Trends

10 ways to make your home more hygge

It’s time to embrace the cosy side of life with hygge (pronounced “hoo-guh”). This Danish and Norwegian concept has made its way across the globe as this way of life has unsurprisingly become extremely appealing.

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Focusing on creating feelings of comfort, wellness and contentment through our conscious interior choices.


Find out how to adopt this feeling throughout your home with my guide on everything hygge.

What does hygge mean?


Hygge is the Danish word for ‘cosy’, and it’s what we’re all about here at ScS – making your home a place where you can relax and unwind, all year round.


It’s about finding ways to create a comforting space for yourself and your loved ones – one that’s filled with warmth, light and an inviting atmosphere.


What does hygge home mean?


Essentially, hygge home alludes to an instant feeling of cosy contentment.


A home with hygge is a warm and welcoming place that feels comfortable and safe. In other words, it’s a place you want to be.


It’s all about creating feelings of happiness, friendliness and well-being within everyday life.

Image credit: @theblossomshome

The most important part of hygge is creating a home environment that feels incredibly comfortable.


You can do this by adding some of your feel-good items into your home – such as your favourite plants or scented candles.


It’s also about ensuring you have plenty of light in your home, whether from natural sunlight or artificial sources like lamps and candles. 


Here's my tips on how to incorporate this lifestyle into your home


  1. The Danes do it so well by using a mixture of materials to add interest to a relatively minimalist scheme.
  2. Anyone can embrace Hygge! It involves a combination of elements, but the general idea is to focus on simplicity. Think wooden floors, discreet lighting, neutral colour palettes and a roaring fire in the background…
  3. Clever storage solutions are the foundation of this lifestyle, removing unwanted clutter and opening up the space. Storage baskets are a must and excellent for hiding things away!
  4. Books are a key part of creating a Hygge environment; neatly stacking books is an easy and visually pleasing way of achieving this. This is ideal in a corner of the bedroom.
  5. Candles are another simple, but essential item for creating a calm and cosy space and are welcomed in any part of the home.
  6. Comfortable seating with an abundance of throws and cushions in a mixture of textures and styles will create the perfect place to relax and keep the chills away.
  7. Soft furnishings like rugs definitely play a huge part in this Danish culture. 
  8. Add soft lighting as this can help create an intimate atmosphere in your home. There are plenty of affordable options available that will work well with any décor style.
  9. Warm natural materials like wood, leather and wool are all essential components.
  10. Turn the TV off and put away your phone, just absorb the peace and enjoy relaxing in your cosy but stylish environment.

How do I hygge my house for winter?


The first step towards making your home more hygge is making sure you have a good source of heat.


If you have a fireplace or wood stove, those are both great ways to get cosy during the winter months.


However, if you don’t have either of those options available, there are other ways to get that same warm, fuzzy feeling: lighting candles, turning on soft music, investing in a sumptuously soft rug or wrapping yourself in a throw blanket with a cup of hot cocoa. 

How do I make my house warm and welcoming?


Warm and welcoming: it’s a nice idea, but how do you make your home feel that way?


If you’re looking for ways to make your house feel warm and inviting, we’ve got some tips for you.


First of all, don’t overdo it. You want to make sure to keep things simple and not go overboard with decorations or furniture.


If you have a lot of clutter in your living room or kitchen, try organising it so that it looks less cluttered and more like a cosy space where friends would want to hang out. A clean home is always a welcoming one.


When you’re looking to make your home more welcoming, remember that the most important factor is the people who live in it.


That means making sure everyone has their own space, but also that they feel like they belong together. 


Though it’s still always hospitable to make sure your guests feel the same way when they visit.


Essentially creating a home away from home for your friends and family, as a huge part of hygge is bringing people together.


Think about activities you can do together such as having board games to hand or a shelf with movies on for you all to enjoy together.


Get some plants! Plants are great for adding colour and life to any room, and they help make the air feel fresher and cleaner.


Lighting is also important. Make sure there’s plenty of light in every room so that even if it gets dark outside (or inside) your guests feel cosy.


Table lamps, floor lamps or even dimmable switches are great for creating a lovely ambience within your home. 

Image credit: @sheffieldsemi1930s

What are hygge colours?


Hygge is all about cosiness, which means that the colours you choose for your home are going to be warm and inviting.


You should think about shades such as beige, blue or yellow.


If you’re feeling bold, go for mint or teal!


How to create a hygge lifestyle


The best part of creating a hygge lifestyle is that it doesn’t have to cost much money at all.


If you’re looking for ways to make your home more hygge on a budget, try these easy tips:


  • Set up a reading nook in an unused corner of your living room or bedroom with pillows and blankets where you can curl up with a good book
  • Replace bright white lights with warmer bulbs so they don’t give off as much glare when reading or working at the computer 
  • Light some incense – doing so can add to the relaxed atmosphere that hygge creates in your home 

How do you make a hygge bedroom?


Hygge is all about the little details and this especially applies to the bedroom.


You need to think about what makes you feel cosy and happy, even if it’s something as simple as lighting scented candles or listening to music while you sleep.


Stick to more natural materials like wood, leather, wool and cotton in your bedroom with your furniture and furnishings.


These materials have been used for thousands of years because they’re durable and they keep us warm all year round. 


A comfy and inviting bed is also key to feeling cosy, so make sure your mattress is super soft and fluffy. 


The same goes for your bedding. If you want to be super hygge then you should definitely invest in some flannel sheets or duvet covers made from 100% cotton.


Not only will they help keep you warm all year long, but they’ll also last forever.


An electric blanket is also another little luxury that’ll keep you feeling cosy. 

How do you make a hygge living room?


A hygge living room should be filled with candles, textures and greenery.


Bringing in some plants and flowers add life, beauty, and colour to any space. Plus, they’re known for bringing in good vibes – which can make any room feel more hygge.


Look at adding a rug over your flooring. Whilst rugs make great accents for rooms that need a bit more colour or pattern they’ll also help keep your feet warm during those winter months – in particular shaggy and sheepskin rugs. 


Just like you and I need extra layers to keep cosy, our sofas are no different. Dress them up with lovely throws and blankets for added texture, interest and most importantly, warmth.


What could be cosier than snuggling in an oversized faux fur throw?

Hygge home essentials


Fancy embracing the cosy side of life? Check out these 7 hygge essentials for your home: 


  1. A cosy throw/blanket – what could be cosier than being wrapped up on the sofa?
  2. Candles – dim the lights and enjoy watching the flickering flames
  3. A good book – lose yourself in the pages of a non-fiction story 
  4. Fluffy socks – keep your tootsies warm
  5. A bubble bath – the ultimate relaxation treat, a long soak! 
  6. A shaggy rug – enjoy the softness underfoot
  7. Dimmable or low lighting – ideal for creating a cosy atmosphere 

Looking to transition your room based on the seasons? Read our top tips to transform here. Looking for comfort? Check out these 10 comfortable sofas, as rated by our customers.

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Share the love for your new ScS sofa or furniture using @scssofas and #myscshome for a chance to be featured.

Victoria Foster

Written by:

Stylist & Visual Merchandiser

at ScS

30th August 2023

Victoria is a stylist and merchandiser based at our in-house photo studio. Having been part of the ScS family since 2012, Victoria styles stunning home sets with the latest trends to showcase newly launched ScS products. With over 25 years of experience in styling and merchandising, she loves to keep an eye on the latest trends in the interior landscape. Victoria's favourite interior scheme is the Boho trend and loves to layer a mixture of different textures in her home. Her styling top tip is to always create a focal point in a room. Whether it’s a feature wall, a piece of artwork, or a bright patterned rug, having a focal point can help to drive the decisions on the rest of the rooms layout.