How to Hygge: 31 of the BEST COZY Ideas

31 Ways to Add Hygge to Your Life will give you some ideas on how to join the cozy revolution and let you live the life your soul craves. Meik Wiking described the lifestyle as focusing on atmosphere and an experience rather than things. Something as simple as playing board games next to a relaxing fire can change your outlook on life.

If you’re looking for a better description of the word hygge, I wrote a more in-depth article What is Hygge? The Popular Danish Lifestyle Decoded that will help you understand the concept better.

Where did Hygge originate?

The word hygge was originally a Norwegian word. Its translation loosely meant well-being. The Danish adopted the word as their own, embodying the cozy lifestyle. The United States has embraced the Danish concept of hygge with open arms.

What is Hygge?

Hygge cannot be summarized in just a word or even a sentence. It’s a Danish word that is credited for making Denmark one of the happiest countries on earth. The best way I can describe it is an outlook on life that focuses on simple pleasures and taking the time to cultivate more of them in your life.

It’s when you give your body, mind, and spirit rest. You learn to enjoy the good things in life, like a sunrise or sunset, reading a book before a crackling fire, taking the time to savor a delicious mug of gourmet tea, and spending time with friends and family in a comfortable setting.

Meik Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute and author of The Little Book of Hygge, describes hygge this way:

“Hygge has been called everything from the “art of creating intimacy, “coziness of the soul,” and “the absence of annoyance,” to “taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things, “cozy togetherness,” and my personal favorite, “cocoa by candlelight.”

The Oxford English Dictionary says that hygge is, “The quality of being warm and comfortable that gives a feeling of happiness.”

The Danish art of happiness is creating a better quality of life by enjoying the simple things in the world. Scandinavian countries achieve this by realizing what truly makes a person happy.

What is a Hygge Lifestyle? 

Instead of living your life on autopilot, hygge makes sure you live your life in a way that brings deep contentment to your soul.

Sometimes the outer things in life (money, power, achievements) aren’t the things that will make us happy. A hygge life encourages us to look at what truly brings us joy and ensure we include those things in our days.

How do you pronounce Hygge?

Creating a Cozy Life Group

Since you found this article on the hygge lifestyle, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group, Creating a Cozy Life with over 121,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on making your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

Here are the 31 Ways to Add Hygge to Your Life:

1. Home Decor

Making your home a comfortable retreat from the world is one of the best ways to add hygge to your life.

Chasing after the latest design trend is never a good idea. What makes a home stand out is its level of coziness.

We’ve all been in homes that were lovingly decorated by the family that lived in them. There’s a cozy feeling that overtakes you the moment you walk into the front door and you know that happy living is taking place.

You don’t have to spend much money or time on making your home more comfortable. I’ve been decorating my new home on a shoestring budget. Looking for the right things to add to the warmth of your home is part of the fun.

Creating a cozy nook for yourself is the perfect way to get started. Adding a soft blanket to your favorite chair in the living room is another simple touch that creates a hygge environment.

31 Tips for Cozy Home Decor will help you get started transforming your home into a haven.

How to Create a Hygge Kitchen You’ll Love! will give you some ideas on making the heart of the home into a cozy place to be.

Creating a Hygge Bathroom – LOTS OF IDEAS! will help you turn your bath area into a home spa.

How to Create a Hygge Bedroom You’ll Never Want to Leave will give you the inspiration to make your own little oasis from the world.

Creating a Hygge Living Room You’ll Love for both family and friends to gather.

2. Hygge Garden 

A beautiful garden is another idea for creating a life you love. Whether you want to grow flowers, vegetables, or herbs – even the smallest spaces can be transformed into a relaxing place to soak up some nature.

I recently saw a photo of a small alley-sized space that was transformed into the most amazing garden. Boxwood hedges along the edges, flowering vines on the wall, a water fountain, and a brick pathway turned an eyesore into a place the owners dined outside whenever the weather allowed.

If you’re looking for ideas on how to add coziness to your garden, you can find more tips here.

3. Delicious Meals 

How many of us rush through our days and eat something we threw together without much thought?

Changing how I look at meals was one of my favorite hygge ideas. Food is a celebration.

One of my favorite cookbook writers is Alice Waters. She’s one of the pioneers of the slow-food movement.

Her passion for food is contagious. She favors simple recipes using in-season ingredients.

Alice’s teachings show you don’t have to have a champagne budget to make you and your family good food. You can take humble beans to a different level with adding fresh herbs.

Imagine the smell of bacon sizzling in a cast-iron skillet and fluffy apple German pancakes ready to be served with real maple syrup. Cooking food from scratch is a way to add richness to your life using all your senses.

4. Intimate Family Dinners

Dinner is a necessary time for families to reconnect after a busy day.

Adding traditions to your nightly routine will create lasting memories that will echo through the generations. Dining by candlelight, going to the farmers market for ingredients in your meal, and creating themed meals are just some of the ideas you’ll find in the family dinner tradition post here.

5. Cozy Movies  

Finding hygge movies to watch is the perfect way to add coziness to your life. You want to see films that leave you feeling good after the movie rolls the credits.

Trying to find the perfect movie is a topic that’s brought up a lot in the Creating a Cozy Life Group.

I compiled a list of the members’ suggestions for their favorite movies in another post. Best Hygge Movies to Watch will give you some ideas for a perfect evening at home.

6. Morning Rituals 

How we start our days can influence how the rest of the day will go. If you don’t put morning routines in place, we can start every day with stress that our bodies carry throughout the hours ahead.

Why not give ourselves space in the early hours to start traditions to help us deliver our best to our family, friends, and job?

Finding the perfect morning routines is easy with these tips.

Just pick one idea until it becomes a habit. Then you can move on to adding more.

7. Evening Routines

Our days can get away from us, and we stumbled into bed, exhausted by the slings and arrows we encounter throughout the day. Setting up our routines can help insulate us from the busyness of life and help nourish our souls.

Evenings are when we can practice mindfulness and set a more calming tone to ensure a good night’s sleep.

Hygge Bedtime Rituals to Try Tonight will give you some ideas on transforming bedtime into one you look forward to at the end of the day.

8. Self Care 

How often have we been told to make room in our schedule to take care of ourselves, only to end up putting ourselves last on a never-ending to-do list?

More times than we can count, I’m guessing.

The idea of hygge embraces nourishing our family, friends, and ourselves. You want to be the best version of yourself, and self-care is the road that will get you there.

If you’re looking for ideas for getting started, you can find some on Hygge Ideas on Ultimate Self Care.

How to Hygge When You’re Sick will help give you some ideas on how to take care of yourself when you’re feeling under the weather.

9. Hygge Work 

We spend so many of our waking hours at work. Making your work office cozy can be done with just a few changes.

Some of these ideas will also help you with your home office environment.

Adding fairy lights to our desk area, bringing in houseplants or terrariums, creating a drink station, and going outside for a few minutes a day during our lunch hour are some of the ideas you’ll find in this article.

10. Soulful Journaling

Carving out time to write in your journal will help you release bottled-up feelings, recognize repeating patterns in your life, help solve your problems, and get in touch with your dreams.

100+ Hygge Journal Ideas will help get you started and offers prompts to help jump-start your journaling experience.

11. Cozy Hobbies 

Hobbies are a great way to learn new skills, improve your confidence, and they give the downtime your body craves.

There are so many different hobbies to pick from, and deciding which ones you would like to explore is hard. I put together a list of ideas that might help you start a craft or skill that you’ll love. You can find the hobby ideas here.

12. Nature Walks 

Spending time in nature is a hygge habit we could use in our lives. Most of us get a little cranky if we can’t connect with a natural environment.

Whether you take the time for a day hike or just a long walk around your neighborhood, listening to the birds chirping or simply watching leaves fall in autumn can do wonders for our spirit.

A dirt road near my house has all the sights and sounds I love. The forest is alive with animals going about their business, horses munching on grass, and the scent of pine in the air. One walk down that road, and the world is right again.

13. Spending Time with Friends

I read a blog that focuses on saving money. One of the author’s favorite tips is that instead of meeting friends at a restaurant or a bar for drinks, they should take turns having potlucks at each other’s houses.

Each gathering has a theme, and they devise some crazy ideas trying to outdo each other with creativity. A simple evening of playing board games in your living room can become a memorable night.

You don’t even have to meet with your friends to spend quality time with your favorite people. I just called one of my friends to help me brainstorm ideas for a project I’m working on – stoking our creative juices with friends is a beautiful way to connect with others.

14. Cozy Dates  

While dinner and a movie is a great way to spend time with the person you love, there are so many other fun, inexpensive ways to connect.

Spend an evening making a list of things you want to experience and future date ideas.

15. Seasonal Living 

Embracing every season for the gifts it brings is part of the hygge lifestyle.

One of the reasons the hygge lifestyle is so popular is how the movement embraces winter and all the beauty of the season.

Years fly by, but by enjoying the seasonal lifestyle, you live in the moment and notice its blessings.

I created hygge articles showcasing each season to give ideas on seasonal traditions you can add to your daily life.

16. How to Hygge in the Spring

Birds gathering nesting materials, bulb flowers bursting through the soil, newborn animals, and flowering tree branches all come to mind.

Finding ways to celebrate this season and take notice of all the gifts it has to offer is what you’ll find in 31 Spring Ideas to Rejuvenate Your Soul,

17. How to Hygge in the Summer

Summer can be a season where it’s hard to find ways to add hygge to your life when you live in a hot climate. The truth is summer offers an abundance of hygge ideas that your entire family will love.

Old-fashioned festivals, preserving the garden harvest, and watching falling stars are just some of the ideas you’ll find in 31 Summer Ideas to Nurture Yourself,

18. How to Hygge in the Fall

Fall is the time of year when we take out our blankets from the cupboards, add an extra layer to our beds, and soup is bubbling on the stove.

Pumpki-spiced lattes aren’t the only thing to look forward to in this wonderful season. You will find more ideas in 31 Fall Hygge Traditions & Ideas,

19. How to Hygge in the Winter

The winter months are the time to get cozy and nourish ourselves with comforting foods, hot chocolate, peaceful rest, throw blankets, a scented candle, cozy fires that keep the cold winters at bay, and time to enjoy our homes with friends and family.

Finding ways to incorporate hygge to enjoy this season is easy with 31 Winter Hygge Ideas You’ll Love.

20. Hygge Gifts  

Finding the right gift for your family and friends can be a stressful experience. When you decide to look for or make gifts with hygge in mind, you’ll find that gift-giving becomes one of your favorite things to do.

Gifts don’t have to be expensive to touch the recipient’s heart. They will love the thought you put into a gift that reflects their personality and hobbies. I put together a list of the 10 Best Hygge Gifts for Best Friends here.

21. Cozy Books

Books and hygge go together as well as toast and butter. I think that’s one thing that most hygge lovers have in common with each other – they all love a good book!

In the cozy living group, I share pictures of cute homes. The photos that get the most “likes” are the ones with the home libraries. One can never have too many books, in my humble opinion.

If you’re looking for book ideas to put on your reading list, don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. Best Hygge Books to Inspire a Cozy Life will give you some fun new ideas on what to read.

22. Hygge Quotes

Quotes can inspire us to new heights. If you’re looking to improve your quality of coziness, learn from the wisdom of others that already found the pathway to a peaceful and happy life.

31 Hygge Quotes to Change Your Life is the perfect way to find the right words at the right time.

23. Adding Hygge to Cleaning

Not a lot of people love to clean. I think most of us dread this task on our to-do lists. The simple act of finding ways to add hygge to your cleaning routine, can make it more bearable.

I put together a list of ideas in How to Add Hygge to Your Cleaning Routine.

24. Comfortable Clothing

One of the cozy living members brought up a good point in our group about her recent clothing choices. She said that her wardrobe has significantly changed as she has learned to add more hygge to her life.

When you decide to embrace the cozy lifestyle, that idea includes making yourself feel as comfortable as possible. Picking fabrics that are easy to care for and that are comfortable to wear becomes a priority.

There are lots of beautiful clothing items that are easy to care for and are cozy at the same time.

25. Commuting

Long commutes and a relaxed way of life don’t sound like they go together. How to make commuting more bearable is a question I get asked a lot in the group.

I put together some ideas on transforming your commute into a better experience with How to Hygge Your Vehicle.

26. Spending Time with Pets

Our pets are a source of so much joy. Keeping them happy gives us a feeling of contentment.

I love to take my dogs on long walks and watch how they soak in every moment. They show us how much we miss out if we don’t live in the moment.

One of my dogs would go crazy for salmon, so I made a salmon dinner a couple of times a month and slipped her a piece. She would reward me with a “Reilly dance,” wiggling her butt with pure happiness.

27. Hygge Children

Childhood is a magical time that we carry throughout our lives. Adults get to live a second childhood when they get to experience the wonder of the world through their child’s eyes.

Sheet forts, flashlight frog hunting, starry nights, cloud chasing, roasting marshmallows, and rock painting are all things we could use more of in our lives.

28. Holidays

Celebrating the holidays is a tradition we all love. Making an effort to embrace cozy ideas to make the holidays even more remarkable is a great way to use our creativity.

Whether making Irish soda bread on St. Patty’s Day or crafting homemade Valentines are traditions you love to do – giving our holidays a homespun feel is an investment in time that pays off with happy memories.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Hygge New Year Traditions

31 Hygge New Year’s Resolutions

Have Yourself a Hygge Valentine’s Day

Valentine Week – 7 Days of Ideas

Valentine’s Day Bird Seed Ornaments

Simple Thanksgiving Traditions You’ll Love

29. Christmas

When I think of Christmas, what I love most are the holiday traditions that have stood the test of time. Decorating the tree, hanging stockings, playing Christmas music, a crackling fire, making cookies, and building a gingerbread house are just a few of the traditions that warm the heart.

Here are some Christmas ideas for your friends and family to try this year:

Hygge Christmas Ideas to Warm your Soul

21 Hygge Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas

31 Day Hygge Christmas Photo Challenge

30. Nourishing Sundays

We all need a day of rest. There’s a reason why the Bible tells us to make one day of the week sacred. How many of us follow that rule?

It’s time to go back to the basics and reserve one day to enjoy family, friends, and fellowship. Make sure you squeeze some downtime into the day too. Try to stay off social media for the day too.

31. Living Gratefully

Gratefulness is something that will change your life. When we are grateful for the small things in life, we notice how blessed we all are.

Living in today’s world can become a difficult journey unless we stop allowing ourselves to get caught up in the chaos and lean into the good.

Make sure you join our Creating a Cozy Life – Hygge Style Facebook group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is.  Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

Please pin this post below on your cozy living board on Pinterest to refer back to it again for inspiration.

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