How to Hygge Your Home this season
Winter is a time for Rest and reflection
Ahhhh, winter in Minnesota. It’s truly such a special time. And not for the faint of heart haha. Winters here can be harsh and loooonnnnggg (the most difficult part about them honestly). But through the years I’ve grown to really love and appreciate this season. In nature, everything is sleeping. The snow is a quiet blanket that covers resting plants, animals go into hibernation. Growth is on hold yet beauty is everywhere. Due to the cold and limited sunlight, more time is spent inside. I know we’ve been finding a new rhythm in our home for sure! And if you’re anything like me, the space you’re in has a HUGE effect on mental health and overall vibes in your day. There’s just something about really loving the aesthetic of your space that helps shift your mood.
So it’s no surprise that I’m very particular about our home, and not just with decorations and how they look but how it effects our health as well. Which is why I totally jumped on the hygge band wagon when it became trendy. And even though it definitely did become a trend, it’s so much more than that and can be a lifestyle that you won’t ever get sick of.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS HYGGE?
Simply put, hygge is a Danish concept of creating coziness in the home in a minimalistic and natural way. Hygge is more about feeling than anything else and includes the senses. It’s something you can see, feel, smell, taste, and hear. In true Scandinavian style, hygge incorporates nature in the home in a clean and minimalistic way. I’ve listed below a few really simple (and inexpensive) ways we’ve incorporated this concept into our home.
Think of the senses….
SMELL // A long time ago, we stopped buying scented candles or air fresheners for our home. Instead, I ONLY use essential oil diffusers and pure beeswax candles to keep our home smelling great! We have a diffuser in about every room of our home and have bought them pretty cheap from Amazon. Here’s my preferred essential oil brand! I like buying beeswax candles from my local co op or farmers markets but recently have learned how to make them and have really enjoyed that!
TASTE // Hmmmm, what’s better on a cold winter day than a warm bowl of soup or a hot cup of tea? Here’s some of my go-to recipes for ya:
HEAR // Music has the power to add the perfect vibe into the environment. Here’s some of my favs:
Meditation music: The Salt of the Sound
Instrumentals: Vitamin String Quartet
Folk: Trampled by Turtles, Caamp, The Avett Brothers, The Paper Kites, Fleet Foxes
Chill: Lord Huron, Ben Howard, Bon Iver, Death Cab For Cutie
FEEL // Think cozy. Warm blankets, comfy pillows, sheepskins, wool socks and wool sweaters. I love having pillows and blankets thrown over our chairs and couch so that they’re right where you need them when you want to get cozied up.
SEE // Bringing nature into the home is the perfect way to incorporate hygge. And honestly, if you were to walk into our home you’d find it all. Dried plants, pressed and framed leaves, rocks, branches, pine cones, wreaths, paintings and photographs depicting nature. We love it! In our home we also prioritize natural light. As much as possible, we keep the windows open and the overhead lights off. But as the sun goes down, we turn on the lamps and dim our overhead lights. We use himalayan salt lamps because the warm orange light helps our bodies transition from day to night. They are also great for detoxing the air! And as the sun goes down, it’s also the perfect time to burn some candles.
At the end of the day…
Do what you need to do to make your home environment cozy, beautiful, and peaceful! I really believe that a peaceful outer space helps to cultivate a peaceful inner space.