We’re about a month out until the first day of Spring which means we need to get through the last stretch of Winter. We love the idea of implementing Hygge, a concept derived from Danish culture. What does Hygge mean? It isn’t just a word; it’s a concept, and as such, there’s really no direct translation.

HYGGE DEFINITION: WHAT DOES HYGGE MEAN?

If we had to give you a few sentences to define it, we’d say:

Hygge is about coziness and surrounding yourself with the things that make life good, like friendship, laughter, self care, and security, as well as more concrete things like warmth, light, and seasonal food and drink.

HOW TO PRONOUNCE HYGGE?

The word Hygge is pronounced “hoo-gah”

Hygge can be defined as a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture). Hygge is all about being cozy, turning inwards and tranquility. Perhaps the time when Hygge is most needed is during the cold months of winter, Denmark winters are dark, cold and windy. So combat it with warming food, alcohol (or hot chocolate; you do you), candles, fluffy blankets, and lots of small gatherings with your friends.

 As the pace of life picks up again with Spring and Summer right around the corner, we encourage you to relish in February's down time in order to reflect, rejuvenate and enjoy time in your home. We’ve put together a list of how you can implement Hygge into your home and routine in a few simple ways. 

1. Candlelight

One reoccurring theme of Hygge is coziness, and what better way to immediately warm your home in the winter than adding candlelight. In this season of less sunlight, candlelight is a great way to add in a sense of light amidst the darkness. We opted for using the Amy Hamley Palm Desert Luminaries in a bath for extra relaxing vibes. You can also add candlelight on an entry way table or set the mood before serving dinner.

 Candlelight isn’t just for evening time, lighting a candle as you sip on your morning coffee is also a great option, saves energy, and is more eco-friendly. 

2. Create a Ritual

Humans love routine, it gives our minds a sense of security and calmness. We recommend creating a ritual for yourself that takes only a few minutes each day. This can give you something to look forward to each day and helps set a little time aside for yourself. A great ritual is taking the time to brew coffee in a slow intentional manner. We love the Rae Dunn Heritage Coffee System for this reason.

When you make coffee via the pour over method it really allows you to be in touch with more of your senses: the heat of the hot water, the smell of the fresh grounds, the sound of the coffee dripping through the filter, and of course the taste!

Rae Dunn describes her experience using the coffee system as,

“I love the simplicity and tactile nature of making a pour-over coffee. There is nothing to plug in, no electronic or moving parts, and no maintenance of a machine. It is a ritual that intimately involves all five of my senses: touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste. I like to savor the slow meditative process of a pour-over coffee and I appreciate that it forces me to slow down and reflect. Plus I really love how it looks on my shelf!”

3. Hot Drinks

The Winter season brings an extra sense of cold, and drinking hot drinks really helps set the Hygge mood. To give your drink an extra special feeling try grabbing a new tea from the grocery store, or invest in a really great bag of small batch coffee beans.

One tea brand to try is Big Heart Tea. This company provides avid tea drinkers with natural healing herbs, biodegradable packaging and teabags, and a large combination of blended flavors with health properties.  

 Instead of grabbing your cup in a rushed manner or drinking it in front of the TV, we encourage you to opt for a more tranquil option. Put your phone away and try and remove distractions. Surprise your significant other with Rae Dunn Stem Print Mugs filled with hot drinks in bed along with sweet treats all served on a wooden tray. Or try grabbing your favorite blanket and cuddle up near a window and enjoy nature watching while sipping on your drink.

Taking a few moments to sit and enjoy your beverage without distractions is a great way to be mindful in the present moment.

4. Journaling

With the pace of this season being slower coupled with the bleak weather, it’s easy to feel so blah about a lot of things this time of year. A great practice that aligns with Hygge is journaling, more specifically a gratitude practice.

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous.

We love the Rae Dunn Heritage Journal as a place to doodle, journal and write down three things that you’re grateful for. This helps you feel like what you have is enough, and to take a moment to appreciate and count your blessings. This practice puts you in a more positive mindset.

Another helpful journaling technique is called the brain dump. This is when you write down all the things you have to do in your journal. Instead of letting your thoughts make you anxious and overwhelmed it allows everything to live in one place, and helps you remember important things. Go ahead, try it!

5. Create a Spa-Style Bathroom

Instead of just using your bathroom for a quick shower in the morning, make it your in-house oasis. Draw a bath, add a bath bomb or use essential oils you absolutely love. Your bathroom should be a place you go to for rest and rejuvenation. To create a bathroom that is pleasant and peaceful, make sure you to have lots of hidden storage space to avoid any unwanted clutter. For extra enjoyment, invest in the Rae Dunn Stem Print Bath storage options and opt for a face mask for ultimate relaxation. Implementing bamboo, succulents and river rocks to your bathroom decor creates a balance of design and grounding elements. This is an easy way to accessorize/elevate your overall bathroom's aesthetic. 

For DIY mask recipes we looked to Elle for inspo. Try using activated charcoal powder in your next facial to detoxify the skin leaving your face replenished and smooth.  

6. Community

Celebrating and appreciating your community is a huge part of the Hygge mindset. Although this tends to be a less social season, it’s important to stay connected with those who support you. It doesn’t need to be a huge commitment, even once a month is a great goal of setting aside to be with your community. This might look like planning a dinner night in or watching Bachelor Mondays together. Vocalize to your people how important they are to you.

 If socializing isn’t an option, you can always mail a handmade card. Let’s face it, in our digital age sending snail mail is less and less common. Imagine friends or family receiving a thoughtful card. Think about how nice of a gesture this is. We recommend using the Heritage Alphabet Stamps to personalize your card or make an inside joke. Keep it simple and maybe stamp the first letter of their name on the back of the envelope.

7. Comfort Food

If you are getting together with your friends and family, this is a great time to make some comfort food. Don’t worry about whipping up a big meal if you don’t have the time. This can be as simple as building a simple charcuterie board on the Amy Hamley Palm Desert cheeseboard or serving some delicious sweets for munching.

Eating together is one of the oldest traditions that humans have. It’s comforting to taste delicious food together without any expectations. Cooking is also a great way to spend time during the winter indoors. Here are a few comfort food recipe ideas to get you through the final moments of winter.

Let's Hygge!

We sincerely hope these tips on how to implement the Danish concept of Hygge into your home are helpful and grounding. Spring is almost here, but for now let's get cozy!