7 tips for a hygge home

Turn your living space into a calming and cosy retreat

Roughly translating into English as ‘cosy’, the Danish philosophy of ‘hygge’ is about slow living, enjoying simple pleasures, togetherness, creating a cosy home and, it seems, burning plenty of candles.

The hygge approach is more an attitude than a set of rules. But while most of us know that a Friday evening spent gazing into a roaring open fire, cocoa in hand, is better than racing around the supermarket, sometimes we need to be reminded of what’s important, to make a conscious effort to slow down and adopt a more thoughtful approach to living.

Elias Larsen, co-author of The Art of Hygge, shares how we can find the ultimate hygge home.

1 Light a candle

It’s all about the light. The Danes burn candles everywhere – in their kitchens and studies, at the dinner table and even at work. ‘Light one candle and as if by magic you create an instantly soothing and calming atmosphere,’ says Elias. ‘Light 10 and you have a magical centrepiece for a dinner party.’

Source vintage candlesticks like this baking-tin-style candleholder at The Old Haberdashery, while you can find heart-shaped chambersticks at Tobias Interiors. If you want to introduce scents evocative of the season – such as clementine, wood smoke and cinnamon – check out the refillable candles at Great House Farm Stores.

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2 Snuggle up with a throw

Soft furnishings will up the cosy factor, and being comfortable and relaxed is an important part of hygge. Consider those with warm cuddly textures – such as fluffy sheepskin rugs, wool blankets or handknitted chunky throws, as well as soft vintage quilts – and go for a layered look for a cocooning effect.

Find ethical sheepskin rugs at Felted Sheepskins – made from the sheared wool without harming the sheep – or go to Atlantic Blankets for recycled wool and cotton throws in tartans and soft Scandi colours.

3 Bake a loaf

They call it comfort food for a reason. There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the house, and a homemade sourdough loaf is a fusion of art and science, producing bread with a distinctly delicious, fermented flavour that’s also good for gut health. Making sourdough is a slow, soothing process that requires love and devotion – perfect for lazy weekends at home.

Stock up on original vintage loaf tins, baking trays and mixing bowls at The Vintage Kitchen Store, and sign up for a breadmaking masterclass at The Sourdough School or with Richard Bertinet.

4 Create a reading nook

Hygge is all about taking quiet moments for yourself, as well as enjoying the company of others. Put away phones and screens, then curl up with a book or magazine, or perhaps something creative like knitting or a sketch book. A snuggle seat or squidgy sofa is the ideal companion, stuffed with cushions you can sink into. Perhaps by a window, so you can just sit and gaze out at the view too.

Check out Loaf’s sustainably made loveseats and sofas, built to last. Looking for good reads? Go to Awesome Books for used bestsellers, or Pretty Old Books if you want a classic collection of vintage books to display on your shelves.

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5 Look to nature

‘Plants and cut flowers help to create a soothing environment,’ says Elias. ‘Natural materials are the easiest way to bring the outside indoors, such as hand-thrown pottery, driftwood from a beach walk, pine cones from the forest.’

Warm tones of wood in a home make you feel earthed and calm too. ‘I particularly like old kitchen tables that show their age – with worn corners, scores and scratches from chopping vegetables and when it’s been bleached by sunlight,’ Elias continues. ‘All of these elements make it not just a part of the furniture but a part of your family’s life.’

Home Barn has beautiful tables with a rustic aesthetic, either vintage or made from reclaimed wood. Check out Design Vintage for Scandi-inspired homeware in natural materials, from seagrass lampshades to earthenware vases, all in pared-back neutrals.

6 Light a fire

There’s nothing cosier when it’s frosty outside than sitting by a roaring fire, whether it’s a traditional inglenook fireplace or a contemporary wood-burning stove. The crackle of flames, the warming embers, the waft of wood smoke. The feelgood factor is pure hygge. No working fireplace? Then recreate the vibe with a mantel, surround and hearth added to a focal wall. Complete the look with a basket stacked with logs entwined with fairy lights, and a few pillar candles or lanterns on the hearth.

The Antique Fireplace Company is a great place to source reclaimed and restored fireplaces of all styles and shapes. Try Traditional Beams for handcrafted oak fireplace beams and mantels, with some reclaimed or aged.

7 Enjoy simple pleasures

It might sound obvious, but being around nature is vital for wellbeing and happiness, and the Danes believe that making time to be outdoors is a priority, whatever the time of year. ‘Hygge is primarily about being happy and enjoying simple things like a walk in the park, a bike ride or a paddle in the sea,’ says Elias. ‘In Denmark we make the most of the outdoors – not just in the summer time but in the long, cold winters too. Sunlight and fresh air make you feel good.’