Nine hygge decor ideas

​What is hygge?

There is no direct translation for hygge. Hygge (or the Swedish equivalent "mys") is a feeling or state of mind, a way of thinking about life. The term is Danish, but according to Visit Denmark, the term is originally Norwegian, referring to living with a sense of well-being and togetherness—what could be called the simple life. Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh) means celebrating joy and pleasure in simple things. 

Interior spaces that embrace "hygge" feel warm and welcoming. Interior design that utilizes hygge results in a calm, serene space that lowers stress levels. Hygge home decor should be meaningful, a deliberate act of only displaying those precious items that bring a smile to your face and promote contentedness. The resulting space will have a welcoming atmosphere perfect for sharing with family and close friends.
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Burning candle. Image by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Why use the concept of hygge for winter decorating?

Decorating your home with hygge in mind will allow you to create a serene and calming environment for the cold winter months. A cozy, welcoming interior also helps with healing, which is necessary for anyone who suffers from depression and anxiety—a condition that is exacerbated in the winter months. Winter is cold, dreary, and harsh, but a hygge-infused space helps alleviate that reality, providing a safe space to relax, unwind, and rejuvenate.

The hygge color palette

The hygge color palette is very Scandinavian at its core. This style is a high-contrast combination of a neutral color palette with whites. Warm wood, whites, creams, and neutral tones make up the typical color scheme—think Scandi, Japandi, or cottage core without the clutter.

Image by andrey from Adobe Stock.

The function of light in hygge design

If you think about winters in the northern hemisphere, the season is characterized by low light levels with extended dark periods. So it should come as no surprise that natural light is cherished, with great effort to create other forms of light that offer a sense of warmth and well-being. 

Mood lighting is commonly used in hygge interiors. Twinkle lights and lit candles add a cozy, romantic touch to a space. Light pools from the warm glow of candles, fairy lights, and fireplaces are treasured in hygge design. Candles are even placed in windows on cold winter nights. Incorporate the essence of fire into your design plan with real or artificial fireplaces or candles. 

Image by Wirestock from Adobe Stock.

Use textures 

Hygge design is tactile and textural, using wood mixed with woven baskets and layers of blankets, duvets, pillows, and rugs. Furnishings are usually made from natural materials, like wood, faux furs, wool, and leather. Hygge interiors rely on soft blankets, fluffy pillows, warm wood furnishings, woven baskets, and other home decor made from natural materials to create a cozy, safe harbor from the cold winter. This applies to clothing as well. Soft, comfy clothing and wool socks will help you relax and unwind…and find your joy.

Knit blanket closeup. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Image by kaisorn from Adobe Stock.

Bring nature inside

Another integral part of hygge is bringing natural elements indoors. You can bring nature into your home with greenery, houseplants, or fresh flowers—in other words, things that grow. Lanterns, piles of firewood, or branches from outside work well too. Anything organic or made from natural materials will compliment a hygge space. Another way to bring nature into your home is to improve the view outside the window so that you can gaze outside and feel inspired by nature’s beauty.

Bromeliad leaves. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Fill the space with inviting aromas

Hygge embraces all the senses, including the sense of smell. Fill your space with relaxing scented essential oils, candles, or aromatic plants. Use aromatherapy to engage your sense of smell with scents like cookies, lavender, pine, or whatever scent gives you joy. Homemade candles, essential oils, lavender, Epsom salts, or even cooking a meal are all venues for introducing your favorite scent into your interior space. 

Soft light of a burning candle. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Simplistic design

Hygge—and any Scandi or Nordic design style, for that matter—is all about simplicity. There is a “less is more” approach to decorating interior spaces, with clean lines and minimal—but meaningful—decor. An uncluttered, tidy space frees the mind, improves your mood, and helps you relax. It’s not about a LACK of decor but more about surrounding yourself with MEANINGFUL collected decor. You are looking to create a feeling of simple pleasure in your interior.

Handmade and vintage decor

Building off the idea of meaningful decor and simple pleasure, hygge decor will often utilize vintage, antique, and handmade items that tell a story. Handcrafted items and decor created by skilled artisans have a lovely, imperfect human touch. These decorative items have much more of a soul than store-bought, mass-produced furnishings. It is good practice to display sentimental objects that are nostalgic and bring back good memories.

Jute twine texture on a repurposed stool. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Carve out cozy nooks

Hygge is all about creating coziness and joy and finding pleasure in the simple things in life. For our interiors, this means creating nooks (or hyggekrog)—book nooks, reading nooks, and cozy spots to take a nap or look out the window. These nooks are smaller spaces within the room, a snug little corner of a room where you can curl up and be cozy and warm. Maybe the space is a small book nook with shelves full of books or a window seat with comfy pillows and a blanket. Whatever this space is, it should be a place of peace and security, with comfortable chairs, pillows, and blankets that you can sink into and hide away from the worries of the outside world.

Image by Africa Studio from Adobe Stock.

Have a hot beverage station

So there you are, curled up in comfy clothes with a warm, soft blanket, a plushy pillow, and a good book…but something’s missing. You can’t truly embrace the hygge experience without a hot beverage! You'll need a dedicated coffee or tea station with ceramic mugs, tea bags, sugar, hot chocolate, a coffee maker, and whatever you need to make your favorite hot beverage (or wine, if that's your thing). Whatever your preferred beverage, the idea is to have a convenient spot to prepare beverages easily so you can quickly return to your warm blanket!

My coffee and wine station. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Cup of relaxing chamomile tea. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

So there you have it--some helpful hygge home decor tips for creating a winter interior that embraces well-being, coziness, and contentment!

In my research, I keep coming across this book about this topic--The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. I heard a few excerpts from the audiobook and loved it, so I bought the book! (The link for the book is above.) As it turns out, hygge is not just about interior decor, but applies to a way of looking at life in general. It’s a philosophy that teaches us how to live a more meaningful life…and that’s something I think we are all craving right now!

New book purchase--The Little Book of Hygge. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Have you tried any hygge design in your own space? Do you have any more tips you’d like to share? Drop your comments below!

Related blogs you may want to read:
Winter color palette ideas for your home decor
Nine design trends for 2022
Eight ways to create cozy winter interiors after the holiday decor comes down
​11 interior decorating tips that help reduce anxiety and depression

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