The weather has taken a decidedly chilly turn now and you can bet that winter is just around the corner, so there’s no better time than right now to start making your home nice and cosy so you can hibernate in comfort and style all the way through till spring.
When it comes to cosiness, the Danes really have it down and you might want to do some reading up on the Danish concept of hygge, a word that encapsulates the idea of creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, enjoying life with friends and family.
Interestingly, hygge didn’t actually originate in the Danish language, however, and it was first seen in old Norwegian, before appearing in Danish writing at the end of the 18th century - and the rest, as they say, is history!
This time of year is when hygge really comes to the fore, the ideal time to start enjoying the little pleasures in life.
You can use the hygge concept in interior design to make sure that your homes can help facilitate this, introducing natural textures like reindeer skin and sheepskin rugs, wool, velvet and so on, but also lighting lots of candles to soften the light and create a beautiful warm glow.
Decorate your mantel for the winter months and then curl up in front of a roaring fire with your favourite book. What could be more hygge than that?
The key is to embrace comfort and familiarity, no matter what you’re doing… which is why winter and Christmas is the perfect time to turn to hygge. We’re often contemplative and reflective at this time of year, focusing on family and tradition - and hygge can help us do just that!