If you’ve spent any time exploring home design trends or favor global home décor, there’s a decent chance you’ve heard the term “hygge.” However, you might not know what hygge entails exactly or how to create hygge in your home.
Fortunately, hygge is a simple aesthetic that’s easy to embrace, making it a solid choice for nearly any homeowner. Plus, hygge works whether your home is spacious or cozy, making it more versatile than some other options.
If you’re wondering how you can create a hygge-inspired home, here’s what you need to know.
What Is Hygge Interior Design?
Hygge style is a Danish-inspired design aesthetic that focuses on creating warm, inviting spaces. The goal of hygge styling is to make living areas feel cozy, allowing them to provide you with a sense of well-being.
Hygge homes also need to be restful. Since clutter can be overwhelming and stressful, hygge tends to incorporate a level of minimalism. Along with reducing unnecessary belongings by decluttering, color palettes may be limited or lean heavily on neutrals.
Usually, walls will be soft, muted neutrals, like creams, sages, and steely blues. The slight earthy feel keeps the space relaxing, even if the paint itself is a somewhat strong color.
However, even with the minimalist aesthetic, that doesn’t mean there can’t be cozy layering. For example, several coordinating throw pillows and a throw blanket on a bed still embrace hygge design, as the layers work with each other to create a soft, inviting look.
Finally, nature is one of the big elements of hygge. When you’re figuring out how to hygge your home, bringing in lush plants is a smart move. It adds some soft color and makes a space feel alive.
Hygge for Outdoor Spaces
While many people focus on hygge inside their home, it’s also possible to imbue the style into outdoor spaces. First, begin by focusing on natural materials. Wood, rattan, and wicker can all have a hygge feel, making them excellent starting points.
Adding all-weather throw cushions and pillows to chairs and benches also makes spaces feel cozier. The same goes for potted plants on porches and decks. They allow you to introduce extra natural elements, including greenery and flowers, and hints of color without overwhelming the space.
If you want to increase the coziness factor, consider adding curtains to one or two sides of your porch. It can create a sense of intimacy and warmth within a space while making it feel more private.
Placing an outdoor rug in seating areas boosts hygge as well. It adds a sense of softness while defining the space, making it feel like a welcoming refuge.
How to Create a Hygge Home for Every Season
Hygge home design is incredibly versatile, allowing it to work during every season. However, you may want to slightly adjust your hygge decorating approach as the temperature and weather shift, ensuring your home feels appropriately cozy and welcoming.
Here’s a look at how to create a hygge home for every season.
Spring Hygge
During spring, creating a hygge home is about striking a balance. While temperatures typically begin to rise and the world begins to feel brighter, chilly days and spring rains are common. As a result, you want to combine practical coziness with soft spring colors, embracing the full vibe of the season.
For example, you may want to switch out darker throw blankets for soft pastels. While they can still be plush, the lighter color renews the space. Bringing in flowers is another excellent option, adding hints of natural color and a gentle scent.
Since the sun is out longer, giving your windows a once-over during spring is also a wise move. It allows you to welcome the sunlight into your space, ensuring there aren’t any smudges that prevent you from enjoying it in its full glory.
Summer Hygge
While it may seem like summer isn’t ideal for hygge, that isn’t the case. Coziness and warmth can be states of mind, allowing hygge to work any time of year.
As the temperature heats up, it’s time to embrace light layering. For example, bedroom hygge during this season could involve removing heavier comforters and duvets, favoring a cotton quilt as a base layer. Then, throw blankets may be more delicate, such as low-weight, open weave crocheted throws.
Fresh flowers and natural light both remain part of the hygge aesthetic during the summer, as well as lush houseplants. Certain beachy elements – like natural driftwood or painted white wicker – can also find a place in a summer hygge home.
Fall Hygge
Once fall arrives, the weather starts leaning colder. Additionally, the outside world begins to change, introducing warm hues like deep oranges and golden yellows.
Since the temperature is shifting, introducing heavier, soft layers is a great way to boost autumn hygge. Reintroduce plusher throws in shades like turmeric and olive, draping them over living room seating or beds to make them chilly weather-ready.
You can also introduce natural elements by bringing in small pumpkins, squash, or apples. Find a natural bowl and set them inside, creating a lovely focal point on a table or counter.
Introducing more light sources is also wise. While you should still invite the sun in whenever possible, bring candles, jarred fairy lights, and similar softer options into the mix. Even string lights can be fun additions, particularly if they’re in a soft white.
Winter Hygge
When it comes to the quintessential hygge season in New York, winter has to be it. The temperatures drop, and the days get shorter, making a sense of coziness when you return home a real treat.
With colder weather comes opportunities for additional layers. Having plush throw blankets across living room chairs or sofas is a simple way to start, particularly if you lean toward deeper seasonal colors – like forest greens and deep burgundies – for your accents.
Lit candles and fireplaces also enhance hygge, even if they’re battery-operated or electric. The soft light and gentle flicker create a sense of warmth.
You can also boost hygge with scents. Aromas of fresh baked goods, cinnamon apples, mulled wine, and similar items can cause a home to feel warmer. While you can certainly add the scents by making the associated items, using potpourri, wax melts, candles, or similar alternatives can also work.
Can Hygge Help You Sell Your Home?
If you’re hoping to sell your home, embracing hygge home design is a wise move. The neutral palette and focus on comfort can play in your favor. Plus, the natural leaning toward minimalism is ideal if you want to sell, ensuring your home doesn’t feel overwhelmed with stuff.
While hygge could benefit you if you plan to sell during any time of year, it’s particularly beneficial during the winter. Wintertime hygge gives a space a sense of coziness, making it feel like a refuge. When the weather is chilly, that quality makes your home more attractive to buyers, potentially leading to a quicker sale or a higher price.
