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Create a cosy hygge living room with candles, neutral colours and natural materials.

Create a cosy hygge living room: 5 tips to help you bring more hygge into your life

Hygge officially became an English word back in 2016, when the art of creating a hygge lifestyle was enjoying a moment but there is something deeply rooted in the word hygge that we should all embrace as more than just a trend. The Danish phenomenon that has taken the world by storm offers a life where simplicity, community and well-being are in focus. But did you know that the word is originally Norwegian? Wrap yourself in the nearest blanket and discover our guide to creating a cosy hygge living room.

Thursday 22nd September 2022

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WHAT IS HYGGE?

Perhaps hygge is the secret behind the Danes' title as the world's happiest people? The unpretentious escape from an increasingly demanding and hectic everyday life where our home becomes our nest to retreat to.

Although the concept has found a place in the Danish people's soul, the word hygge is originally Norwegian. The definition is broadly the same, namely: a strong focus on well-being and the cosy feeling that small moments in life give us. You've probably heard the word before as hygge has taken the world by storm.

The concept of hygge encapsulates true Scandinavian lifestyle and interior design.

It is hardly surprising in a world where stress has become increasingly evident and naturally after the last few years, we are all keen to celebrate the smaller moments. Hygge is, in short, a concept that invites us to slow down and enjoy joyful moments.

Audo CopenhagenKettle teapot

$52

A cosy hygge living room contains comfortable furniture and an inviting atmosphere, so you can enjoy fika with friends.

CREATE A COSY HYGGE LIVING ROOM

A hygge lifestyle allows us to enjoy our valuable time and good coffee together with our nearest and dearest. Our interiors are cosy and comfortable and inspired the nature outside. We have collected 5 tips to help you create your own cosy hygge living room:

Tactile textiles
Cosy candles
Calming neutrals
Natural elements
Soft lighting

Create a cosy hygge living room for everyone to enjoy including the family cat who sleeps on the NJRD Stripes wool throw in beige.

A cosy hygge living room is a place for everyone to enjoy.

1. TACTILE TEXTURES

Tactile textures are the base of any cosy hygge living room. Pick out elements that encourage you to reach out and touch them such as textured vases, translucent glass candle holders or linen pillowcases. Wrap yourself in a woven cotton throw and sink your feet into a deep pile wool rug. Hygge is all about comfortable and inviting elements, so focus on items that are made from natural materials with a real sense of craftsmanship.

Create a cosy hygge living room with tactile textures such as the Sandstone throw from Scandi Living in beige or grey.

Scandi LivingSandstone wool throw 130x180 cm

$80.75$119

Create a cosy hygge living room with tactile textures and cosy wool throws.

Comfortable furniture and cosy pillows and throws create an inviting hygge atmosphere.

Create a cosy hygge living room with the help of candles and tactile vases like these from Olsson and Jensen.

Olsson & JensenHalde lantern 12 cm

$20.90$28

Create a cosy hygge living room with a deep pile rug like this one from NJRD, for all of the family to enjoy.

NJRDLevels wool rug stripes mole

$977.40$1,629

Create a cosy hygge living room with a cosy deep pile rug like this one from Scandi Living, seen here with little baby toes!

Scandi LivingCozy wool carpet natural white

$824.90$1,200

Scandi LivingCalm pillow case linen 50x50 cm

$27.35$39

2. COSY CANDLES

Enter almost any home in Scandinavia in the depths of winter and you are sure to find soft, cosy lighting and candles burning in every room. In an area of the world where the sun barely rises for a few months of the year, the warming light of a candle is all but essential for one’s well-being. Candles are an absolute must have when it comes to creating a cosy hygge living room. Combine them withscented candles and diffusers to create the ultimate inviting atmosphere in your home.

Create a cosy hygge living room with cosy candles like these from Ester & Erik with the Muuto vase

Ester & erikester & erik candle sticks smooth 2-pack

$29.90$39

IittalaNappula candle holder steel

$75

SkandinaviskHygge fragrance sticks

$58

3. CALMING NEUTRALS

When decorating with rich textures it can be easy for the room to become overwhelming or cluttered. Maintain the calm in your cosy hygge living room with a soft, neutral colour palette. Think natural shades of wood pared with calming shades of beige or off white. Pops of colour certainly are not off the table but focus on naturally calming tones such a blue or green that will not disrupt the harmony.

The calming shades of beige in the home of Swedish Instagram profile @joanna.avento perfectly offset the rich textures of her living room.

Classic CollectionRio wool carpet 200x300 cm

$484.90$694

Create a cosy hygge living room with grey tone on tone with natural elements like a wooden coffee table or wool carpet as you see here.

Lea wool rug | Scandi Living

Neutral tone on tone grey and beige combined with natural materials like wool, linen and wood create a calming hygge living room at the home of German Instagram profile @wohnfuehlen_mit_stil.

4. NATURAL ELEMENTS

Along with tactile textures, natural elements are key to creating a cosy hygge living room. Bring the outside in with green pot plants and cut flowers. Nature can also be brought in, in the form of natural materials, such as a wooden or even a stone coffee table, or a natural green vase.

Create a cosy hygge living room with natural elements like a stone coffee table or a green vase, here you see the Alva Aalto Vase from Iittala.

IittalaAlvar Aalto vase moss green

$195

Create a cosy hygge living room with natural elements. Here you see the &tradition wooden coffee tables called In Between.

&TraditionIn Between coffee table SK14 Ø60 cm

$424.90$473

5. SOFT LIGHTING

Last but by no means least, lighting is an essential element in any room. To create a cosy hygge living room think low level table or floor lighting. Choose light bulbs with a warm colour temperature. Lamps with a frosted glass shade spread a wonderful soft glow to really up the cosy factor in the long cold winter nights.

Read our guide to Choosing the right light bulb here!

Create a cosy hygge living room with cosy table lamps like the Night Owl table lamp from Fritz Hansen.

Fritz HansenNight Owl table lamp ash

$222.95$319

Create a cosy hygge living room with soft table lamps like the Fair table lamp from Scandi Living.

Scandi LivingFair table lamp 34.5 cm

$201.95$265

Decorate your small home office with carefully thought out lighting like the functional and beautiful Vuelta lamp from Ferm Living.

Ferm LIVINGVuelta table lamp

The concept of hygge centres of finding joy in the small moments and creating an environment in which we feel safe and secure. Creating a cosy hygge living room is therefore ultimately about surrounding yourself with items that bring you peace and joy and creating a welcoming space for everyone we love.

Photography: Angeliqa Daldorph, @helenas.hem, @houseofekman, @joanna.avento, @tamaraxhem @interiorbygigi, @our_home_living @wohnfuehlen_min_stil, @idaskvm

Rebecca Sparling

Author