Podcast Version

Below is the podcast version of this article. The podcast explains things so much better than a blog post. I invite you to listen and also hear some examples and enjoy some laughs! You can subscribe to the Podcast by opening your favorite podcast app and typing “Balanced Working Moms” into the search. Enjoy!

Inspiration

I was inspired to do this post by my daughter. She’s a natural at creating a cozy space.

The other day I come into the living room and I just start laughing at the cozy space she created.

• She pulled up a BIG chair (as big as she is) to within a foot of the electric fireplace
• Added a shag rug from her room. Such cozy beautiful texture!
• Put a kitchen stool on the rug for her feet
• Dragged my laptop table next to her – a great place to put her drink and book
• Of course, a fuzzy blanket to curl up in
• Dimmed the living room lights

It looked AMAZING!

This kid – she’s got Hygge!!

Free Downloadable

Below is a free printable that includes diffuser recipes you can diffuse in your house to create a cozy atmosphere. To access the printable and receive the password, click here.

What is Hygge?

I learned about Hygge from The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking.

According to the Oxford Languages, Hygge is 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).

It’s all about creating a cozy home environment.

My Cozy Nook

If you came into my home, the first thing you’d say after seeing the dining room is 

Why do you have a couch there?

I know it may sound weird, but the Danish do this type of thing, too. So I feel better about it.

They create a cozy space in their home. Where they can curl up and read, etc.

I have an old UGLY couch. So ugly. But it’s cozy. And everyone sits there. We realize it’s our hygge space. So it doesn’t feel so strange anymore. We love it and don’t care what anyone thinks or says.

What makes it feel so cozy?

• It’s in a warm spot. There are no windows or drafts.
• It’s near the kitchen, but not in the kitchen. This lets you be around others, but still feel separate.
• The couch is comfy.
• Since the couch is so old, you can eat on it without worrying about someone yelling at you about it 🙂

Here are some things you can do to create a cozy environment. 

Lighting

Hygge starts with lighting.

Imagine it’s 8:30 pm and all the lights in the house are ablaze. It looks brighter in your house than it did at 10 am. That is NOT cozy! Instead:

• Dim those lights! (We replaced all our lights to make them dimmable). Another option is to use lamps instead of overhead lights. In the kitchen, we’ll put on only our under cabinet lighting which adds a really cozy feel.
• Fireplaces and candles are the best for creating coziness! We use mostly electric (fake fire!) for safety.

During the day, let in the natural sunlight. It’ll help warm your house, too.

Everything is Beautiful

Don’t you just love looking at antiques and older vintage items on Etsy? The reason why these items are so fun and interesting is because it’s neat to see functional, everyday items that are made beautifully.

When buying functional items, even things seem boring like laundry baskets, buy the prettiest you can find to create a cozy, warm home environment.

My example is my measuring spoons. 

They’re colorful, made of bamboo not plastic.

I smile EVERY time I use them (which is daily)!

When you ONLY buy things you love, it makes a big difference in your home. This process may be slow since you probably don’t want to go out and buy all new things. But when you need something, you can take a minimalist approach of buying only things you love.

Homemade Food

Homemade food created a beautiful, cozy environment. What’s cozier than fresh cookies right out of the oven? Or a soup pot simmering happily on the stovetop?

Homemade food creates warmth and coziness from the inside out. It’s a great way to create a sense of Hygge.

Live Things

Plants create a lot of coziness in a home. I tend to kill my plants, but I still try since they change the atmosphere in the whole room.

Blankets + Pillows

Buy really nice blankets for your home to create a sense of coziness. Don’t put out old scratchy florescent pink afghans that you inherited from Aunt Martha. You want it to feel soft. Cozy. Yummy.

A lot of experts recommend pillows. I personally find them to look like clutter so I don’t have a lot. But if you like pillows, these can be very cozy.

Music

Some people have the TV going 24/7. To me, this is the opposite of calm.

I like to have pandora playing soft music in the background. The added benefit, besides the sense of calm it creates, is that classical music has been proven to clam the mind.

By playing the right kinds of music, you can actually create a peaceful feeling in your home.

Remove Clutter

This one is hard for most people (me included!). But clutter makes things less cozy. 

One way to add coziness when you have clutter is to buy baskets. Throw everything in them so at least things look more picked up. LOL.

Smell

Smell can instantly create happiness and warmth in your home.

If you use essential oils, it’ll not only freshen up the smell of your home, but it may also clean the air and help to naturally uplift you.

I have a free printable for you on yummy diffuser recipes you can use to create a cozy home. 

Creating a Cozy Home is “Doable!”

Creating a cozy home is something anyone can do. You don’t need a degree from the “School of Decorating” to create an environment filled with warm, happy smells, coziness, and a feeling of “home.” It doesn’t take a lot of money, or time. It can be as simple as dimming some lights! You got this!!

Go get your coziest blanket out and enjoy some hygge!