Hygge: coziness when the days get shorter

People from Scandinavian countries are the happiest of all. But why is that anyway? Certainly not because of the weather! In Denmark alone it rains 179 days a year, not to mention the period of complete darkness. Still, we Dutch can learn a lot from the Danes, especially in this day and age. Hygge, by the way, is not a verb, but for the piece we have bastardized it here and there.

So what exactly is Hygge?

Hygge is the Norwegian word for Well-Being, but there isn’t actually a literal translation for it. It comes down to feeling cozy, warm and safe. And that too in a cozy environment. It is mainly about creating a certain atmosphere and experience. An atmosphere in which you can relax optimally. Do you guys get it? Even though we don’t even know exactly how to pronounce “Hygge,” we’re going to show you how to make it very “Hyggelig” in your home!

A little research

In order to explain Hygge and translate it into something Dutch, I delved into the books. Especially the book “Hygge, the Danish art of living” by Meik Wiking was very entertaining, not only because of the writing style, but I also became totally happy with the subject. If you want to know more about Hygge I definitely recommend reading this book. In this blog we will show you what you need to decorate your home Hygge. And of course where you can find all that.

Candles, candles and more candles

When it’s dark earlier, you can of course turn the lights on high, but candles are much cozier. More Hygge, in other words. Every Dane burns about 6 kilos (!) of candles a year! Winter and summer! Austria is in second place with 3.16 kilos per year. Imagine the difference. Where the Netherlands stands in this ranking is not even mentioned. So we need to burn more candles! No scented candles by the way, because those are considered artificial, and that is absolutely not Hyggelig! Good news: candles can be bought almost everywhere (even in the supermarket) and they are not that expensive. Get your candles at Intratuin, for example. Those from Riverdale are beautiful, but yes, those are mostly scented candles. Oh well, it’s okay to let that line slip. By the way, Intratuin has a great Christmas department leading up to winter. Have you ever been to the Zevenhuizen branch? Do!

More cute candles can be bought at Loods 5. By the way, they have very nice home accessories there. While we’re at it, be sure to visit Søstrene Grene. This cozy store has branches in The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Amsterdam and Breda. You will find nice gadgets for the home and in this period also a lot of nice Christmas stuff. Northbound is also a typical Scandinavian store. They also sell nice candle holders.

Light is important anyway

Not only candlelight is Hyggelig, lamps and lighting also contribute to a feeling of comfort and coziness. No fluorescent tubes! Because they really aren’t hyggelig. For lighting, the lower the light temperature (i.e. the number of watts), the more Hygge it is. The Danes’ obsession with light is due to a lack of contact with the natural environment (you just can’t see a thing) in the winter period from October to March.

Ikea always sells nice and affordable lamps. Moreover, they are obviously Scandinavian. Jysk also has beautiful lamps that will make your home completely Hygge-ready. By the way, Jysk is the Danish counterpart of the Swedish Ikea. Besides a large showroom, Straluma in Barendrecht also has a nice website where you can shop to your heart’s content from the comfort of your armchair. They also have a large assortment of Scandinavian lamps. Northbound also sells nice lighting from various Scandinavian brands. They also sell clothing and accessories.

Your Hyggekrog

What exactly is a Hyggekrog? Well, really nothing more than your favorite spot in the house. That can be a spot by the fireplace (if you have one) but it can also be a wide window sill with cushions. Or just a nice spot on the couch where you can crawl away with your blanket and your thick socks with a nice book. All those things are also very Hyggelig. Real books, no e-reader! You have to be able to smell a book and get lost in it. Nothing is nicer than warmth in winter. Also very Hygge in your Hyggekrog are things that come from nature. So lots of wood and pottery. No plastic or plastics.

Cuddliness factor

If you really want to “Hyggen” it properly, put on comfortable, warm, soft and sometimes foul-mouthed clothes. Like those super thick and slightly bulky house socks. Or a nice wrong onesie. A soft blanket should definitely not be missing! What is also very Hygge is a scarf to live in. Lovely! And those pants you don’t want to be seen in, but are secretly your favorite, should of course be on too.

But soft materials in your interior are also a must. Sheepskins, animal skins, you name it. But if you don’t like these, fine, large pillows are also fine. Hygge is being kind to yourself, so pampering yourself is definitely part of it!

Hygge and food

If you think Hygge and dieting go hand in hand, you’re wrong. Hygge is pampering yourself in every possible way, including the inner man. Danes love cake (both baking and eating), sweets, hot chocolate and coffee. A well-known Danish proverb is “Live your life today as if there were no coffee tomorrow.” Raw carrots and lettuce are not very Hygge.

The Danes do take that “be kind to yourself” very literally and also snack a lot: 8.2 kilos per person per year goes through them, while the European average is 4.1 kilos. Slow Food is hip and very Hyggelig. The longer it takes for something to be on the table, the more Hygge it is. But snacks are also doing well. We love fine delicatessens. We are fans of Bigoli in Utrecht. Sometimes you can also order tasty snacks. After all, it doesn’t matter who spent a long time in the kitchen, does it? And wines, wines do well on Hygge too.

Hygge together is more fun

Also, there is never just 1 person in the kitchen, but the whole family cooks with you. Playing board games is also very Hygge. Or organize a cozy movie night! Very important: no phones are allowed on under any circumstances. No digital stimuli, only the here and now.

Photos: www.canva.com