With Perth’s rough winter and rising living costs, many of us are spending more time at home. If yours feels a little lacking, let me introduce you to the Danish concept of hygge (pronounced hyoo-guh) and how to bring it into your space.

“Despite enduring long, dark winters with barely seven hours of daylight, Denmark consistently ranks among the world’s happiest countries. While a strong social support system plays a major role, much of their contentment also stems from hygge—the cherished tradition of creating warmth and comfort through simple pleasures, often shared with family and friends.”

Vogue Scandinavia // Photo Tine Andrea Lauvli

DANISH HOMES ARE WARM BUT NOT STUFFY

Australian homes are notoriously draughty and our bathrooms frigid atmospheres are well known. Those beautiful large windows that let the light in in Summer leak cold now. Use block out curtains to make your room more cosy, you will be surprised how much insulation they provide. Opening and closing them is also a nice routine to mark the morning and evening rhythm. Bring in extra layers of textiles for Winter - a fluffy bathmat (or two, so you can always have a dry one), a throw for each armchair and sofa and some big soft cushions to cuddle up to. I have also been known to have a knee rug when working at my home office desk!

VISITING THE CARL HANSEN SHOWROOM, COPENHAGEN

ADD LAYERS OF LIGHTING

Lighting has a powerful impact on mood, especially when we’re used to abundant sunshine. Too much brightness can feel as flat as gloom, so the key is creating pools of light with table and floor lamps—a hallmark of Scandinavian design. A newer trend is small, USB-rechargeable lamps that mimic candlelight, which can be placed anywhere. I keep several around my home, including a wall-mounted one that gives our bathroom a soft glow in the mornings and evenings.

Vogue Scandinavia // Photo Frida Ahlvarsson

EMBRACE INDOOR PURSUITS

Australians are famously outdoorsy - we’re not used to embracing long periods indoors. Danes on the other hand have a long crafting tradition of woodwork, ceramics and textiles. I saw sewing shops filled with people when I visited and of course, they invented Lego!

A jigsaw left out on a table to be slowly pieced together, a special playlist on your speaker (I have a ‘get up and go’ and a ‘nightwatch’) or a rotating pile of books on your coffee table are all simple ways to embrace a cosy indoor rythmn. A few minutes lighting a candle, arranging a throw rug over a sofa and plumping up cushions not only beautifies your home but says “I’m here and ready for good times to happen”

BRINGING NATURE INDOORS

It’s easy when you can open the sliding doors to the Alfresco but how do Danes do this in Winter? From foraging in the forest for natural Christmas decorations to having elegant watering cans for their indoor plants, Hygge always includes nature. A pair of secateurs should be in every home - a green sprig or two on your kitchen bench or bedside can be cheering when yo u leave and come home from work in the dark. “Don’t overlook natural wood accents—chopping boards in the kitchen or wooden platters on the table instantly bring warmth and a welcoming touch, especially in Winter.”

Normann Copenhagen Furniture Showroom / Copenhagen

SAVE UP FOR QUALITY FURNITURE

It goes without saying that it’s hard to be cosy on a lumpy sofa. It also contributes to a room’s atmosphere to have good design for the eye to travel over.

Danes will always invest in a few pieces of their country’s Designer’s furniture, with the emphasis being on ‘less stuff’ but better quality and they also have a thriving vintage furniture market.

In Australia, the simple but well designed IKEA furniture is a good start (I’m addicted to their Stockholm higher end range) but by saving up for higher quality furniture to bring into your home, you’ll be forced to consider your purchases well, make your home less cluttered which makes for a more welcoming, less stuffy atmosphere.

Unless of course, you are a Maximalist. We’ll save that for a future post.

Stockholm Furniture at Ikea

Adela