We share simple and effective tricks that will help you get closer to hygge and create Scandinavian comfort in a city apartment.
The word “hygge” does not have a literal translation. In Denmark, this is the name given to the art of creating comfort that brings happiness. According to the hygge philosophy, the smallest daily pleasures can make a person happy: a beautifully served dinner, delicious coffee, or a fluffy carpet in the living room. Not surprisingly, the Danes consistently top the list of the happiest people in the world, despite the harsh climate and lack of sunlight.
Danish hygge has become one of the trends in the world of interior design. Its basis is the traditional Scandinavian style, combining simplicity, naturalness, and functionality. We talk about how to organize a comfortable and stylish space, following the principles of the fashionable Danish concept of cozy living.
1. Light shades
The Nordic interior is very warm and light. Therefore, when creating it, it is important to stick to a neutral color palette. White color and its shades are the basis of the Scandinavian style. They are used for finishing walls, ceilings, floors, and furniture. In addition, the white color allows you to visually increase the space of the room and reflects the greatest amount of daylight. This is especially valuable in conditions of sun deficiency.
To avoid boring “hospital” associations, white is usually diluted with warm light tones and a couple of color accents in the furniture. It can be bright knitted pillows or a pouffe with original upholstery. In addition to white, the background can be different shades of beige, gray, ash, pearl, powdery pink, light green, sky blue, and light brown.
2. Eco-friendly materials
The Scandinavian style is loved for its environmental friendliness. Its main requirement for materials is naturalness. Natural colors and textures make a hygge interior truly homely and bring it closer to nature. For decoration, it is preferable to use leather, metal, ceramics, brick, natural stones, and glass. Another key element of the Danish interior is wood. Most often these are light species: poplar, ash, maple, beech, and birch. Instead of natural wood, you can use high-quality imitations with pronounced natural wood relief. For example, laminate. Adding rich, rough texture to your interior is an easy way to make the minimalist Scandinavian design more interesting. The central element of the hygge interior is a wood-burning stove or a fireplace made of natural stone.
3. Discreet decor
When choosing decorations for the home, the Danes are guided not by trends, but by their own feelings. Simplicity and restraint are the main features of the Danish style. You don’t need to overload a hygge interior to make it cozy. The decor should be discreet and stylish at the same time. It will blend harmoniously with the surroundings and at the same time remain noticeable. The Danes pay special attention to the design of the kitchen and living room, where family members get together. Books, records, minimalist round hanging mirrors, old framed photographs, vintage ceramics, and teapots decorated with knitted heating pads are suitable for decorating these areas. In the bathroom, you can put natural handmade soap and put wicker laundry baskets. Live plants in pots will help to refresh and complement the interior of any room.
4. Abundance of lamps and candles
Due to the lack of sun in the Scandinavian interior, rich artificial lighting is welcome. Pay attention to lamps with vintage lampshades or frosted shades, and chandeliers with light directed upwards. In a Danish interior, sconces, spotlights, floor lamps, lanterns and flickering garlands that scatter soft, subdued light will be appropriate. The latter can be used to decorate window openings. At the same time, it is very important to carefully consider the location of light sources in order to prevent aggressive lighting. Candles are very popular among the Danes, especially simple white ones – cylindrical and odorless. According to the European Candle Association, every Danish citizen burns an average of 6 kg of candle wax every year. Today it is the highest rate in the world.
5. Simple wooden furniture
The main idea of Danish hygge in the interior is to create a clean, uncluttered space that will help you relax. When choosing furniture, first of all, pay attention to its practicality, functionality, and aesthetics. It is best if it is handmade furniture without catchy decor and bright details. A real must-have for a hygge interior is a spacious upholstered sofa and a wooden dining table with a minimalist design. In a small living room, small wooden birdhouses, light coffee tables, and open shelves for storing small items will be appropriate. Built-in niches and shelving are another common Nordic-style trend. They facilitate the organization of space and help to hide items that do not fit into the interior. For example, household appliances.
6. Panoramic windows and air tulle
In Danish homes, where hygge is valued, large panoramic wooden windows are installed. They help to extract the maximum amount of daylight, which is so lacking in the cold climate of the Scandinavian countries. Most often, the windows are painted to match the floor and decorated with light cotton curtains. Instead, you can use bamboo or paper blinds, airy tulle, thin organza curtains, or Roman blinds. Choose a print that resonates with pillows or carpets. So the interior will look more holistic and harmonious. The Danes emphasize natural light, so heavy and dense curtains are not suitable for a Scandinavian-style apartment. Many adherents of the hygge philosophy even leave the windows “naked” so that the sun can better penetrate into the home. And on wide window sills they arrange “hygge krog” – cozy corners for reading and relaxing.
7. Pleasant to the touch fabrics
In the Danish interior, everything is subordinated to the creation of home warmth and comfort. Therefore, hygge style is characterized by an abundance of decorative pillows, fluffy rugs, tablecloths made of cotton and linen, and textured woolen blankets. At the same time, it is important that the textiles are natural, pleasant to the touch, and not too bright. For decor, geometric abstract prints are most often used: various zigzags, triangles, rhombuses, stripes, broken lines, and traditional Scandinavian ornaments on a neutral background. Layering is another feature of hygge style. Don’t be afraid to layer your bedding: pair linen sheets and wool duvets with a collection of pillows in different sizes and shapes. Properly selected textiles are the final touch to create comfort according to the Danish recipe.
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