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What Is The Meaning Of Hygge?

Harriet Goodacre

February 01, 2024

The start of the New Year is always seen as a fresh start in the Western world; a time to declutter, get fit and lead a healthier lifestyle. So the same could be said for our homes, a less cluttered space has been proven to help calm the mind and promote relaxation.

So how do you find a balance between the possessions you love and a simpler home? Enter the Danes and their mastery of hygge.

What Is Hygge?

You may have heard of hygge, the art of creating intimacy.

The meaning of hygge is to find satisfaction and joy from the simplest of tasks or objects, whether it’s making a coffee from scratch at home and savouring it or finding an armchair you can relax in and escape from everyday stresses - a true essence of a hygge home.

This simplicity is beautifully reflected in the Scandinavian decor that we’ve come to know and love; pared-back rooms using warm shades of white and the natural textures of wood and leather. The colour palette is often neutral and mixed with a selection of eclectic statement pieces like an Ercol sofa or Artek stool, creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere.

Embracing hygge at home is not just a design choice but a lifestyle, turning each moment into a warm and meaningful experience, making your space a true sanctuary of joy and comfort.

The Benefits Of Hygge In Your Home

Before deciding if the hygge style aligns with your taste, let's uncover the advantages it offers:

Enhanced comfort and cosiness

Hygge invites you to surround yourself with elements that evoke a sense of comfort and cosiness, ensuring you experience a heightened sense of comfort and relaxation in your decorated space. Hygge homes, characterised by a warm, neutral colour palette and plush textures, exude cosiness and warmth, making them inviting all year round.

Promotion of calmness

In a world filled with hustle and bustle, your home should be a haven of calm. Hygge emphasises the importance of creating spaces that promote tranquillity. Embracing minimalism in design reduces stress, fostering an immediate sense of calmness upon entering your home or a specific room.

Mindful living

Hygge encourages a mindful approach to daily life. Incorporating hygge into your home design promotes awareness of your surroundings, encourages value in your purchases, and helps you cherish life's small joys, fostering better mindfulness.

Improved sleep quality

Beyond aesthetics, the hygge environment contributes to better sleep. A serene and relaxing space promotes peace of mind, allowing for more restful and extended sleep, positively impacting your physical health.

Higher level of self-care

Embracing the hygge lifestyle prompts a heightened focus on self-care. By shifting your attention to your surroundings, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for elements like nature, friendships, and tranquillity, enhancing your overall wellbeing.

How To Incorporate Hygge In Your Home

Creating a hygge home is a journey marked by thoughtful choices and intentional design. Here are some simple ways to incorporate the hygge décor into your home:

Natural Harmony

Infuse your living spaces with the calming influence of nature by introducing carefully selected plants. Pairing stone effect porcelain tiles, like Kamber or Hemsworth, with greenery creates a natural harmony that embodies the essence of hygge, whilst fostering a connection to the outdoors within your home.

Simplistic Shelving

Embrace the beauty of simplicity with shelving solutions that merge functionality and aesthetics in your cosy hygge living room, kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom. Tiles, such as ceramic or porcelain, can be utilised as a neutral background, enhancing the clean lines of minimalist shelving. This creates a visually appealing space that aligns with the simplicity and practicality inherent in hygge design.

Consider incorporating warm-toned accessories and soft textures on the shelves to elevate the comfort and inviting ambience of your hygge-inspired living room sanctuary.

Wood With Warmth

Integrate the warmth of wood into your hygge-inspired home whilst embracing the durability of tiles. Choose wood effect tiles that mimic various grains and tones, offering a cosy atmosphere without compromising on practicality. The versatility of these tiles allows you to create a hygge-inspired space that exudes both comfort and long-lasting elegance.

The pale tones of Kanzi Natural pair well with bold forest greens, silvery metallics and black metal accents. For something a little more decorative, the Skandi range works with black, shades of grey and other wood tones. Add in a few pieces of furniture that you’ve lovingly collected over the years and cherry-pick your accessories; every piece should mean something or simply be a joy to look at. Less is most definitely more.

Personalised Touches And Textiles

Add a personal touch to your hygge home by selecting textiles that evoke comfort and warmth. Consider layering plush throws, textured cushions, and soft rugs to create inviting nooks within your space. Opt for neutral, beige, or earthy-coloured tiles as a backdrop to accentuate the cosy textiles and personalised touches that make your space uniquely comforting.

Ambient Lighting

Illuminate your space with soft, warm lighting that paints every corner with a cosy glow. Consider incorporating pendant lights, table lamps, or string lights to enhance the hygge-friendly ambience.

Choose tiles with a subtle gloss, such as the Simply range, to amplify the effects of your ambient lighting, casting a warm and inviting embrace over your hygge-inspired space.

Immerse yourself in the art of hygge and find joy in everyday life by relishing in the simple pleasures within your home. There’s a reason why the Danish are cited as the happiest nation in the world! Take a look at our Pinterest for some cosy interior inspiration, a treasure trove of ideas to infuse warmth and cosiness into your living space.