10 Comfort Tips for a Cold Winter’s Night
For years now, people have been talking about the concept of “hygge” that is very central to the people in Denmark.
As the country’s official tourism website explains, the term hygge — pronounced “hue-ga” — roughly translates to “coziness,” but there’s so more to it than that: “Hygge means creating a warm atmosphere that promotes happiness and security; enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Friends and family – that’s hygge too.”
We think the Danes have the right idea. This can be a bleak time of year. The sun goes down while most of us are still at work, and the world outside can seem like a white and grey desert for weeks at a time.
It’s why we all need some hygge in our lives this time of year. Here are 10 ways to bring this way of life to your home this winter, creating a more comfortable, contented, and cozy environment.
1. Add some color to your life
Fall’s reds and golds are long gone, and the green of spring is still months away. That leaves things outdoors pretty colorless, which means it’s more important than ever to brighten your indoors.
You can easily achieve this by splashing a new coat of paint on your walls or do something less permanent, such as adding new lampshades or throw pillows to your rooms.
2. Try new textures
Fabrics like flannel bedding or a cozy soft knit can add a feeling of softness, comfort, and warmth. Realtor.com’s winter comfort guide quotes designer Jim Rascoe, who recommends adding a variety of texture to your home. He gives the example of a throw blanket with an open weave, such as chenille or, our cozy knit blanket, on a twill sofa with a tight, smooth weave.
“The contrast provides richness and warmth,” Rascoe says.
3. Light up the things you like
You’ll want more light in your home during the winter anyway, so why not illuminate the things you love? Shed some light on artwork or other wall decor that reminds you of warmer weather.
4. Bring the outdoors inside
There may be snow, bare trees or brown grass outside your window, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have plants in your life. Keep fresh flowers and other plants indoors to offset the barren winter landscape outside.
5. Keep your friends close
We don’t just mean “a phone call away.” Rascoe recommends a set-up that allows you to see, talk to and reach your guests. That means moving your furnishings closer together. “A guest needing to rise to place a mug on a coffee table is a no-no,” Realtor.com says. One simple solution to this might be to pull up a movable piece of furniture that can serve as an end table or impromptu coffee or cocoa bar for an unexpected guest.
6. Give yourself somewhere comfy to sit
The wind is howling outside. Forecasters are telling people to stay off the roads. But you’re safe inside, nestled in your favorite chair. A nice, comfy chair is essential for a sense of hygge at home. Adding a blanket and pillows to the chair creates a welcome spot where you can snuggle up, reading a favorite book or dozing off in warmth and comfort.
“Choose one with a high back and an inherent sense of softness about the upholstery for visual warmth and comfortable seating,” Rascoe recommends.
7. Throw down a rug
A rug can go a long way toward warming a bare floor, especially if you choose one with brighter, warmer colors to contrast the colder world outside.
8. Light a candle
Remember what the Danish tourism organization said at the beginning of this post? “The warm glow of candlelight is hygge.”
Candles work in any room, and at any time of day. In the winter, when days are shorter and even the sunlight appears to have grown weaker, it helps to add the magical ambiance of candlelight to your home. Forget the harsh glare of overhead lighting, candles offer a softer, more soothing radiance to every decor. This relaxing, calming glow can be achieved easily by a lit candle or a flameless candle.
9. Embrace other scents
When delightful and delicious smells permeate our home, it creates an environment that comforts and appeals to us and our guests. Candles can serve double duty, adding not only the warmth of a glow but also, a wonderful scent throughout your entire dwelling. Diffusers and scented oils can also add inviting fragrances to your interiors, or incorporate fresh flowers with their own lovely aromas to remind yourself that warmer times are ahead.
10. Christmas decorations after Christmas
We’re not saying you should keep lights on your house until April or anything, but some of the trappings of Christmas can also double as wintry decorations. Bells, greenery, and candles in the window can still convey “hygge” long after the tree comes down. Add the realistic fresh color and true-to-life appearance of faux greens such as boxwood to complement your home and add charm to your interior during the cold, dark months of winter.
We opened this piece by saying “hygge” was something celebrated in Denmark, but that’s only part of the story. The Danes were wise enough to create a word for something we all cherish: the idea that there’s a warm place for us in the long, cold winter. Piper Classics hopes you find your hygge this season.