How to Hygge as a Family: The Art of Coziness

You may have heard about the Danish word “hygge” a lot in recent years, as the secret of coziness and simple pleasure. Denmark has been one of the happiest countries for a long time (according to the World Happiness Report), and they believe that being present is the key.

Hygge doesn’t have an exact English translation, but it can be described as “creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people.”. Hygge is sitting around with family in flickering candlelight, movie night with your loved ones under big blankets, enjoying the simple things in life, slowing down to unwind, and actually being there. 

Admittedly, hygge sounds like an amazing way to brighten up the Scandinavian winters, but you don’t have to be having a long, dark, and cold winter to cozy up your life! Here are some tips to hygge with your family and have the coziest time:

1. Spend quality time: One of the most important things about spending time you’re your loved ones is this: Make it a point, not an accident! Putting intentional time and effort into your family and friends will make the memories much more valuable.

2. Get cozy: Especially in the winter months, getting warm and cozy with a fireplace (you can also stream one and listen to the soothing cracking sounds a fire), dim lights, flickering flames of candles, and soft blankets will definitely warm the hearts. 

3. Feed the body, feed the soul: Don’t deprive yourself or your family from good food. Sweet snacks and warm drinks like hot cocoa will make you and especially your precious kids smile! You can also turn good food into a family activity and cook or bake together as a family. Little ones love helping around the kitchen! 

4. Family entertainment: Talking about spending quality time, some family entertainment is a necessity. You can curl up under a blanket and watch a movie with your warm teas in your hands, or you can schedule book nights! Other family activities can be a backyard dinner, singing, doing crafts, or looking through old photos together. Creating family traditions will also create cozy memories for you and your family.

5. Keep things simple: You don’t have to hurry things or over-plan. Live slow and focus on simple pleasures such as sitting down with your family, talking about big and small things in life. Finish work at a reasonable time, remember to put down your phones, and be present without distractions. Practicing mindfulness is an integral part of hygge. You don’t have to “be productive” or “multitasking” all the time. In fact, avoiding these things and just enjoying your slow evening is the essence.

6. A hyggelig (hygge-like) home: If you want to create a hyggelig home, choosing a neutral color scheme and going minimal are the first steps. Lots of blankets, pillows, and comfortable surfaces are important for long and cozy nights. Also, bringing the outdoors into your living room by mixing natural textures is another way of creating the signature Scandinavian home decoration.

7. Get outside: Remember, there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing. Don’t spend the whole winter cooped up in your home, enjoy the great outdoors instead! Winter bonfire, ice skating, hiking, playing in the snow with your kids, or simply walking around in a park will make you feel better instantly. Read here for tips on how to survive the winter with your baby.

8. Plan a vacation: Hygge doesn’t have to be at home all the time! You can plan a vacation, or a cozy staycation with your family to change things up! Remember to avoid stress though, it should be a cozy and relaxing weekend away. Instead of overplanning, overthinking, or overpacking all the stuff for your children or baby, you can just rent the necessary equipment from a high-quality baby gear rental service like Babonbo!