Three Simple Steps to Create a Hygge Home
By: Henriette Kockum
Tags: Furnished Apartments, Quarantine, Hygge, Interior Decorating, Interior Design

What is hygge you may ask? Hygge originates from Denmark and forms an essential part of Scandinavian culture. The word doesn’t exist in English, so though it’s complex to translate, it essentially describes a state of being: relaxed, comfortable, cozy, lovely, at ease, the list goes on… You can feel hygge in situations such as dinner with your family, taking a bath, laughing with your friends, or watching the sunset. Hygge helps you stop and appreciate the present moment. It embraces the smaller things in life that give you a deep sense of fulfillment and joy.

It’s a feeling that many Scandinavians like myself seek when spending quiet time on our own, or setting the mood for an intimate gathering. But it’s not just for interior designers and dinner hosts — we can all add little touches to our spaces and routines to bring some hygge into our homes.

Like most of us in self-isolation, you might be getting cabin fever. We’re all itching to go outside and go back to our regularly scheduled programming. But there’s a window of opportunity here: how can we take advantage of spending so much uninterrupted time at home? How do we embrace this rare moment of quiet in our otherwise busy lives? How do we find hygge during a time that feels quite heavy due to world events that are out of our control. You might not want to take on a bunch of side projects, or spend lots of money, but don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.

This is how I bring a little extra coziness into my interior design whether I’m getting a space ready across any of Blueground’s 12 cities, or simply sprucing up my own home in San Francisco.

STEP 1: Treat yourself.

The point here is to make or have something you wouldn’t normally bother with at home. Treat yourself to something you’re genuinely excited about. Maybe this is an extra fabulous hot cocoa with marshmallows, a glass of rosé paired with a gourmet meal, or some dark chocolate that you’ve been saving for a special occasion. We’re not gonna tell you what to indulge in, but think of something that you’ve been longing for or craving.

STEP 2: Transition yourself and your treat into a relaxing activity.

Once you have your treat, you’re ready to embark upon the next level of hygge. Time to start an activity. Think of doing something you love but never get the chance to do. This can be anything from reading a book, calling up your best friend, baking, painting, or playing the guitar.

STEP 3: Enhance the ambiance.

Captured by Margaret Rajic

Now you’re doing your favorite activity, indulging in your favorite treat, having a great time — let’s take it a step further. It’s time to truly set the mood. Depending on your activity there are several ways to do this. You can turn on some of your favorite music, get comfy and wrap yourself in a blanket, or dim the lights and light a candle. After these three steps, you should be feeling pretty blissful and at ease.

Hygge isn’t complicated, but it can have a huge impact on your wellbeing. As much as we all want to be out and about, we can take this time to gently take care of ourselves, our homes, and loved ones — something that is often hard to find time for during the drumbeat of normal life.