If your home is more of a stressor than a stress-reliever, channeling the spirit of hygge (a Danish term pronounced "hoo-gah") can help reform your space into something that adds value to your life. Here are some tips.
You can’t pull up your social media feeds these days without seeing some reference to “hygge.” The Danish term — pronounced “hoo-gah” — is nearly as pervasive as pumpkin spice, with applications ranging from beauty and self care to interior design.
“At its core, [hygge] is centered around embracing life’s little moments and taking pleasure in the simplicity,” says Kristy Woodson Harvey, author and owner of Design Chic, in an email interview. Indeed, the trend is defined by “The Little Book of Hygge” as “being about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things.” It’s that feeling you get when you’re surrounded by loved ones, when you’re safe and when you feel at home (whether you’re actually in your house or not).
Clear out the clutter.“The concepts of being present and having a well-lit space filled with comfort is not possible without first decluttering,” says Ben Soreff, a professional organizer in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in an email interview. “People have anxiety when they are not in control, and so candles and soft pillows aren’t going to help if your space is cluttered.”
The source of your stress might be a lack of organization and an overabundance of things cluttering up your personal space. The first step in getting hygge into your home is to remove the things that no longer serve you. The fewer things you own, the fewer things you have to store, organize and otherwise clean up. What’s more, the fewer things you buy, the less money you spend.
[See: 10 Creative Ways to Cut Costs This Winter.]
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Let the light in. “The most obvious way to achieve a feeling of hygge [in] home decor is with candles,” says Lucie Ayres, founder of 22 Interiors in Los Angeles, in an email interview. “Scented or not, it’s about the candlelight to evoke a mood in a room.”
Candles can be inexpensive as long as you know where to shop for them. Furniture and home decorating stores can be high-priced, so it’s better to pick up your favorite scents from retailers including Ross, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods. You can often find Yankee Candle and other name-brand candles from these stores for less than $10. Bath & Body Works is a popular destination for candles and home fragrances, and regular sales and coupons can help cut costs.
Cutler recommends reducing overhead light to create a comfortable space. “Lamp lighting will be much softer and more calming,” he asserts. Cutler recommends Ikea for inexpensive lighting, including table lamps starting at $9.99. Other stores offering affordable lighting include Target, which carries a multitude of table lamp styles for $30 or less.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/OlgaMiltsova)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/OlgaMiltsova
Crank up the cozy. Textures play a big role in how a space makes you feel. “Thick textiles, perhaps a shag rug, wool drapery and chenille upholstery, will all help to create a more enveloped space,” Cutler says. He suggests West Elm as a source for inexpensive wool pillows, soft throws and other texture-rich home goods. Target’s home line Project 62 features modern home decor with pillows, blankets and other decor items priced at less than $20.
“One product I’m always recommending is a small sheepskin (real or faux) rug,” says Sara Chiarilli, owner of an interior design firm in Tampa, in an email. “[They’re] a simple way to make your feet happy first thing in the morning.” Chiarilli suggests Ikea for an inexpensive source of faux and real sheepskin rugs, while H&M Home and Zara Home are also great outlets for rugs and blankets at reasonable prices.
[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Surround yourself with love. “It is very important to keep heritage front and center, so adding family pictures and meaningful pieces are intrinsic,” Chiarilli says. This could be family heirlooms that you love or framed images of your family, friends and favorite experiences. “The main thing to remember is that it is different for each individual as it is centered around the comfort of the user,” Chiarilli says.
In addition to images or objects that make you think of your loved ones and good times, simply being present and engaging with people is in the spirit of hygge. “All you need to find happiness is to turn off the screens and look people in the eye at a party,” Soreff says.
You can’t get cheaper than that.
(Thinkstock)
This sense of “home” is what makes hygge such a big trend in interior design, with certain features, textures and colors creating the cozy, warm and calming spaces that hygge invokes. However, you don’t have to transform your home into an homage to Scandinavia in order to achieve hygge. In fact, you likely don’t have to change a thing about your space if you already feel comfortable, warm and loved when you’re there.
If your home is more of a stressor than a stress-reliever, channeling the spirit of hygge can help reform your space into something that adds value to your life. “Any rooms that are designed deliberately to slow you down, allow you to disconnect and to simply be cozy and be, are going to be rooms where you have thought about Hygge,” says Mark Cutler, an interior designer in Los Angeles, in an email.
At the cusp of the hectic holiday season, a calm, safe space is just what you and your family need to stay grounded. Here’s how to bring hygge into your home without a high-powered budget.
