chair or sofa, with enough room for your latest stack of books to rest right next to you.
(6) Space for a cuppa, on your end table, for reading with your favorite beverage within easy reach.
(7) A comfy throw to snuggle under for warmth, nearby whenever you need it.
(8) A fluffy, fat, comfy pillow to lean against while you're reading.
(9) Your favorite candle to add warmth, scent and just the right mood.
What else would you add? And where would you put the TV?
Here are other ideas to consider...
The big comfy chair near the fireplace, with a spot for your cup of tea and a stack of textured blankets and soft throws ready to keep you warm if you need them. Maybe it's a window seat so you can be right there when the sun comes in.
Or a couch you've covered with a fuzzy warm blanket and several pillows positioned just right to watch lots of movies and a nearby table for everything else you need: the bowl of popcorn, the mug of hot chocolate.
What you want to do is create a comfort nook that you can go to every day ~ maybe several times a day ~ that you will love, that will enfold you with warmth, and make you feel hugged or wrapped up in comfort.
I have been creating nooks like this for more than a decade, but coming to understand hygge helped me realize that they didn't always have everything I would need. So, think about infusing one room or one area within a room with all of those things you'll need.
Light, coziness, warmth, a way to connect with the sun or with nature, a way to support moments of delight, a place to put your tea. Etc.
Take a moment to think about your home. Where would you put this nook?
I had to move things around quite a bit before I felt it had reached supreme hyggeness. And sometimes it's hard for me to leave well enough alone, so I may still make some changes before it's all over with, but any amount of effort I or you put into creating this haven space is and will be worth it.
Decorate your home with soft textures, such as knitted or fleece throw blankets, fluffy pillows, shag rugs, & comfortable furniture. The idea here is that no matter where you sit or stand, it feels pleasant against your skin. ~Pia Edberg, The Cozy Life
One successful hygge trick Danish people employ is to surround themselves with different textures as part of their comfort resources. So they add blankets & pillows to couches and chairs and sometimes add plush, textured rugs.
I have tried this in my den and it really does add comfort. So instead of decorating with a throw by tossing it artfully over the side of a couch or chair, put it on the seat, itself, so you can feel it as you lean back.
Add Warm, Soft Lighting
Fluorescent lighting is too harsh, or can be. It always gives me a headache, so I was making the switch long before I knew about hygge.
But those who practice hygge often shift to using dimmer switches, candles, fairy lights and warmer, softer light bulbs and lamps to create a more soothing glow, while still providing enough of the light they need.
Are there places in your home where you could do that?
Lighter, Monochrome Color Schemes & Other Soothing Colors
Using creams or greys or your favorite soft colors can add a soothing touch to your overall decor and repeating them in a monochromatic color scheme layers that soothing effect, rather than creating a harsh contrast with colors that oppose. So shades of grey or cream or light brown or white or light blue - or a combination of them - can all add hygge influence to the look of your rooms.
And these color schemes can certainly change with the seasons.
No need to go buy everything new, though. If you have a dark brown animal print color scheme in your bedroom, add touches of cream or ivory, instead of replacing everything all at once. Grab a soft blue blanket and cover the bed with it, or add it to a chair.
In your living room, if your furniture is espresso leather, soften it with pillows and throws, and they will be what you see (and feel) first. You'll be amazed by what just a few, small changes can do for the way a room feels.
Furniture So Soft, You Can Sink into it
For hygge decor, you want furniture you can sink into and stay awhile, in soft textures. So stuffed sofas, a chair and a half, fluffy pillows and footrests are all ways to add cozy elements to a room. Beds with pillows that seem to summon you.
So when it comes time to replace something, you can choose something cozy. But meanwhile, add something that softens. If the sofa is hard, add pillows that are soft, and a fleece throw or blanket you love.
If the bed needs some tweaking, add one or two pillows, and place your slippers next to it. If the desk in the corner seems harsh, add a throw across it's back and a vase of flowers in a matching color or a small plant that warms it up.
Start Small
Make small changes first, try them out and then, increase whatever is working when you can. In no time, you'll have a home that feel cozy and warms and delights everyone who enters.
I have tried this in my den and it really does add comfort. So instead of decorating with a throw by tossing it artfully over the side of a couch or chair, put it on the seat, itself, so you can feel it as you lean back.
Add Warm, Soft Lighting
Fluorescent lighting is too harsh, or can be. It always gives me a headache, so I was making the switch long before I knew about hygge.
But those who practice hygge often shift to using dimmer switches, candles, fairy lights and warmer, softer light bulbs and lamps to create a more soothing glow, while still providing enough of the light they need.
Are there places in your home where you could do that?
Lighter, Monochrome Color Schemes & Other Soothing Colors
Using creams or greys or your favorite soft colors can add a soothing touch to your overall decor and repeating them in a monochromatic color scheme layers that soothing effect, rather than creating a harsh contrast with colors that oppose. So shades of grey or cream or light brown or white or light blue - or a combination of them - can all add hygge influence to the look of your rooms.
And these color schemes can certainly change with the seasons.
No need to go buy everything new, though. If you have a dark brown animal print color scheme in your bedroom, add touches of cream or ivory, instead of replacing everything all at once. Grab a soft blue blanket and cover the bed with it, or add it to a chair.
In your living room, if your furniture is espresso leather, soften it with pillows and throws, and they will be what you see (and feel) first. You'll be amazed by what just a few, small changes can do for the way a room feels.
Furniture So Soft, You Can Sink into it
For hygge decor, you want furniture you can sink into and stay awhile, in soft textures. So stuffed sofas, a chair and a half, fluffy pillows and footrests are all ways to add cozy elements to a room. Beds with pillows that seem to summon you.
So when it comes time to replace something, you can choose something cozy. But meanwhile, add something that softens. If the sofa is hard, add pillows that are soft, and a fleece throw or blanket you love.
If the bed needs some tweaking, add one or two pillows, and place your slippers next to it. If the desk in the corner seems harsh, add a throw across it's back and a vase of flowers in a matching color or a small plant that warms it up.
Start Small
Make small changes first, try them out and then, increase whatever is working when you can. In no time, you'll have a home that feel cozy and warms and delights everyone who enters.
Hygge Home Meditation
Find the comfy coziest spot in your home and take a big fat pillow with you. Either curl up by the fire or bring a candle to light.
Once the candle or the fire is lit, take a moment to stare at the flame and center yourself. Then, imagine that the warmth of that flame, the warmth of that light is filling every room, corner and crevice in your home.
Imagine that warmth welcoming you every time you came home. Imagine it soothing you to sleep every night. What would it be like for your home to become a haven of warmth, love and connection?
Warmth, love and connection so delicious that no one ever wants to leave it, including you. Imagine that you are asking your home what it needs to become that place.
And then, listen for any great ideas that come to mind. Promise yourself you'll make it so.
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For more help with creating a hygge lifestyle, join my hygge lifestyle group on Facebook by clicking this link:
The Hygge Lifestyle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
For more help with creating a hygge lifestyle, join my hygge lifestyle group on Facebook by clicking this link:
The Hygge Lifestyle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~