What is hygge? Let me share this secret to creating a clutter-free space you love.
The other day I was watching Netflix — okay, so maybe I was binging on Netflix since the “Are You Still Watching” popup appeared a couple of times during my veg out session.
At any rate, while I was practically brain dead on the couch, out of the blue, right in the middle of my design documentary, I heard this strange word:
“hue-gah”
My curiosity was piqued and as a few of my brain cells flickered back to life I decided to do a little investigation. As I researched, I realized that I’m way behind in learning about this word — not surprising since I’m pretty much the last person on earth to adopt anything new. I mean I’ve only had a smart phone for two years — yep, I had a FLIP PHONE until TWO years ago.
Anyway…
I suddenly had to answer the question, “What is hygge?”
What Is Hygge?
It turns out that hygge (the correct spelling but pronounced hue-gah as I spelled it above) is a Danish word and concept that’s been around for centuries but suddenly became popular in 2016, ironically about the same time that I started using a smart phone.
Hyyge is defined as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” It originates from a sixteenth century Norwegian word, hugga, which means “to comfort” or “to console” — kinda’ like a warm bowl of soup on a cold day.
Which, by the way, is actually related to the English word “hug,”
So hugs, comfort and warm soup all sound nice, but why the heck should you care about an ancient Danish word that a bunch of designers are suddenly using?
Why You Need Some Hygge in Your Life
If you have more than one person living in your home, then it’s likely that you feel overwhelmed by trying to keep your house clean and clutter free. (Maybe you live alone and still have a problem with it.)
It seems like there is ALWAYS some kind of mess to deal with, and it can be super frustrating, not to mention draining and downright depressing.
But incorporating this concept of hygge can dramatically improve your living space — and your quality of life.
How to “Hygge” Your Home
I may be behind in learning the word “hygge”, but many years ago I discovered that if I changed my focus from what was always wrong in my space and began to focus on creating little happy places throughout my house, I was much more motivated to keep the messes cleaned up and the clutter at bay — and I felt so joyful!
My first happy spot was my back porch.
Well, it started out as a barren wasteland with two pieces of furniture I picked up from my neighbor’s trash.
But with a new seat in the chair, a couple of cushions and some plant life, it started to take shape.
After a few more weeks I had created a haven for myself where I spent lots of time reading and feeling a sense of contentment and happiness.
Incorporating hygge into your home simply means creating little spots of joy throughout your home that give you a “hug” when you look at them or spend time in them.
In our last home, I added these shelves to our kitchen even though the space was tiny and it meant that we had to keep the table pushed against the shelf to be able to walk through the kitchen when we weren’t eating there. Sure it was inconvenient, but I needed a happy spot to look at every day.
In our current home, I don’t have room for both of the shelves together, but I still use them to display little items that I love.
But your happy spots don’t have to be big spaces.
When we removed the upper cabinets in our current kitchen I asked a friend to build a corner shelf for me which I use to display happy treasures like the copper dove ornament my sister made for me, a favorite Fiestaware coffee cup and my blue bird of happiness.
No matter what the kitchen looks like, this spot stays clean and uncluttered which provides a little sanctuary in the midst of every day life. (It also inspires me to keep the kitchen counters clear so I can enjoy it even more.)
You could add some greenery or a pretty centerpiece to your table to motivate you to keep the table clear of clutter, or add a comfy chair and cozy throw to a corner of your bedroom.
Adding happy spots to your home, no matter how small will bring you joy and motivate you to create more and more clear, uncluttered spaces in your home.
I would love to hear how you plan to “hygge” your home, so please leave a comment. 🙂
We’re in this together!
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Well…I guess I’ve kinda done this not knowing what it was…one spot that comes to mind is our bookshelf. Some shelves have books, one shelf has some decorations like a craft my daughter did and some shells my kids painted. I actually straighten that shelf a lot, which is weird as its in a hall where visitors rarely see it, but its refreshing to see a neatly organized shelf.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about Katy. It’s the little things, right?
You want to hear something funny? I was multitasking (reading this blog post and looking through my Amazon order archive) and I found that I had bought a free Kindle book last summer on Hygge! How funny! I still haven’t read it, oops! Maybe I should! I am so bad about doing this as I am decorating challenged. I have found by accident that I have done this in a couple spots in my home and I smile every time I look at them. By the way, I just got my first smart phone back in October. I am a bit of a tightwad and couldn’t find a decent phone price or data plan for my family until then! lol I had a slider phone not a flip phone. I had a least done that kind of an upgrade for a good while, lol. 😉 Anyway, to join your challenge, I guess I will start with my master bedroom!
That’s so funny Wendy! It sounds like me. I had to stop downloading free ebooks because I never read them.
And I’m glad to know I’m not alone in getting a smart phone later than the rest of the world. ?
I have been struggling with keeping my small apartment clean. It really has been bothering me but I felt so rundown that I didn’t do anything about it. Until yesterday. I decided I would clean up my living room as that is where I spend most of my time. I made a deal with myself that if I got it all clean then I could go to Home Depot and buy a couple succulents to create a centerpiece on my coffee table. Well for once I did manage to clean up the whole living room and it only took me an hour. I had so much fun picking out my new plants and deciding how I wanted my center piece to look. I now created a happy cozy feel to my living room just by adding this simple centerpiece. Even my 12 year old son thought it looked nice. He really liked that I put a candle with it as he loves candles more than I do. But he won’t bring them out unless I do.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this Tracy! Way to go!
I am the only one who stands at the kitchen sink, so I started with that window sill. It is the first place I decorate for each holiday. Then I boldly hung a huge wall hanging-not in the living room-but in the kitchen, where I get to look at it every day.
That’s so smart to start with the areas where you spend the most time Karla! Good for you!
(i still don’t have a smart phone or plans to get one)
The attitude of Hygge and loving home is relatively fresh for me after years of being frustrated due to medical issues that limit what I can do. Remembering a professor’s advice I started at the front, what I and others see upon driving in the driveway: my entry outside. For the past couple years I’ve enjoyed a plant rack and bench, changing plants and decorations as needed or seasonally.
PS Thanks for sharing your store story. I appreciate your candor and gumption!
Thanks so much for your encouragement Carolyn! That’s really smart to start with the front of your house. It sounds very welcoming.
I love this and actually I have been doing it this year and didn’t even realize it. I am slowly clearing rooms and areas within rooms and they definitely have given me more motivation to continue. I love your style, decor and organization and it would make me happy too!
Thanks Erin! Good for you for making progress on clearing out the clutter. Woohoo!
My spot of contentment is my porch. It was screened in until this past fall when we decided to enclose it with 11 nice big windows. It is decorated, has two recliners, but my great desire is to not let it get piled up as so much of the rest of our house is. We are readers, collectors, and general pack rats. I love the colors you have used in your porch spot. They are very cheery and beachy (another place of calm and contentment).
Thanks Charla! 11 windows sounds amazing! It must be beautiful.
Oh my, didn’t know there was a special name for my little spots of happy in our home. thanks for that insight. Also I have had a smart phone for less than 2 years so No you weren’t the last one 🙂
I’m so glad to hear this Karen! Haha!
I am working on my backyard space as well. Downsizing to a rental townhome from a large farmhouse I lived in for over 10 years has been a challenge to say the least, however creating those tiny spots have made me fulfilled and have made my rental space seem customized and given me a sense of peace relocating things from my previous home and using them in new ways.
So smart of you to make your rental space a home by customizing it Amanda. Way to go!
Love the plant on the tray! I’ve been looking for a different, low maintenance centerpiece idea. This is perfect! I already have a tray from a different centerpiece I did with glass bottles. But I’m tired of that arrangement plus too much to dust. I think a plant or 2 might be just what I need! Thx for the idea! ?
You’re so welcome Kelly! Glad you like it. 🙂