If you have any sort of interest in interior design or home decor, then you’re bound to have heard the Danish word “Hygge”, pronounced “hoo-ga”, circling around the world of home design and aesthetics. If you’ve never heard it before, you’re in for a cozy treat once you fully understand the focus and intention Hygge has. To begin, here is what we’ve found to be the closest definition of Hygge, a concept originating from Denmark.
Hygge has no specific word for translation, but instead is translated as a concept; a “single word that encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life,” according to CountryLiving Magazine. Hygge is an important part of being Danish and is considered to be “a defining feature of our cultural identity and an integral part of the national DNA,” according to Meik Wiking, the CEO of The Happiness Institute. This lovely mindset with the Dane’s obsession with all things comfy and cozy, is credited as one of the reasons why Denmark is always rated at the top of the list of the world’s happiest countries. Fortunately, news has spread fast about the Dane’s secret to happiness, and the world is taking it all in and starting to incorporate the benefits of Hygge into their everyday lifestyle, home decor, and way of life. If your current home isn’t sufficient to bring you the joy of Hygge like you’re expecting, contact your local Denver Flat Fee Realtor to get the best support on starting your search for a new home. Continue reading below if you’d like a better understanding of the history, what it means to live a hygge life, and what isn’t hygge.
History
Hygge promotes the idea of a warm and cozy lifestyle, a concept that part of Danish culture since the early 1800s when the word first appeared in the written language. Essentially, it’s derived from a Norwegian word for “well-being”, similar to the German concept of gemütlichkeit, and the Dutch idea of gezelligheid. By 2017, the US had finally caught-up with the cozy craze and the concept of hygge began to be written and covered in publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker. It caught fire on social media and spread rapidly on Pinterest.“ Pinterest predicted it would be one of the hottest home decor trends of 2017 after activity on the sit about “hygge” increased 285 percent at the end of 2016.”
What Does It Mean To You?
Here are a few items that are considered to be hygge-like and that you can incorporate into your home:
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Candles
- Fireplaces
- Throw Blankets
- Homemade sweets, comfort food, and hot drinks
What Isn’t Hygge You May Ask?
Danes are especially specific on what they consider Hygge and what they don’t. Here is a quick list of items and activities that you wouldn’t typically see a Dane obsessing over:
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Staring at your phone all day
- Hibernating indoors alone all winter
- Strict rules
- Purchasing products just to be on-trend
If you’re interested in how you can indulge in the secrets of living a Hygge life, then we recommend picking up some light reading. “The Little Book of Hygge” Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking, CEO of The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark.
