How To Hygge Like A Scandi Girl This Winter
The Scandi Girl embodies the mantra “less is more.” She’s the minimalist answer to the maximalism of aesthetics, as cool and chillaxed as the northern European countries she frequents. Her cozy, casual style doesn’t stop with her clean girl vibe, though; it’s a lifestyle. It’s hygge.
Hygge (HOO-guh) is a Scandinavian word without a direct English equivalent. It’s been around since the 1500s when Norwegians adapted it from the word “hug,” and is now most popular in its Danish form. It refers to the feeling of casual coziness the Danes have perfected, but it’s also a verb referring to embracing the kinds of friend and family hangouts that don’t feel like work: cooking together, living room chill-outs, and low-production, high-cozy nights. To hygge is to relax with intention. Here’s how.
Hygge 101: The 3 Cs
The first three words any hygge newbie should know are coffee, candles, and cake. Curling up with a good book is the best way to get into the hygge vibes solo, and it can and should feel like an occasion. Coffee culture is a huge part of Scandinavian culture and is intended to be a real break, rather than just being chugged alongside a flurry of email editing. Don’t be afraid to add some carbs, too. While Americans tend to freak out over breads and cakes, small portions of high-quality baked goods are nothing to be afraid of for your health or diet. Taking a break with a focus on enjoying the moment, rather than just doom scrolling, encourages relaxation and mindfulness. Whether you’re aiming for 15 minutes of hygge or an entire evening, the vibes are the whole point.
Head to Toe Hygge
Dressing for maximum hygge involves looks that are cozy and comfortable. The aesthetic is the vanilla girl’s slightly more clean and casual sister, emphasizing neutrals and knits, layered for tackling any amount of winter weather. It uses clean lines and big pieces to let you bring the comfort of your reading nook with you all day. Chunky scarves, oversized sweaters, and long trench coats are all in, but uncomfortable, overly tight, or overly loud or dressy styles get the boot. Ultimately, your most hygge feeling clothing is probably already sitting in your closet. That sweater you stole from your boyfriend that just smells perfect? Oh yeah. Totally hygge.
In true hygge fashion, even your hair can be optimized for ease and comfort by sticking to natural colors and easy-to-style fashions. You can ignore your blow dryer and hot tools too; let your natural texture shine.
The Hygge Home
When it comes to interior design, hygge is the antidote to cold. If you’ve ever found traditional minimalist decor to feel a little underwhelming or uninviting, hygge principles will help add warmth while still keeping it breathable.
Hygge interior design relies heavily on neutrals and earth tones, playing with a wide variety of natural textures and patterns. Furs, chunky knits, wools, and soft stripes all help add variety to a tame color palette. Most importantly, ditch your harsh overhead lighting. The use of variety in lighting, especially through a range of dimmer lighting options like string lights and, again, candles, helps further soften and relax a space. Finally, don’t shy away from nature. Natural wood, flowers, and vines all help accentuate the ambiance and make your home primed and ready for coziness.
Hygge Hosting
While there are a lot of ways to go about making your wardrobe and home cozy, ultimately hygge isn’t about an aesthetic; it’s about a feeling. And the easiest way to beat the bleak midwinter blues is to be with the people you love. Still, sometimes hosting can feel like a chore, making it tempting to want to hit the bars or just stay in alone. Hygge is here to offer an alternative approach, one that makes hosting less of a burden and more intimate. Strive for social events that feel warm and intimate, focusing on comfortable seating that promotes conversation. And, of course, plenty of candles to drive home the ambiance.
Next time you get a group of girls together for dinner, suggest eating in rather than going out. Then, consider incorporating your friends into the hosting process by making the focus of the hangout cooking together instead of putting on a showy meal. Having everyone contribute a bit takes the stress off you as the hostess, plus it allows everyone to add their own personality to the night. Whether it’s showing off a cooking trick they know from an old restaurant job, introducing everyone to a family recipe, or getting to know you through your playlist or the college photos on your wall, casual hangouts at home bring people together in ways bars and restaurants just can’t. Finally, a good hygge doesn’t need to be a giant meal. Hangouts with coffee and cake are, of course, true to the hygge spirit.
Closing Thoughts
The Danish didn’t become the happiest people in the world because of their hustle culture. If we can learn anything from the hygge hype of the past few years, it’s that intentionally slowing down, relaxing, and being with family are the not-so-secrets to happiness. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a note from the girls up north: Curl up with a book and a hot cup of coffee, and choose coziness.
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