Hygge [HOO-ga]
The Danish concept of creating a warm inviting atmosphere,taking things slowly, getting cozy + enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
If you have been reading my blog, you’ll know I am all about the hygge life. Before I even educated myself in the Danish way of living, I was already living it! I bet most homebodies you know would be drawn to the idea of hygge, in fact, most Danes prefer hjemmrhygge (home hygge).
Our homes are the central place for most experiences in our lives, from social gatherings to our personal quiet time to cooking meals for us + others. So it would only make sense to focus on the home & what makes it more hyggelig.
Today, I want to focus on the kitchen. For us “hygge homebodies”, the kitchen is more than a place to have your food + cook it. It’s a place to share the joy of working with our hands, to take in all the smells that are simmering and the warmth of the coffee brewing. It may seem out of the norm for some, but it is completely reasonable to have pillows, blankets, rugs + greenery throughout the kitchen. You would be amazed at how this can change the atmosphere, to become your favourite spot in the home!
I have rounded up my favourite hygge kitchens for your inspiration pleasure & added some tips to help your kitchen be hyggelig as well.
Hygge in Your Home: Cozy Kitchens
(Ways to bring hygge into your kitchen)
Hyggekrog ( n o o k )
Lightly translated, hyggekrog is a small nook usually beside a window, where you can cuddle up, enjoy a hot cup of tea, read a book or catch up on some work. A hyggekrog doesn’t need to be in the kitchen but it really ups the hygge game if it is.
Your hyggekrog can be its own dedicated space or dually function as part of your kitchen seating. Adding some pillows + a blanket are a must, and then you are well on your way. In Denmark, real estate agent’s will actually highlight a hyggekrog as a selling feature of the home!
SOURCE via One Kings Lane
SOURCE via Inside Out
SOURCE via @home_and_abroad
Warm Drink Station
Whether you are a coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider or any other type of warm beverage drinker… you can’t get cozier in the kitchen without a small dedicated space for your favourite warm drink. Now I know there is a time & place for an alcoholic beverage station – but it doesn’t have the same hyggelig vibes to it.
A little station for your favourite warm drinks also creates a more inviting space, where your friends + loved ones can feel a part of your home by making their own drinks and setting up a more engaged experience together.
SOURCE via Only Deco Love
SOURCE via My Scandinavian Home
SOURCE via Heather Bullard
Nature ( w o o d + p l a n t s)
If you want your home, and specifically your kitchen to be a place for hygge, you’ll need wood elements. The natural look + feel of wood, the smell of it, the sound of wooden floors creaking, all contribute to a hyggelig home. Bringing the outdoors in is essential when feeling cozy at home – we will continue with this in the next example.
SOURCE via The White Farmhouse Blog
Morgan from The White Farmhouse Blog has my favourite kitchen ever – it has all the hygge vibes you want! (Also, having a fireplace with crackling wood bursts my hygge heart.)
SOURCE via The Stylephiles
SOURCE via Refinery29
Continuing the conversation of bringing the outdoors in, I would like to add the necessity of bringing some other natural elements in along with the wood ones. The wood definitely brings in large statement pieces of nature, but the soft + delicate elements shouldn’t be overlooked either.
Thankfully, it is quite easy doing this in the kitchen because we cook with herbs all the time, so why not bring these fresh plants in to look pretty + be useful?
SOURCE via The White Farmhouse Blog
SOURCE via Rhiannon Lawson Blog
SOURCE via The Jungalow
Books
I love a good bookshelf. When it comes to cookbooks I have a serious problem, I could get lost in reading recipes for hours. Cooking, especially together, creates a beautiful hygge experience; out of a recipe book even more so! So showcase those beauties!
SOURCE via House & Home
SOURCE via House & Home
SOURCE via Magnolia Market
Rugs
We have recently brought a big, gorgeous rug into our kitchen and it has changed the entire feel of the kitchen. It brings in a soft, warmth that instantly makes your cooking haven a cozy + inviting space.
SOURCE via The White Farmhouse Blog
SOURCE via Katie Moyer
SOURCE via HonestlyWTF
Vintage
I didn’t realize how big vintage items are in a Danish home. Possibly, because of the nostalgia behind the items, or maybe because they are perfectly worn in to seamlessly fit in with a cozy vibe or because it is something you have had your entire life that holds value.
Either way, having a few vintage items in your hygge space is a must in your kitchen. Vintage rugs are gorgeous, as shown above, or a special light fixture, photo or possibly an antique kitchen scale? The possibilities are endless!
SOURCE via Apartment Therapy
SOURCE via Green Wedding Shoes
SOURCE via Leanna Earle
Hygge [HOO-ga]
A calm, comfortable time with the people you love;a complete absence of frustrations or anythingemotionally overwhelming. Often enjoyed withgood food + drinks, warm blankets and candlelight.This is happiness.
I really enjoyed learning about hygge- I had never heard of it before! This makes complete sense though as so much of our time is spent in the kitchen. Why not make it cozy and comfortable! I’m going to try and implement some of these ideas!
So informative! I had never heard about hygge before! But I’ve always loved a nice, cozy kitchen. Our current one is so far from cozy and inviting, but we’re buying a house later this year so I’m hoping to make that kitchen super homey 🙂
I like the idea of creating warm, inviting, and cozy living spaces. The kitchen nooks and cookbook shelving inspiration in this post has me dreaming of my future kitchen.
I love the nook idea. Starting the morning with a cup of tea and a good book or the morning paper. That’s like the perfect start.
I love the natural wood look with some plant accents! So pretty!
We are remodeling the kitchen and doing many of these ideas. Love the look and very functional and soothing at same time
What beautiful decor in all your pictures. I have never heard of hygge, but I love the idea. I love the idea of pillows and blankets in the kitchen. Warms it up – makes it more homey!
This Hygge style is very pretty. I can see that it really is an artform. Great suggestions.
This is a wonderful idea especially now where everything is electronics! I grew up in a simpler time when all we had was a radio and a black and white TV and they weren’t on all the time. We spent time outside, grew our own vegetables and fruits and enjoyed working in our gardens.
Your kitchen is just so amazing. I would love to cook in this all day.
I hadn’t heard of hygge before today. I always do like a bright and welcoming house. Down the line I hope we can do some renovations.
Wow I am loving all of these cozy home spaces! Definitely future dream house decor goals!
I love this whole hygge movement thing that seems to be taking homes with a storm. I love every one of these options. From the colors and wooden tones.
I love the idea of hygge, I live in an older house and it has a lot of charm but our window seat was never used and could be a great nook. I love the layout of the kitchens in your post so inviting.
I need more of this in my life! It definitely makes the kitchen feel more comfortable and relaxing especially when you have the whole family gathered in the room and just enjoying a meal. I love the inspiration and the ideas!
I love how everything is organized. I wish my kitchen could look that great. My kitchen seriously need a lift.
Never heard of hygge before but now I do and I wanna do it to my kitchen this instant. Totally loving the photos, it looks so amazing and great ideas will keep them in mind.
Those are very interesting concepts and not what I was expecting! My kitchen is on the small side, and my goals – and biggest challenges – are to keep it decluttered. I don’t think I would have room for any of these ideas, although the plants + wood could be doable.
We are big into hygge at our house, and actually even, in our town! There are lots of opportunities to experience hygge where I live. I love all your thoughts about it. Gave me some ideas for my own kitchen!
I would love my own hyggekrog. It sounds like the best place to curl up and read a good book while sipping on your fave coffee. I love the comfy and cozy lifestyle!
I enjoyed browsing and reading it. Now, I am loving the Hygge style so far. Very nice and really looks very pleasing to the eyes. Awesome ideas too!