Hygge Design? What is it? How do you say it?

Hygge Design & Book Reviews

Hygge Style Idea, Our Book Club & CCL Living

Let’s explore Hygge design through what it is and how to explore the style idea. Our CCL Book Club read two books about Hygge, and we discussed how we could integrate them into our lives. Indeed, many sites are telling how to achieve the Hygge aesthetic. Yet this blog introduces the idea so you can go after more information. Let’s begin.

Hygge Design Style Idea

What is Hygge? 

• Hygge is ‘a quality of coziness that makes a person feel content and comfortable.’ It’s also often used as an adjective meaning “cozy or comfortable.” Merriam-Webster.com has more to the definition.
• Generally, “Hygge is a way of life of coziness or comfort” is a common statement defining the idea.

How to say it? 

• Pronounced “HEW-guh” or “hoo-gah”

Who claims it? 

• Denmark, according to Meik Wiking. However, the word appeared in Danish writing in the early 1800s, coming from an old Norwegian word.

Is it an official design style? 

• No. Although it is a feeling of contentment, coziness, closeness to others, and everyday enjoyment. Some designers will give specific ground rules. They offer Danish/Swedish design styles as the specifics for interior design. All things considered, it is more of a vibe than a distinct element. As can be seen in their book, Christiana Coop and Aimee Logos provide a variety of interiors that showcase the home’s occupants’ feelings and ideas concerning Hygge.

Why should I know more about Hygge?

• Our book club members and I agree we are incorporating Hygge into our homes without knowing it. Reading these books helps us tweak a few things in our homes to serve us better.

A Carefully Curated Life Book Club Books

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

• Our book club read this book in the fall of 2022. We all enjoyed the book and wanted to learn more, which led us to our 2023 Hygge book.
• In addition, one of the book’s suggestions on lighting and what is called the color temperature of light bulbs was found valuable by many of us.
• The book also suggests having a hygge emergency kit on page 106. I have recommended this idea online with Tuesday Tips posts for the past few years. I call it a comfort box or drawer, a place to keep items to soothe your body, mind, and soul.
• Surprisingly, one of the exciting things I found as I read this book was it took me back to my youth. I grew up in a town that Danish immigrants founded. Many of these pages took me back to the traditions my town celebrated: risalamande at Christmas, woven paper hearts, and aebleskivers (I have two pans for this, lol).
• Another way to learn more is to hear Meik Wiking speak here on his site.
• If you want to know more about his Hygge Manifesto, Google it. It may be something you want to hang on your wall. In his book, it is on page 30.

Hygge & West Home: Design for a Cozy Life by Christiana Coop & Aimee Logos

• The authors of this book are also the owners of the Hygge & West wallpaper company.
• The homes showcased in this book vary with the owners’/designers’ views on Hygge’s design styles, yet they all convey the “cozy life” that it promotes.
• Not only are there stories of different people’s homes, but the photographs are also worth the inspiration and time to read.
• The authors’ website also has a page for ‘Pattern Stories.’ These blogs on the site have good interviews with the wallpaper designers on what inspired them. Plus, interior designers talked about how they used them in homes.

As you read these two books, you will connect with what is already Hygge in your life. Nevertheless, these books help fine-tune some of your ideas. Often, we have things we like or do with a new concept that helps elevate the tradition. Elevating the new idea might make what we do more manageable and expansive or give it a new twist for where you are at this point in your life. Here is a blog for our 2023 CCL Book Club line-up.

CCL Life & Hygge Design

Their manifesto is like a Bingo card. Looking at it, you’ll see many items in our homes. Like these:

• Atmosphere. Candles, fireplaces, and warm lighting all help create a mood and feel in our spaces.
• Comfort. Seating, throw blankets & pillows (A DIY hack for Tuesday Tips – Adding feather pillow inserts from Home Goods into the pillows shams you love)
• Shelter. Our homes, offices, and gardens support our mind, body, and soul.
• Gratitude. Enjoy life and be thankful for the good in it.
• Togetherness. Build a Community and friendships that love, support, and encourage us.
• Plus more

Once you read about each one, you’ll check them off as you see Hygge around you. (Don’t forget to shout Bingo! ~ wink)

Summing up, we’ve explored Hygge through what it is and the style ideas. I hope you see that you’ve been living hygge in your way. Lastly, it was an excellent virtual sit down with the Book Club ladies as we discussed these books and Hygge style. I enjoy our conversations, especially when we give our genuine opinions on different ideas. The reason I say this? Because we are curating our lives and don’t need to bring all the ideas into our homes and lives, just the ones that excite us. If you’d like to join our Carefully Curated Life Book Club, sign up here to get the emails and Zoom links. 

Another side note, one pleasurable mention is that one of the Book Club ladies went on to purchase the Hygge game. She said it started some good conversation during the holiday dinners. I thought I’d share that also.