A Hygge Kitchen is where cozy begins. A hyggelig kitchen (hygge applied to everyday objects) will make you want to cook, bake, or serve tea to your friends and family. It’s not about the space you have but rather the feeling of warmth that a cozy kitchen evokes.
How to Create a Hygge Kitchen
If you’re looking for more ideas on adding hygge to your life, Hygge Home Decor: 31 Ways to Make it Cozy and Hygge Family Dinner Traditions will help you on your journey.
Creating a hygge kitchen isn’t just about decorating; it’s about creating a feeling of coziness that gives everyone who enters a sense of being cared for and nourished.
Think of it as making a space feel like a giant hug whenever you enter the room. The cozy kitchen can be both beautiful and functional.
A hygge kitchen design is popular because it allows you to create an inviting space that reflects your tastes and interests.
You’ll design a room that is part of your happy memories, culinary genius, and simple pleasures.
Making a house a home takes time. You won’t be able to transform your hygge kitchen into the vision you have overnight, and the good news is that’s okay.
Step-by-step, you’ll get there. To help you get started, I put together a list of ideas to make your kitchen a room you will come to love.
The easiest way to transform your space is by cleaning and organizing your kitchen from top to bottom.
How to Add Hygge to Your Cleaning Routine and 21 Secrets of a Tidy Home will help you get started.
To organize your kitchen, 6 Quick Kitchen Organizing Ideas is an easy way to begin clearing the clutter.
What is Hygge?
Meik Wiking from the Little Book of Hygge defines hygge as:
“Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down. You may be having an endless conversation about the small or big things in life – or just be comfortable in each other’s silent company – or simply just be by yourself enjoying a cup of tea.”
Meik Wiking
In recent years, hygge has become a trend that has transformed into a lifestyle.
Hygge Style Design
Creating a kitchen with the feeling of hygge is done with the heart. You don’t have to have all the bells and whistles of a modern kitchen to design the perfect kitchen.
Alice Waters is one of the most famous chefs in the world. She was the driving force behind the farm-to-table movement. I saw a show where she gave the viewers a tour of her kitchen. Alice showed her most essential kitchen items. Not one item she showed was fancy.
Waters shows that just the essential equipment and a passion for making food will transform your kitchen and food into amazing, memorable experiences. She’s a chef who embodies the hygge philosophy of life.
Scandinavian Style Kitchens
The most significant difference between a traditional style of kitchen and a Scandinavian one is its interior design.
In a Scandinavian kitchen, all the appliances are hidden inside cupboards to keep the space clean and minimalist. Their kitchens have moveable furniture to store their wares.
There is usually a big island in the center of the room with a few stools around it so people can sit and eat together.
Marrying the Scandinavian design with American style is a winning formula.
Creating a Cozy Life Group
Since you found this article on How to Create a Hygge Kitchen, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 190,000 like-minded souls.
It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, the Scandinavian way of life, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. You can join the virtual cozy cottage here.
1. Do You
I don’t know about you, but my favorite decorated rooms are the ones that create a coziness that leaps off the page and that are unique. You can tell a lot about the family that lives there just with one glance.
Your hygge kitchen doesn’t have to be large to be amazing. Sometimes, the smaller kitchens are the ones that have the most character.
As you make the kitchen of your dreams, remember the most essential element that should go into planning it. That means Do You.
Infuse your personality into every part of your home.
I wrote a statement in my Creating a Cozy Home post, and it rings true for every room of your house, especially your kitchen. “Trends come and go, but cozy is forever.”
Once you decide what your style is for your kitchen, it’s time to start shopping!
There are many different places to find kitchen decor, including thrift stores, antique shops, flea markets, department stores, and online.
2. Window Sill Herbs
I was watching a Masterclass with Gordon Ramsey, and he said something that struck a chord with me. He mentioned the importance of always having fresh herbs in the kitchen year-round. Ramsey has potted herbs in his restaurant kitchens and his home kitchen.
Fresh herbs were one of the most essential cooking elements; he said no great chef would be without them.
If herbs are that vital to chefs worldwide, they should be essential for us, too.
As a bonus, they look so cute in window sills if you have them. You can have your mini herb garden on your counter if you don’t. Fresh herbs are the easiest way to add flavor to your food.
The scent of herbs is a wonderful aroma in your hygge kitchen. I like having little rosemary bushes shaped like trees throughout my house during Christmas, especially in the kitchen.
3. Natural Light
If you have windows in your kitchen, consider it a blessing.
Lighting is an important element of functionality and design that shouldn’t be overlooked.
I had recessed lighting added to my kitchen, which made a big difference in how it looked. It’s excellent lighting for cooking and was an expense that I’m happy I made.
Small lamps give a cozy glow in kitchens. Leaving a small lighted lamp in the kitchen gives off enough illumination for late-night snackers or simply quenching your thirst a little bit easier.
I’m a big fan of weathered vintage lighting. I have toleware lamps throughout my home.
In the winter months, I put flickering electric candles in the front windows on timers in my kitchen to light the way home.
You can also place white fairy lights around your windows for a cozy feel.
Dining by candlelight is a lost art that would enhance the ambiance of any meal they grace. I love beeswax tapers for my dining table.
4. An Organized Pantry
Food is what nourishes us. I’ve always found it interesting that something so important is usually tucked away behind closed doors.
One of my favorite decor ideas for a hygge kitchen is to display some of our favorite pantry staples where everyone can see them.
I have a section of my kitchen to display my collection of antique Mason jars filled with pantry staples, small canisters of dried herbs, glass jars with flour and sugar, and even a mortar and pestle.
Under my potbelly table, where the pantry items sit on display, I have three antique wood boxes that hold my potatoes, squash, and fruit. An old silver colander is home to my variety of onions and garlic.
If you can jam and jelly, they make an excellent display on open shelving for a homespun touch.
Displaying your pantry staples is a sure way to cozy up your kitchen with little effort. She’s a chef who embodies the hygge philosophy of life.
5. Display your Tableware
Your tableware can also do double-duty in your hygge kitchen. Displaying your favorite pieces on a cabinet, bookshelf, or hanging shelves allows them to be seen more than just at mealtime.
Soup tureens, platters, plates, bowls, and other serving pieces make beautiful home decor when shown on open shelving. As a bonus, they are easy to use in your next meal.
I’ve been collecting vintage dishes for years, and I love to rotate the display from time to time for interest.
6. Warm Patina
Mixing old items with new gives a hygge kitchen character.
I love adding time-worn patina items to my kitchen. Copper pots, pans, utensils, and tea kettles are just some things you can add to give your kitchen style and warmth.
Hanging your cooking utensils from a shelf is handy by having them right where you need them and adding style to your kitchen.
Other hygge kitchen items with great patina are vintage scales, old silver pieces, and time-worn furniture are just some ideas to try.
7. Changing Accessories
One of the easiest (and cheapest ways) to update your kitchen is changing the kitchen cupboard accessories.
Swap out old knobs and pulls for new ones in a different finish or style.
I love a designer who had her husband make drawer pulls out of antique spoons and forks.
You don’t have to spend much money on this project, but it can make your hygge kitchen stand out.
8. Family Memories
Your hygge kitchen is the perfect place to showcase family heirlooms. Food is a big part of our heritage, and displaying items from the past is a great way to acknowledge that legacy.
One of my friends had her grandmother’s handwritten recipe card professionally framed, and it’s now her favorite thing in her kitchen.
Another idea is to hang a vintage apron instead of a curtain in a small kitchen window. Antique molds look amazing when hung on the walls.
Vintage cookbooks handed down from family members make a perfect cozy display in your hygge kitchen.
I have an old picture of my grandfather and me eating a piece of chocolate cake at the kitchen table. (I was stealing his piece of chocolate cake and he was laughing at me crawling across the table.)
Infuse your kitchen with happy memories that touch you with the past.
9. Coffee/Tea/Hot Cocoa Station
Whether your choice of drink is coffee, tea, or cocoa – having a hot beverage station set up is the perfect way to have easy access to making your favorite beverages fast.
I like to keep all my small appliances tucked behind cupboard doors. My hot drink station is the exception to this rule.
Grabbing a mug of coffee quickly outweighs the room it takes up on the kitchen counter.
While I used to be a coffee lover, I finally switched to tea. I have jars of my favorite tea blends (like my bedtime tea recipe) on my cabinet and my electric kettle standing by, ready to be used. (If you don’t have an electric tea kettle, you don’t know what you’ve been missing!)
I also use my mortar and pestle on my potbelly table to make my Cold Remedy tea daily.
A hot cocoa station can be a seasonal change to your kitchen and even be a holiday-themed focal point during Christmas.
A cup of hot chocolate after a day of snow fort building will warm tummies and make the day even more special.
Hot cocoa add-ins like peppermint sticks, candy canes, marshmallows, sprinkles, caramel sauce, chocolate chips, and whipped cream in the refrigerator standing by are just some of the ideas to use in creating your station.
10. Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers don’t have to be expensive to significantly impact decorating your home.
After the initial investment of plants for my yard years ago, my little flower bouquets have yet to cost me a penny.
I think little jars or glasses dotted throughout the kitchen filled with flowers and herbs are as beautiful as a bouquet of roses.
Rosemary and sage are my favorite herbs in my little bouquets, and I add just a touch of color with a few flowers.
11. Natural Materials
Wood is the perfect warm accent for your cozy kitchen. On my counter, I have a crock filled with wooden spoons that I cook with and cutting boards layered leaning against the backsplash.
If you have a smaller hygge kitchen, a noodle board is the perfect wooden piece that will give you extra space and look great at the same time.
A rustic wood table and chairs with a bowl of fresh fruit as the centerpiece in your dining room is a simple, yet beautiful place to serve your hygge dinner.
Using natural stone or brick in the backsplash of your kitchens are both great natural elements that have a significant impact on warming a room.
Natural textures bring the outdoors inside and give us a sense of peace.
12. Cozy Rugs
A rug or two in a hygge kitchen adds a layered feel as you experience in your living room. Rugs also can tie the colors of the kitchen together.
There are lots of options for the perfect rug to match your hygge decor:
- Woven natural fiber rugs
- Rag rugs
- Turkish rugs
- Anti-Fatigue kitchen rugs
- Hand-painted rugs
13. Stocked Kitchen Refrigerator
Cooking meals, day after day, can make a kitchen feel less than hygge. For advice on this topic, I went straight to famous chefs who give their best tips for making great food quickly.
One chef said he always has the ingredients to make gourmet quesadillas or tacos in just a few moments for guests who randomly stop by.
He makes quick-pickled vegetables every week and has them standing by in the refrigerator to elevate meals with this homemade touch. Every summer, he also cans homemade salsa that he can serve all winter long.
My quick pickled red onions are a huge hit for readers, and I always have them in my refrigerator because of this idea.
How about quick bread and butter zucchini pickles? They are great for sandwiches or hamburgers.
Making homemade compound butter, simple syrups, jams, and other condiments brings your cooking to another level. Sometimes, it’s the little things that have the most significant impact.
I used to hate to cook, but now I’ve developed a passion for finding the right combination of ingredients that turn a meal into a magical experience.
Looking for fresh ingredients at farmer’s markets takes any dish to another level. Knowing you’re supporting a small business makes you feel warm and cozy inside.
If you challenge yourself to create meals that your family will love, you’ll find a passion for cooking you never imagined happening.
We’ve reached the end of How to Create a Hygge Kitchen. I hope you enjoyed it!
Let me know if you tried any of these hygge kitchen ideas and what your favorite ones were.
Don’t forget to join the Cozy Life Group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is!
I created a pin below for you to add to your home decor Pinterest board.
You can also follow me here on PINTEREST.
Thanks for stopping by! I’m so happy you found us.
More Hygge Posts to Enjoy!
- How to Make a Backyard Hygge Garden
- How to Hygge: 31 of the Best Cozy Ideas
- What is Hygge? The Popular Danish Lifestyle Decoded
- 41 Hygge Books to Inspire a Cozy Life
- How to Create a Hygge Bathroom – LOTS OF IDEAS!
- How to Create a Hygge Bedroom You’ll Never Want to Leave!
- Creating a Hygge Living Room You’ll Love!
- The Best English Cottage Living Room Decor Ideas
- 20 Ways to Create a French Country Kitchen
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Kathy
Thursday 16th of June 2022
Very interesting
Kelly
Thursday 16th of June 2022
Thank you so much Kathy! I appreciate the feedback. Kelly
sany
Thursday 9th of June 2022
Hygge is a Danish word that means “cozy” or “warmth”. In this video we go over how to create a hygge kitchen. We talk about some of the things that make a kitchen hygge, such as candles, scented oils, cozy rugs, warm colors, and lots of natural light. I show you a few of my favorite recipes that are perfect for creating a hygge !
Zbigniew
Thursday 5th of May 2022
Brawo