Danish design is known the world over, and Denmark has been a leading nation in the design field for decades. A fundamental aspect of Danish culture is called “Hygge” and here we have some tips to fit your home this winter the Scandinavian way.
Hygge is an approach that makes up a fundamental aspect of the Danish culture and involves making interior spaces feel cozy, homey, and embracing.
Hygge is all about evoking coziness, particularly when relaxing with good friends or loved ones and enjoying good food during the blues winter days.
Read here the 15 tips to recreate the Hygge mood
Materials – Treat yourself to the natural elements
In combination with white furniture and bright walls, wood furniture create harmony and a calming atmosphere. The strong connection with nature is the most dominant theme.
Picture by Charlotte Luxford, 12 ways to create the Danish Hygge look at home, The Culture Trip.
Lighting – Create a light focal point
Hygge spaces usually feature high ceilings with dramatic lighting located throughout the space. Light globes hung with wires or huge stage lighting have become the latest trends. Standing floor lamps will contribute to the whole look and are a great source of lighting when there’s no need to lighten up the whole space.
Norm Architects’, Carrie LED Lamp, for Menu. Price: £150
Garden – Adorn your garden space
Adorn your garden space by selecting appropriate furniture to maximize your enjoyment. Go for comfortable seating that matches the terrace design scheme. Fill up your balcony with potted flowers in all colors. Solar powered lighting is the most popular trend for outdoor lighting nowadays.
Picture from My Scandinavian Home, A Swedish place with a dreamy bedroom, 14 April 2016, www.myscandinavianhome.com
Personal – Craft a unique gallery wall Vintage touch
Use art prints, paintings, kids’ artwork, Polaroid’s, photographs, drawings, sketches, or personal photos of a family trip. Mix it up and include vintage frames to express a sense of nostalgia that fits the story behind this wall. Search for botanical and nature themes or typography, which is a popular and trendy hygge theme.
Picture from Skona Hem, Konsumentpyramiden –kan vi lara oss att tanka sa har?, 19 December 2016, www.blogg.skonahem.com
Include rustic elements within your décor
Look for flea market objects like cracked pots, aged wood furniture or rusty frames that show the beauty of the natural progression of time. This evokes appreciation for the simple, unaffected beauty of things as they are, no matter their age.
Picture from Bethany Douglass, “In the kitchen with Esther Meinel-Zottl”, 29 November 2016,www.cloisteredaway.com
Colour – Invoke a warm colour palette
Think about a colour palette that mimics those found in nature: browns, greens and greys. They create an atmosphere of tranquility and harmony.
Picture © Emily Laye, from Josefin Haag, “Till Bords”, 23 November 2016, www.josefinhaag.residencemagazine.se
Details – Meddle with metallic
Copper, aluminium, iron, and steel are all commonly used in Hygge design with a matte or glossy finish. Rusted doors and iron counter stools, iron vintage signs as well as metal ladders or staircases placed at the corner of a living room can be found in the best of furniture stores everywhere.
Picture from The Estate Trentham, “The House”, www.theestatetrentham.com.au
Layout – Keep things plain and simple
In a Hygge interior, open space and natural lighting are the basics. Avoid filling every space in a room, and eliminate any items that aren’t crucial to your comfort.
Picture © Laura Seppanen, Interior Designer, www.lauraseppanen.com
Embrace simple home accessories
In love with the honesty of clay, glaze and the magic that one set of human hands can produce? Hygge is about using objects that are both affordable and unique, made with ceramics, clay and wood.
Picture from Broste Copenhagen www.brostecopenhagen.com
Use ornaments sparingly
Express your personal taste through shopping after decorative accessories and crafts sold on small manufacturers websites. Place them on your shelves for a captivating display.
Picture from Broste Copenhagen www.brostecopenhagen.com
Afford yourself a little luxury feature
Choose accessories with soft and fluffy materials for the final touch: cushions, plaids, blankets, soft rugs, and faux fur, which give much-needed coziness and warmth to the space.
Feature the fireplace
Use the fireplace as a starting point for the room’s palette, by selecting the hues from the fireplace stones.
Picture © Michael Sinclair, interior Designer, www.michael-sinclair.com
Indulge your interests – reading area/bookshelf
People should have art in their homes for the same reason they have books and music. Books mirror peoples’ knowledge of cultural pursuits that makes for the ideal personal final touch. Besides, it’s fun to start a knowledgeable book collection.
Include a little flora in your home
The strong connection with nature is one of the most dominant Hygge theme. Incorporate little florals and as soon as you enter the home, the vibrant greenery creates an immediate connection to nature, balance, and serenity.
Urban outfitters, P.F. Candle Co. Teakwood & Tobacco 3.5oz Soy Candle
Make a welcome wall
Hygge walls are mostly covered with bright hues of paint to enhance natural light and to feature minimalism. Paint the walls with soft greys, or with varieties of light and pale natural or pastel shades. Place a mirror in the middle or artworks that have a strong connection with nature.
Picture from Coco Lapine Design, “Not so minimalist”, 18 September 2016, www.cocolapinedesign.com
More on Hygge culture:
. Coggles I Life, A hygge Swedish Apartment, in Interiors, www.coggles.com
. Oliver Burns, Scandinavian Interiors: The Art Of Hygge, 24 November 2016, www.oliveburns.com