The best way to be comfortable, cozy, and stylish for the last weeks of the winter season? Incorporate hygge into your interior design. Slip into a Scandanavian state of mind and get comfortable to embrace this inspiration for interior design that is more than just a trend.
Hygge is a Danish word that was officially entered into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2017. Around this time the idea of incorporating hygge into interior designs was beginning to rise to fame. Hygge, pronounced hyoo-guh, isn’t a trend that will come and go. Its roots come from a similar Old Norse word meaning “protected from the outside world”. There isn’t an exact word for it in English. The closest would be “cozy” except it’s more than just being cozy. Hygge is a lifestyle, a state of mind, and one of the reasons Norway and Denmark are regarded as some of the happiest nations in the world.
Not only is hygge a feeling or a state of mind, but it has turned into an informal decorating style for homes or other spaces. Why hygge itself cannot be bought or forced, interior designers have realized with their expertise they can inspire hygge and create a space conducive to achieving the feeling of hygge. Niche Design House, a luxury interior design firm based in Loveland, Colorado, brings you expert tips for how you can achieve this coziness and warmth in your own home. When you have your loved ones over to your house for a simple dinner or a board game, and you feel the joy, simply from being together, you will understand the magic within hygge.
Hygge is all about connections. Not just connections to other people but connecting with nature. A wood floor is a great example of using sustainable materials to create a nature-inspired space. Wood floors not only look sleek and sophisticated, but wood floors are also a way for nature to inspire a design. The floor sets the initial mood or tone of a space. A wood floor instantly exudes the feeling of warmth. Nature is used as the base, the floor (literally), and the versatility it provides is immense. Wood looks stunning on its own, as well as with any texture of the rug. A wood floor is a great way to begin your hygge-inspired design.
Continuing the connections and inspiration with nature, houseplants do more than add some green to your space. Plants represent the continuation of nature. Nature is outside and has transcended the walls and come inside. Plants make you more comfortable, even subconsciously, because of the oxygen they release. Plants give the ambiance of a space a boost of nature and softness.
The idea of gathering around the fire seems to be in our human DNA. For centuries the fireplace has been where friends and families gather. As everyone shares the warmth of the fire, stories are shared and conversations are had. You can encourage this kind of gathering by positioning your furniture around the fireplace.
One of the big design trends as of recent is curved and round furniture. This trend has its roots in hygge-inspired designs. Curved furniture is a departure from the straight, stark lines of minimalist furniture. Instead, think of overstuffed, and deep-seated couches. A couch you can sink into as you sit down. Accent pieces like comfy pillows and decorative, yet functional, blankets top off the feeling of hygge. Chunky cable knit blankets ready to be wrapped around your shoulders and plump, fuzzy pillows give the feeling of a happily lived-in living room.
How you decide to decorate your space when evoking hygge is all about decorating with accent pieces that bring you joy and happiness. Many times this means family heirlooms or antiques. These accent pieces are not about staying on trend, but they’re about your personal style and happiness. Your space bringing you joy and happiness is something that will never go out of fashion. This will also bring a sense of uniqueness to your interior design.
While it’s important to experience hygge alone, it’s about connecting on a deeper level with something bigger than yourself. Connect to your inner being, your happiness. Connect with your friends and family and feel the joy and warmth just from being around them Connect to nature and let nature inspire you and bring you a sense of comfort and balance in aesthetic, as well as ambiance, which is hygge. The interior design of your space should inspire these connections. Take on the mindset of some of the happiest people in the world and be inspired by not just their design style, but the lifestyles they live within these designs.
