If, last Christmas, you went anywhere near a bookshop or the pages of a magazine or lifestyle blog, you'll know that the Danish art of Hygge (Hyu-Gah) was the big Winter trend, In case you were under a rock Hygge translates very roughly to a cosy comforting atmosphere and appreciating simple pleasures in life, and all the articles and books about achieving this blissful state recommend big log fires, cosy blankets, hearty soups and calming hot drinks.
Even though it was a massive marketing gimmick, I do really believe in embracing the Hygge lifestyle, and spent the winter surrounded by candles and soft throws, making sure I had a warm comforting space to come home to after a long day at work or out in the cold. But everything I saw in the Hygge lifestyle can be translated to a happy and calming summer, so I thought I'd share tips on staying hygge in the heat.
P L A N T S Of course this is hardly limited to winter, but filling your space with fresh plants and flowers is a perfect way to brighten things up and create a place that feels full of life. Cut flowers or fake plants are fine, but if you can, try to get indoor potted plants (Aloe vera, cacti and rubber plants are easily available and hella low-maintenance) as living plants in your space help to clean the air and are more long lasting. These are great to add a positive touch to an office space too!
O U T D O O R S P A C E With the warmer weather comes the chance to be outdoors more, so why not take advantage of this and schedule some al fresco time? Sunshine floods us with happy hormones as well as all important vitamin D and, so long as you're wearing SPF and avoiding really hot temperatures, taking some time outside can be a refreshing change, particularly here in England where we spend a lot of time inside waiting for the rain to stop. Enjoy warm evenings, reading with a blanket in the garden, or start the day doing yoga outside and not caring if a neighbour looks out of the window and catches you toppling out of Warrior II pose.
C A N D L E S One of the main buzzwords surrounding the Hygge trend was candles. Filling your home with soft light and warm comforting smells seemed to be the ultimate embodiment of this philosophy, and just because the cold weather and long nights have gone doesn't mean there's no place for candles in your home! I still love lighting a candle or two, on my window sill or by the sofa to add a warm glow, and if scented candles are your jam, consider switching up your smells by season. Put your winter cinnamon and gingerbreads away and crack out fresh linen and florals. To add onto my last point, nothing adds class to an evening out in the garden with friends like a row of tealights along a patio wall, or a large candle in a vase in the middle of the table (being careful, obviously). If fire isn't your thing, try fragrance sticks and/or electric candles and fairy lights to get the effect you want.
J O U R N A L L I N G For me, one of the most under-appreciated parts of Hygge is the focus on cultivating an inner calm. There's very little point in making the effort to create a cozy, calm, enjoyable exterior without also doing some work on our interiors. This isn't strictly a winter/summer change but it's definitely worth mentioning. Even something as simple as a line-a-day diary or a scrappy notebook for doodles and lists can be a great way to lay out intentions and look at thought patterns and can have such a calming effect. My favourite thing to do if I can't sleep is to write two lists: What is keeping me awake? and What am I grateful for? And by venting any frustrations onto paper and then focusing on all the lovely things I have in my life, I turn the lights off and lie back down in a much calmer, happier state.
L I G H T F O O D Another big part of Hygge was the food and drink. Big hearty stews and freshly baked bread, with warm drinks seem to be the ideal, but this can easily be updated for summer. The Hygge philosophy surrounding food and drink seems to boil down to (pun totally intended) 'Consume what makes you feel good.' For me personally this means a summer full of huge fruity smoothies, sorbets, meat-free barbecues and big salads full of texture and colour and nourishment. I consume very little in the way of animal product so your mileage may vary, but I find that taking advantage of summer produce and making vibrant, interesting plant based meals to be the most nourishing and comforting option for me. My most recent discovery is finely chopping spring onion, garlic and a little chilli and mixing with a bit of oil, then brushing that over thinly sliced tofu, sprinkling with a touch of cornflour and baking until golden and crispy, then stacking on a plate with smashed avocado with pepper as a dip. Light, healthy and delicious. I also love blending frozen banana slices with soy yogurt and fruit, or cocoa powder and peanut butter for an amazing ice cream alternative.
S K I N C A R E I personally find skincare and beauty products so theraputic. I love the ritualistic aspect of applying them, and the feeling that my skin is being looked after and comforted as I let it all sink in. The change of seasons is a great opportunity to switch up some of your skin care and enjoy the feeling of comfort and well-being that comes from a new homemade face mask or finding the perfect peppermint foot scrub and pampering yourself. I love LUSH products, and have just discovered the delights of soap made with peppermint oil and activated charcoal! I will definitely be doing a cruelty free beauty favourites soon so stay tuned!
Thank you so much for reading and hopefully that was an enjoyable read and gave some useful advice for translating a cosy, comforting winter into a calm, happy summer.
Even though it was a massive marketing gimmick, I do really believe in embracing the Hygge lifestyle, and spent the winter surrounded by candles and soft throws, making sure I had a warm comforting space to come home to after a long day at work or out in the cold. But everything I saw in the Hygge lifestyle can be translated to a happy and calming summer, so I thought I'd share tips on staying hygge in the heat.
P L A N T S Of course this is hardly limited to winter, but filling your space with fresh plants and flowers is a perfect way to brighten things up and create a place that feels full of life. Cut flowers or fake plants are fine, but if you can, try to get indoor potted plants (Aloe vera, cacti and rubber plants are easily available and hella low-maintenance) as living plants in your space help to clean the air and are more long lasting. These are great to add a positive touch to an office space too!
O U T D O O R S P A C E With the warmer weather comes the chance to be outdoors more, so why not take advantage of this and schedule some al fresco time? Sunshine floods us with happy hormones as well as all important vitamin D and, so long as you're wearing SPF and avoiding really hot temperatures, taking some time outside can be a refreshing change, particularly here in England where we spend a lot of time inside waiting for the rain to stop. Enjoy warm evenings, reading with a blanket in the garden, or start the day doing yoga outside and not caring if a neighbour looks out of the window and catches you toppling out of Warrior II pose.
C A N D L E S One of the main buzzwords surrounding the Hygge trend was candles. Filling your home with soft light and warm comforting smells seemed to be the ultimate embodiment of this philosophy, and just because the cold weather and long nights have gone doesn't mean there's no place for candles in your home! I still love lighting a candle or two, on my window sill or by the sofa to add a warm glow, and if scented candles are your jam, consider switching up your smells by season. Put your winter cinnamon and gingerbreads away and crack out fresh linen and florals. To add onto my last point, nothing adds class to an evening out in the garden with friends like a row of tealights along a patio wall, or a large candle in a vase in the middle of the table (being careful, obviously). If fire isn't your thing, try fragrance sticks and/or electric candles and fairy lights to get the effect you want.
J O U R N A L L I N G For me, one of the most under-appreciated parts of Hygge is the focus on cultivating an inner calm. There's very little point in making the effort to create a cozy, calm, enjoyable exterior without also doing some work on our interiors. This isn't strictly a winter/summer change but it's definitely worth mentioning. Even something as simple as a line-a-day diary or a scrappy notebook for doodles and lists can be a great way to lay out intentions and look at thought patterns and can have such a calming effect. My favourite thing to do if I can't sleep is to write two lists: What is keeping me awake? and What am I grateful for? And by venting any frustrations onto paper and then focusing on all the lovely things I have in my life, I turn the lights off and lie back down in a much calmer, happier state.
L I G H T F O O D Another big part of Hygge was the food and drink. Big hearty stews and freshly baked bread, with warm drinks seem to be the ideal, but this can easily be updated for summer. The Hygge philosophy surrounding food and drink seems to boil down to (pun totally intended) 'Consume what makes you feel good.' For me personally this means a summer full of huge fruity smoothies, sorbets, meat-free barbecues and big salads full of texture and colour and nourishment. I consume very little in the way of animal product so your mileage may vary, but I find that taking advantage of summer produce and making vibrant, interesting plant based meals to be the most nourishing and comforting option for me. My most recent discovery is finely chopping spring onion, garlic and a little chilli and mixing with a bit of oil, then brushing that over thinly sliced tofu, sprinkling with a touch of cornflour and baking until golden and crispy, then stacking on a plate with smashed avocado with pepper as a dip. Light, healthy and delicious. I also love blending frozen banana slices with soy yogurt and fruit, or cocoa powder and peanut butter for an amazing ice cream alternative.
S K I N C A R E I personally find skincare and beauty products so theraputic. I love the ritualistic aspect of applying them, and the feeling that my skin is being looked after and comforted as I let it all sink in. The change of seasons is a great opportunity to switch up some of your skin care and enjoy the feeling of comfort and well-being that comes from a new homemade face mask or finding the perfect peppermint foot scrub and pampering yourself. I love LUSH products, and have just discovered the delights of soap made with peppermint oil and activated charcoal! I will definitely be doing a cruelty free beauty favourites soon so stay tuned!
Thank you so much for reading and hopefully that was an enjoyable read and gave some useful advice for translating a cosy, comforting winter into a calm, happy summer.
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