December is here! And that means 2 things...
1. I have to get up early to scrape ice off my car before work and it's dark and cold and I don't enjoy it
2. It's time to get cosy!
What is Hygge?
My understanding of hygge originates from The Little Book of Hygge. Written by happiness expert Meik Wiking, the book explores the Danish concept, attempting to explain it.
There seems to be no word equal to the concept, it is, for all intents and purposes, untranslatable.
But that doesn't mean I won't try.
Overall, hygge seems to be a sense of cosiness, safety, warmth, companionship, love, and nostalgia all wrapped up together. What makes things hyggelig(t) (hygge-like) for one person, may not work for another. It all depends on your experience and, I guess, your understanding of hygge. A central theme in Wiking's book is warmth and lighting. These two things add to the atmosphere of a place or event, contributing to the feeling of hygge.
Being English, I'm not an expert on hygge (both because it is a concept from another country, and I'm not sure the English are ever fully going to understand a concept which relies on warmth, friendliness, and openness...we're still learning that one from Europeans) but I sure as hell love the idea of it.
Here are some of my favourite ways to create the feeling of hygge at home!
1. Blankets
Maybe the easiest way to experience hygge is to find the softest blanket you own, wrap yourself in it like a burrito and snuggle down. That warm, comforting feeling is the simplist form of hygge I can recommend.
And the best part is that you can combine it with any other thing that brings hygge into your life and ramp up the feeling! Blankets and books. Blankets and candles. Blankets and films with your favourite people. If you feel like it, wear your blanket like a cape and do some cooking in it - whatever works for you!
2. People
Surrounding yourself with your favourite people is a sure fire way to make you feel good. I do like my own company, but being with family and loved ones is unbeatable. My favourite way to spend time is either doing nothing together (I'm sure the introverts out there will get this one) or focusing on food. As you'll see later in this list, food is a huge part of hygge for me, so a family get together which centres on food - making or eating, I'm not fussed - is ideal!
3. Jumpers
For me, a big part of hygge isn't just being warm, but being cosy. For me jumpers = cosy.
In fact, one of my favourite things about autumn (just like pretty much every basic bitch on the internet) is the opportunity to wear all the jumpers. In fact, I think I have more jumpers in my wardrobe than any other item of clothing.
4.Fairy Lights
Let's be honest, fairy lights make everything a little bit cosier.
I think I've inherited a slight obsession with them from my mum actually. She has fairy lights and candles around the house for every season. Glass jars filled with tiny lights, real candles, fake candles, fairy lights on the fire places and in the garden. Everywhere.
And honestly I love it. There's something so satisfying about tiny lights.
5.Reading Nook
Obviously reading is a great way to find that hygge feeling, but reading in a reading nook is even better. The key elements for my reading nooks are comfort and warmth. A comfy window seat is my dream, but until that day comes my favourite place to read is an arm chair that I can curl up in. I always have a blanket on hand, and usually a place to put a coffee within arm's reach.
I rarely remember to consider this, but light should also be a consideration for reading nooks. Whether natural or artificial, a good light source is key for letting you read for hours, undisturbed.
6. Savoury Food
Food is a major element of hygge. Whether it's cooking it or eating it, there's something homely and calming for about food, it grounds you in a moment and can bring back major nostalgia in some cases.
My favourite autumn/winter foods are things like chilli, stroganoff, and soup. Basically anything will warm me up from the inside out! That being said, the most hygge recipes are the ones that bring you comfort, which usually means it's something from your childhood. For me, that's a traditional roast dinner.
My very favourite roast is Christmas dinner (obviously), because it's the only time of year my family have turkey - my favourite meat to have on a roast, but chicken is a close second. And to be honest, I think the only reason I'm even fussed over the meat is because turkey and chicken both mean a side of stuffing! (This is the best part of a roast and if you disagree we are no longer friends).
7. Nostalgic Scents
It might sound like a strange addition at first. I'm not sure how many of us would associate smells with a feeling of cosiness or wellness.
BUT!
I implore you to think of the smells of your childhood. Freshly mowed grass. An open fire. Your parents' cooking dinner. Wet dog.
However odd it might seem to other people, there are always smells that pull us straight back to the comfort of childhood, instantly bringing hygge sweeping in with the nostalgia.
And if there isn't? Well, light some scented candles and find a new favourite smell that can bring you a cosy, happy feeling. Something that will ground you and take you to your happy place. (In fact, candles work double time, as Wiking claims in The Little Book of Hygge that no recipe for hygge is complete without candles!)
8. Hot Drinks
This goes hand in hand with the food element of hygge. Something warm and sweet is such a great way of finding cosy contentment.
For a lot of people, coffee or tea is an everyday must-have. But winter is the time for experimenting.
Hot chocolate.
Egg-Nog.
Gingerbread Latte.
Coquito.
Mulled Wine.
Spiced Orange Mocha.
Spiced Apple Cider.
Chocolate Tea.
There are so many hot drinks and I want to try. Every. Single. One.
9. Warm books
The obvious book recommendation is Miek Wiking's The Little Book of Hygge. It's the ultimate guide to hygge and I cannot recommend it enough - it's even got recipes in it! Weiking also has a book called The Little Book of Lykke and, in Septemeber this year, The Art of Making Memories was released. I'm very excited to read it.
I think hygge is found in whatever book you most enjoy, but to help you get the right vibe, I'd recommend YA coming-of-age stories, romances, or fairy-tale and folklore. Here are some quickfire recommendations:
- Let It Snow, John Green
- Harry Potter, JK Rowling
- Stardust,Neil Gaiman
- Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie
- The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
- Hygge and Kisses, Clara Christensen
- A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness
- Seven Days of Us, Fancesca Hornak
10. Baking! Baking is one of my favourite things and, in my opinion, one of the most fun ways to create hygge. Whilst I don't have tonnes of time to experiment with what I'm making anymore, there are some classic recipes which give me the perfect feeling of hygge. Top of the list is cookies. It's become my speciality since I started making them at uni, although sadly the recipe I use is nowhere to be found online (let me know if you want me to post it!). I add all sorts to my cookies, depending on who I'm making them for. The best combo will always be chocolate and hazelnut though!
Fruit cake is a really wintery cake for me, and this fruit cake is the best I've ever found (I can't claim I've ever made it though, as fruit cake is my mum's speciality). And, like I said in the savoury food section, childhood foods really add to the feeling. My nan used to make the best apple pie. In fact, I don't like apple pie that much but when my nan made it? Count me in! Unfortunately I can't link you a recipe for this one either, because she's the only one who has it - but I will get it from her someday.
Conclusion
So there you have it, my top 10 ways to create hygge! It's such a wonderful concept - I'm so glad the world is learning more about it!
I fully advise you read The Little Book of Hygge (and The Little Book of Lykke) to find out more. The book will give you a much better understanding than I ever could. Plus, the author, Meik Wiking, is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, and if that's not something you need to know more about right this minute then something is wrong with you. (Just kidding!)
Now, go light a candle, put on a warm jumper, and snuggle down with your loved ones. Winter is here, and it's time to find your hygge.
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