Often ranked as the happiest people in the world, Scandinavians may have the answers to living well. While the minimalism of Modern Scandinavian design has been popular for quite some time, we wanted to look deeper at the trends that shape their way of life. In particular, we're enamoured with the Danish concept of Hygge. Pronounced hoo-guh, Hygge cannot be translated into English, but most literally can be understood as ‘cosiness’. Unfortunately, this is too simplistic. Hygge is not a thing - it’s a feeling and a lifestyle. Hygge is about intimacy, comfort, companionship and warmth. Hygge can be found in the corner of your home, a product or even an event such as a social occasion. Hygge has spread across every aspect of life for Scandinavians and we wanted to share a few ways you can bring more Hygge to your life.



Lighting

Hygge is as much about friends and family getting together around a fireplace and listening to music over mulled wine as it is about sitting in a warm bath surrounded by candles reading a good book. The Danes are crazy about candles and are actually one of the largest consumers of the product in the world, per capita. Whether you go to a café, bar, home or office, lighting is a very important aspect to Hygge. Dim lighting softens spaces and something like a fireplace can impart a feeling of non-literal warmth almost immediately. By bringing softer, more ambient lighting into your home, you can invite more Hygge, more tranquillity and more relaxation. We suggest looking at buying candles and using them instead of lamps during dinner parties and small get-togethers, as well as investing in dimmers and switches that allow you to control your lighting intensity.



Texture

When you think of cosiness, warmth and comfort, the first thing that comes to mind is often textural. This could include a pair of knitted socks, a fleece throw or a sofa you can simply sink into. Luscious knits are perfect for Scandinavian winters and help people achieve Hygge; however, for India, this needs to be adapted. You can do this with textured accessories, softer furnishings and different tactile surfaces. Combine these with your dim lighting and good conversation, and you’ve got a winning Hygge scenario.



Social Spaces

Lecturer Susanne Nilsson from Morley College in London says that "Hygge could be families and friends getting together for a meal, with the lighting dimmed, or it could be time spent on your own reading a good book," she says. "It works best when there's not too large an empty space around the person or people." The idea is to forget life’s worries and focus on happiness and personal comfort. This is often achieved when spending time with those who are closest to you. In order to facilitate these kinds of interactions, ensure your home has spaces where smaller and larger groups of people can get together comfortably. This means keeping certain spaces smaller such as your family room and informal living room while other rooms such as a dining room may be larger depending on how you entertain. Danes hate to feel tiny in a large, overbearing space because this is essentially the opposite of cosiness! As such, invoke Hygge with pillows, throws, low-level seating and accent tables to make sure everyone gets a little piece of Hygge.



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Private Space

Hygge means enjoying the environment around you, especially your home. Your home needs to be your sanctuary rather than something designed in a way that does not connect with you. It is hard to disconnect from work (and social media!), but coming home should be an escape of sorts where you can leave the troubles of the world behind and just feel truly yourself. Each room should feel special and make you feel comfortable. We suggest using a unified stylistic and colour theme through your home if you’ve identified one that works best for you. Avoid being too trend-driven, because trends and tastes change, which may leave you feeling dissatisfied with a room you once enjoyed the most. This is where Scandinavian design emerges from - classic silhouettes, clean lines and lots of white.



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