The Hygge Concept*

According to the World Happiness Report by the United Nations, people from the Scandinavian country of Denmark are the happiest country in the world. This report asked people to rank their ‘life satisfaction’ levels & the Danish came out tops.

One of the concepts that has come from Denmark in recent years which is hitting the UK by storm is simply called ‘Hygge’ (pronounced hoo-ga) which is the next big thing when it comes to good living & mental health , especially at this time of year.

So, what is Hygge?

Hygge doesn’t have a literal translation but is more a feeling. Summed up, it is simply the feeling of being cosy, intimate & content. It’s all about finding the good in the little things as well as being friendly & happy.

It’s about embracing the good in everyday living to establish a meaningful & mindful connection within your home, family, friends & the world around you.

As the evenings draw in, now is the perfect time to start practising the Hygge way of living & I’m going to show you how to incorporate it into your everyday life –

1. Spend quality time with your loved ones –
Hygge is all about socialisation. Experiencing good times with good people & embracing family/friends. It’s all about sitting round a table, laughing, joking,  sharing stories, eating & drinking with those that you love.

2. Embrace firelight –
Hygge is about feeling cosy, especially in your home. Nothing quite evokes that feeling more than being in front of a roaring fire or surrounded by candlelight. 

3. Make life simple –
The Danish way of living is relatively simple & they tend to be quite laid back due to this. It’s all about not stressing the small stuff such as slaving away in the kitchen preparing a 3 course meal for guests & instead spending that time interacting with them. Think minimum fuss, maximum taste.

4. Bring the outside, in –
Dane’s are big fans of bringing the outdoors into their homes to create a harmonious balance. Think exposed brick walls, piles of firewood, wooden floors & tables & so on. 

5. It’s all about hot chocolate –
If I was to define the perfect winters evening it would definitely involve sipping hot chocolate (preferably ‘proper’ hot chocolate rather than powdered!). 

6. Don’t deprive yourself –
Unfortunately for our waistlines, one of Hygge’s principles is to indulge in the things that make us truly happy….for me, that’d be cake.

7. Spend more time outdoors –
Nobody can ever really feel true Hygge if they don’t brace the cold outside which makes you appreciate the warm, cosy inside. Slide on your welly boots, wrap up in a scarf & take a family walk. Prepare to dive straight back onto the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate & a cheesy film as soon as you get back.

8. Your sofa will become your best friend –
Hygge is all about spending time with friends & family as well as having somewhere comfy & cosy to curl up on under a blanket after a long day, which will inevitably mean that good seating is a must. DFS are embracing the trend to show customers how important it is to live Hygge this Autumn/Winter.

As part of their campaign, I was asked to create the warmest, cosiest space to help myself, my family & my friends relax and transition into the colder Winter months.

To do this I gave my lounge (the focal point of Hygge in my home) a bit of a makeover in the form of new DFS fabric sofa’s, cushions, throws (the pom pom throw of dreams!) & candles whilst snuggling up & enjoying hot chocolate with marshmallows. 

I’ve always been a big fan of the chesterfield type sofa & am delighted at these gorgeous Ashby sofa’s in colour ‘Oyster’ which is the perfect ‘greige’ aka grey & beige available here.

Love,

*This is a collaborative post with DFS