Cheerful Winter Decorating Using Danish Hygge
As we approach the cool winter months and the skies have a more frequent hue of grey, it's a great time to implement some new home decor that embraces the season. I'm not talking about Christmas, or Chanukah. I'm talking about Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah).
The Danes, apparently the happiest people in the world, have got this winter thing down. And we can learn a few things from their tradition of Hygge. While I haven't been able to put my finger on an exact definition, I like this one from Hyggehouse.com
"Some also refer to hygge as an “art of creating intimacy” (either with yourself, friends and your home). While there’s no one English word to describe hygge, several can be used interchangeably to describe the idea of hygge such as cosiness, charm, happiness, ‘contentness’, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, kinship, and simpleness."
Warm Lighting
We're going to use that coziness to inform some winter time decorating to make our homes full of warmth and love. No matter how cold and dreary it gets our homes will be warm, welcoming and filled with comfort.
Because a Hygge home is cozy, bringing low lighting through fireplaces or other means is a common theme. Reusing your Christmas lights, twined through earthy ball lanterns will give your home a warm glow while bringing in elements from the outdoors: another hygge theme.
Spa Retreat in Cary offers a full line of Paddywax candles, an excellent option for bringing both scent and warm lighting into your home. Candles are available in the store only.
Texture
Another principal of hygge is to use soft, cozy textures. This can (and should) be accomplished through plenty of soft blankets and warm, snuggly sweaters, but why stop there? You can use homey textures like these sweater cozy's for your fireplace mantel.
Image Courtesy HGTV.com
Image courtesy of That's Too Cute Boutique, Cary
All kinds of sweaters, cozy socks and other wearables can be found at That's Too Cute Boutique in Cary. If you are looking for custom made coziness such as blankets or decor items, Sew What With Jennifer can customize whatever you like!
All the Senses
Another hygge principal is to appeal to the senses. That is accomplished through the crackling of the fire, the soft touch of the cozy fabrics, but why not add another layer to the sensory melange and diffuse some essential oils?
I have a particular blend, custom designed by my friend Shannon at Petrichor Apothecary. It is spicy and warm and my family has come to associate the scent with our home. It's definitely very hygge!
Petrichor Apothecary's products are now featured in AromaBox, a subscription box of aromatherapy, skincare and lifestyle products.
Image Courtesy Keeper of the Home
Take it Outdoors
Image Courtesy of Country Living
Even though it's cold outside, hygge isn't limited to the indoors. Spice up your front porch with these cheerful bottles, again reusing your holiday lights. And if you happen to have a front porch swing or rocking chairs, bring a chunky wool blanket and cup of hot tea to enjoy the fresh air.
The Perfect Piece in Cary is a great place to find unique house wares for both indoors and out. For a large variety of premium quality loose leaf teas, check out Tin Roof Teas in Raleigh.
Don't Forget the Dining Room
Don't forget to include your warm fabrics into your dining room decor. You can use chair covers to bring warmth and soften the glare of polished wood in the winter time.
Image Courtesy of BHG.com
If you want to learn more about hygge, check out this video from Refinery21. Or get popular primer on Hygge, The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living
You'll find more decorating inspiration at the following blog posts:
How to Turn Your House into a Home from ImmoAfrica.net
How to Reupholster Dining Room Chairs by Eileene Anderson
2018 Decorating Trends by Karen Highland
10 Ways to Add Instant Curb Appeal to Your Home by Sharon Paxson
How to Remove Wallpaper by Bill Gassett
Bring warmth to your home with scents and good food Lynn Pineda
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About the Author Ellen Pitts
Ellen is the founder of Harmony Realty, a socially conscious realty company. Ellen believes in empowering her clients through education and open communication. Ellen is a number-cruncher at heart and takes great pleasure in following and analyzing the trends of the housing industry. She loves communicating the big picture to her clients and helping them to understand how the market affects their sale or purchase. Her honest and down-to-earth approach allows her clients to make informed and intelligent decisions to get the most out of their offers and negotiations.