Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is the Danish way of living a cozy life that encourages well-being and contentment. Until recently, many of the elements of Hygge were only experienced while staying away from home, at places like The Holladay House. But now everyone can to embrace Hygge and incorporate it into their everyday lives. The best way to Hygge is to make it a sensory experience by doing things that invigorate all five of the human senses. These tips will help you bring comfort into your home and embrace coziness during the winter months.
- Scents: Scent is one of the most powerful senses and our brains associate scents with specific memories like special days and places we have experienced throughout our lives. This also means that you have the power to make ordinary moments special through the power of scent. When you want to relax and get cozy, try recreating a specific scent that is warm and beautiful to you. You can also try mixing scents in the form of room sprays or diffusers. At The Holladay House, we use room air refreshers from Emz Blendz, which you can even take home, in lavender, orange clove, lemon verbena, and rosemary mint.
- Sights: There is a reason we don’t ever feel relaxed in places like the dentist’s chair, big-box stores, and classrooms – fluorescent lighting. If you’re looking for the perfect way to make your home feel a bit more magical, warm, and cozy, layer with your lighting. Using candles on your tables and/or windowsills makes the room look inviting for unwinding. You can also string twinkle lights, use a salt lamp (which has lots of other benefits, too), and play around with dimmers to help de-stress. Bonus points for making a fire to really get Hygge with it.
- Taste: The Brits aren’t the only ones who recognize the power of a warm beverage like tea. The Danish act of Hygge can be as simple as taking ten minutes to sip and savor your favorite hot drink on a snowy day. This time of year, we are particularly partial to mulled wine (or Glögg, as the Danish know it) from one of Virginia’s delicious vineyards. Some other treats to help you Hygge include toast and jam (we like Elderberry jam), oatmeal, a savory roast, and Swedish meatballs, to name a few. But our homemade buttermilk biscuits will work great, too.
- Touch: Putting on your comfiest sweater and curling up under a soft blanket after a long day is a perfect way to literally feel the power of Hygge. It’s similar to how petting a dog or cat can relax us (special shout out to Shadow, The Holladay House-cat). Sitting in a squishy, perfectly broken-in chair, snuggling with someone you love, and feeling the pages turn in your newest novel are all acts that help us become more present and relaxed. The essence of Hygge is learning how to acknowledge moments, and touch is central to helping us achieve that acknowledgment.
- Sound: The Little Book of Hygge describes it as “…humble and slow. It is choosing rustic over new, simple over posh, and ambiance over excitement.” Take this literally and apply it to the sounds you surround yourself with. Practice Hygge in quiet and relaxing rooms – of which we have six that are perfect – and by listening to soft and slow music. The best places for Hygge are those that are quiet and have limited distractions. Don’t forget to silence, turn off, or leave your phone elsewhere when you’re trying to get into a Hygge vibe.
We hope you will take these tips and incorporate Hygge into your home during the winter months. Even a few changes made here and there can help cure those winter blues we all feel every once and awhile. Hygge can also be practiced throughout the year, but the idea of being extra cozy in the winter seems especially inviting. If you’re not in the mood to prep for Hygge yourself, come on over for a stay and let us help you Hygge during breakfast, throughout the day, and at night in one of our whirlpool suites.
