Getting Hygge
As the last of the summer sun shines have you reached that point in the year where you are psychologically and physically preparing yourself for the autumn and winter months ahead? Then it's time to get hygge! It's actually pronounced "hue-gah" in case, like me, you had Will Smith in your head 'gettin jiggy'! And believe me, you'll hear the word a lot in the coming months as hygge will be biggie - sorry, I'll stop that now. Hue-gah, hue-gah, hue-gah.
If you're looking forward to warm cosy evenings, eating good food with people you love in comfortable surroundings, on chairs and sofas that hug you, in rooms of colours that calm and relax you - then you've already started getting hygge!
Hygge is a Danish word with no direct translation into English, it is more of a feeling and is intrinsic to Danish life as it is one of their most commonly used words. It loosely means cosiness, however, there is more to it which encompasses enjoying life, creating a feeling of wellbeing and removing obstacles and intrusions that make you uncomfortable. It actually seems to permeate the Danish psyche quite deeply and it has been suggested that hygge is the real reason Denmark is constantly ranked as one of the happiest countries to live in.
Along with so many other Scandi influences, hygge looks like something I'd quite happily devote my time to and if you feel the same then I suggest you head to your local bookshop and sift through some of the numerous books that have recently been released on the subject for some inspiration.
Probably the most informed is 'The Little Book of Hygge' which was written by Meik Wiking who actually happens to be the chief executive of Copenhagen's Happiness Research Institute who has thoroughly researched the idea, it's implications and effects.
However, the one that got me was 'The Book of Hygge: The Danish Art of Living Well' by Louisa Thomsen Brits which is a cute little hardback with a gorgeous cover and it addresses more of the philosophy behind hygge and how it can and should be applied to your daily life by being mindful and conscious of your own comfort and happiness and that of others too.
The initial concept of this blog post was to introduce you to hygge and suggest a selection of homewares to help attain the ultimate hygge setting, what with this being an interiors blog and all! However, as I have learnt, that's not what it's really about - it's not something you buy, it's something you feel.
So however you decide to incorporate a bit of hygge in your life - whether it is actually putting on a bit of Will Smith and doing the Carlton dance or even actually getting jiggy, putting on your most comfy socks or just staring out of the window - remember to take a bit of time for yourself and your friends and family and embrace the coming months - and all those that follow!