It’s time to get hygge
As winter draws in, it’s time to get As winter draws in, its time to get hygge – the Danes’
words by Danielle Demetriou
Chrystina Schmidt
Co-founder of Skandium, London boutiques that showcase Scandinavian design products
HYGGE IS…
Cosiness, homeliness, warmth – hygge describes a state of being. The reason for its existence in Scandinavia is very simple: a cold climate and absence of light in winter. As a result, homes are very central in Scandinavian life so it is important that living spaces are welcoming and emit warmth.
PERFECT EXAMPLES
1. Slippers are essential in any Scandinavian home – people always take their outdoor shoes off and swap them for slippers when they get in. These felt wool slippers made by Pia Wallén are warm, soft and fun to wear.
2. Fabrics by the Swedish designers Jobs consist of delicate block-printed flowers on linen. The overall effect is very joyous – just like bringing summer inside the house.
3. Wallpapers by Sandberg bring a room to life. They are reprints of traditional wallpaper found in old manor houses alongside more contemporary designs.
4. Cross blankets, also by Pia Wallén, are thick and tightly woven; perfect for keeping warm on a winter’s evening. They are handwoven on an old 17th-century weaving stool, the only one working in Scandinavia.
HYGGE AT HOME
1. I’m a big advocate of fabrics, wallpapers, cushions and curtains. Using tactile, natural materials and fabrics can make a big difference to a room. Try layering lots of soft materials – cushions, rugs, throws. But keep the colours in co-ordinated tones so it doesn’t look overdone.
2. Candles are essential. For half the year in Scandinavia, it gets dark very early. As a result, there is a constant longing for light. There are many people designing candle holders at the moment. Candles lighten and warm the atmosphere, particularly when it is dark outside. This is also why Swedish and Finnish designers are often obsessed with glass because it reflects light. Good lighting is important generally as it sets the stage for a home.
3. Keep things clutter free. It’s good to layer lots of soft materials – cushions, fabrics, rugs and throws – but keep it simple.
All products available at Skandium’s two London stores in Brompton Road and Marylebone or via www.skandium.com
René Hougaard
Furniture designer and architect behind Danish design company Dnmark. Also an architect for Townhouse DK, a London showcase of Danish Design (www.townhouse.um.dk)
HYGGE IS…
Hygge is very personal. It could be a dinner party with friends, a comfortable chair, a bunch of wild flowers or even playing an instrument. Last weekend, I had friends over for dinner and as we sat around the table eating, laughing, talking, that created a perfect sense of hygge. When I am designing, hygge is all about clean, straight lines with not too much in a space. Someone else might like more clutter but hygge is whatever creates a feeling of personal peace.
PERFECT EXAMPLES
1. Hygge in the home is essential. I custom made a huge grass-green sofa for my home. It’s hygge because all my friends can sit on it together when they visit. As the rest of the space is mostly in black and white, it lights up the room.
2. Another example is my Mono Lounge chair. It is a strong, clean design but also very comfortable. It’s made from leather, a very warm material that becomes more beautiful with the passing of time.
3. My GT-Table in rosewood is perfect for having people around for dinner. The colour of the rosewood looks great with white plates, warm lights and silver candlestick holders. It’s the social focus of the room.
HYGGE AT HOME
1. Flowers are an easy way of creating hygge. Either buy some – I like roses in particular – or pick some on your way home. It doesn’t matter if you live in a city. Be creative and collect some branches and arrange them at home.
2. Music always enhances my mood. I like to match music to what I’m doing. For example, if we have friends over for sushi, I play traditional Japanese music. I also love sitting and singing with my guitar.
3. Good lighting is essential. The worst thing someone can do is having a single neon fixture in the ceiling. That, for me, is more horror than hygge. Break things up and put in lots of small lights. For a soft, warm atmosphere, use low hanging lights and make sure everything is downward facing.
All products available via www.dnmark.com
Maria Berntsen
Award-winning product designer based in Copenhagen (www.mariaberntsen.com)
HYGGE IS…
Hygge is an important part of daily life. Danes are very much into creating cosy living spaces. It’s about mixing design with a way of living. The word has been around for a long time but it has become increasingly important in recent years as people have become more and more stressed by modern life. Reading a magazine, making a nice cup of tea, lighting a candle or playing with children on rugs on the floor: these are all ways of expressing hygge at home.
PERFECT EXAMPLES
1. My Quack vacuum serving jug for Georg Jensen is very much part of the hygge idea. It is associated with warm and cosy things. I often find just making green or black tea very relaxing.
2. My Glow candlelight holder is another example of hygge. Lighting a candle in a house, in summer or winter, will always create a good atmosphere. This is a simple, natural design in stainless steel, or in gold for Christmas.
3. Fatboys are perfect for relaxing at home. They are basically giant pillows you can sit or lie on. They come in all sorts of colours, patterns and fabrics, including flowery Marimekko prints. We have one in our French summer house in Provence in white. It’s ideal for relaxing.
HYGGE AT HOME
1. Stack piles of blankets, rugs and pillows around the house. I have a pile stacked next to our sofa for snuggling into or laying on the floor when there are children around. They don’t have to match. I have a whole range, from old French cotton blankets to red velour Chinese rugs.
2. Magazines and books are the soul of any house. They are fantastic ways of finding inspiration at home. A magazine is fresh and new and keeps you in touch while a book is something deeper that you read again and again. I find it inspiring being surrounded by them at home.
3. I love mixing old and new. To create a cosy home, try mixing old flea market finds with modern design. The old stuff always tells a story, while the new items are fresh and just at the beginning of their stories. Putting the two together makes me feel more alive.
Quack jug and Glow candlelight holders available from Georg Jensen via www.georgjensen.com. Fatboys from www.fatboy-uk.com
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