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Is there anything nicer than cosying up on a comfy sofa in front of a fire? If you have a steaming hot drink, snacks, and some loved ones, my answer would be “no”. Hygge has been a buzz word for years now, but in our house it’s not a trend, it’s a way of life! Every autumn, I Hygge up my home and now I’ll show you how to Hygge your home for autumn and winter too.
As the nights draw in and thoughts turn to Christmas, I start obsessing about making our home a cosy, comfortable and relaxing Hygge home. My ultimate goal is to a make it too good to go out! Follow my Five Steps to Hygge your Home and get ready to feel comfort like never before.
How To Create a Hygge Home
If you want to know how create a Hygge haven, you need know what Hygge is all about. Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish word used to acknowledge a special feeling or moment. It can be alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary, but is always cosy, charming or special. My interpretation means it’s about comforting all of your senses.
Hygge Haven Step 1: Sight
To create my version of a Hygge haven, you have to get the light right. Candles are perfect, especially if they are scented. I always choose soywax candles instead of paraffin ones a they don’t have potentially toxic fumes.
Every Hygge Home Needs A Sofa, Big Enough For The Whole Family to Snuggle Up
A stylish yet comfy sofa is the basis for our Hygge haven – ours is the French Connection Zinc four seater sofa in Charcoal Combination.
This is our list of new sofa essentials. It has to be:
- Stylish, and complement our vintage Ercol suite and Scandinavian-inspired decor.
- Long enough for Ryan to lie down on.
- Super comfortable.
- Practical for living with kids.
My husband was keen on a corner sofa, but our lounge has two doors, a bay window, French doors, plus radiators and book cases on all but one wall. I also prefer the look of a normal sofa. So to compromise, we bought the Zinc large footstool to match our sofa, and now we can really lay back and get comfy. It also makes great additional seating when we have guests.
Hygge Haven Step 2: Touch
The second sense is touch – I’m talking cosy, soft, tactile fabrics from head to toe!
Comfy PJs (twinning is optional, but highly recommended)
Once I get in from work or the school run, it’s a mad dash to get my pyjamas on. Ava and Thea are delighted that we match in our Matalan Get Spotted PJs, which are in aid of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
A Cosy Blanket (Or Two. Or Three) Is a Hygge Home Essential
If you feel the cold, or live in a draughty house, a pile of blankets is a must if you want to Hygge your house. I have three, including this throw I arm knitted myself at a workshop. It’s super cosy.
Want to know how to make your own easy draught excluder? I’ll show you how!
Hygge Haven Step 3: Taste
Next comes the sense of taste – because it’s all about the indulgent refreshments, right? Popcorn is one of our favourite snacks. I also love that it can just be swept up, so ideal if you have kids!
I have taken it upon myself to try lots of hot chocolates, so I can recommend the finest one (you’re welcome!). It is by Charbonnel et Walker, and is delicious and super-chocolately. I recommend adding a pinch of nutmeg, and some marshmallows for the ultimate in indulgence.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – hot chocolate + kids + a new sofa could well = disaster. Well, we added fabric care to our order, for peace of mind. Should anything be spilled on the sofa, we are covered! ย It’s a no brainer really. I don’t want it to end up like our old rug, which had two shades of luminous marker, fresh raspberry, mud, biro and neon pink playdoh.
Hygge Haven Step 4: Scent
Now we’ll already have the delicious smell of freshly popped corn, decadent hot chocolate, and the scented candle, but to really ramp up the Hygge feels, I recommend some lovely natural scents. I love both the look and smell of eucalyptus, so I made some simple wreaths to decorate the wall. They smell amazing, and bring a touch of nature into our home.
Hygge Haven Step 5: Sound
All of this Hygge loveliness wouldn’t be the same without some family-friendly escapist entertainment! We’ve chosen ‘Enchanted’. The girls get a princess, I get Patrick Dempsey. They sing, they dance, there’s a happy ending. Perfect. Ryan isn’t quite as keen as us…
For me, creating a Hygge home is about comfort, joy, cosiness and my family. That really does make it too good to go out! What does it mean to you?
I hope you’ve been inspired to Hygge your home this autumn and winter – please Pin my guide to share the information.
Aaah it looks fab Becky โ LOVE the half pink wall. GORGEOUS. It looks sensational against the grey sofa. I wrote about Hygge not so long ago โ it’s funny that we Brits have embraced a culture from the Danes, even though we’re really good at the whole ‘cosying up at home’ thing ourselves! ๐ As I’m writing this, it’s snowing, and the boys are all cosied up with blankets on our sofa, watching a film. So nice!! ๐ xx #HomeEtc
Ah that sounds so lovely Caro, we have been doing that too, love it! xx
It all looks so cozy we love cozy night by the fire too, i looks forward to cozy evening so much and love Sunday mornings snuggled by the fire x
Do you know, we never put our fire on in the morning, only afternoon/evening. We totally have to try that, thanks for the idea! xx
I really like this DFS sofa,. I love the retro style. I agree with how it’s important to consider all the senses to create an overall experience! It’s not just about the sight with interiors. Touch, taste, smell and sound all add to the mood and atmosphere of a room and it looks like you have pulled it off really well to create a hygge home!
Thanks so much for popping over Natalie – I’m so pleased you like what we’ve created xx
That sofa looks amazing and PERFECT for snuggling on! Iโm definitely a candle person for getting my Hygge spirit on, in fact, a candle, a comfy sofa and a soft throw is my idea of heaven on a night in!
The sofa is so comfy, I never want to leave it! I’m sitting on it right now, in fact! Thanks for popping by xx
Oh how lovely – your living room looks super cosy and warm x
Thanks Sam, it really is so snug, I love it!xx
Your home is beautiful Becky! Definitely a hygge haven. I’m 100% in agreement about making staying in better than going out – I’m lucky I have a sociable better half or there’s a real risk I’d become a hermit haha x
He he I’m the same Rosanna – I have recently joined a gym and now I just don’t want to go! xx
I love a cosy home to come back to after a day out with the kids. Yours looks so comforting and very hygge! It looks fab! ๐ x
Thanks so much Jenny, I agree there’s nothing nicer than when you’ve been out in the cold and you come home and get all snug. Blissful!xx
I love it all but especially the matching PJ’s, such lovely pictures and home ๐ You need some of my cushions ๐ x
Thanks so much Danielle, I think your blush pink palm cushions would go perfectly! xx
Some people stop at candles and blankets. But you look at it from a holistic point of view. Your lounge looks so cosy I feel I have to watch Enchanted now!
Thanks Juan, I think it’s important not to neglect any senses! I hope you like Enchanted, it’s fun!
Echoing Boo & Maddie, I really cannot even handle going out at the moment, hybernating is top on my priority list :))) Super looking sofa by the way and PJs!
Thanks so much Jenny, we love it, it’s so comfy! xx
I am literally obsessed with hibernating at the moment, if it weren’t for work and blogging events I’d probably not leave the house at all. beautiful styling Becky X
Thanks so much Lins, I had such fun making our room so cosy, I never want to go to bed now though! xx
A lovely sofa choice. Looks super comfy. I love the decorations too.
Thanks it is so comfy, we are really pleased with it xx
โค๏ธ Love it! Canโt wait to come round to try out the sofa and get hygge!
Thanks Becky come over in the week and I’ll get the hot choc on xx
Perfect tips for hygge. ‘Touch’ is hardly ever spoken about and is so important. ๐
Thank you, I think ‘touch’ can be over looked, but for me, having scratchy fabrics or being cold would totally ruin it! xx
Nothing beats being cosy! And great compromise on the corner sofa, I think what youโve gone for looks great x
Thanks so much Bethany, we are really pleased with it – the only problem is we don’t want to go up to bed now as we are too comfy! xx