Home & Garden
Can You Use Some Hygge in Your Life?
You may have heard the word, are likely unsure of how it's pronounced, what it is or what it means, but it's definitely worth reading more.
Over the past few years there has been a lot of buzz about Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga), but really, what is it? After researching the topic, I’ve come to realize that Hygee is not just a word, but an esoteric feeling of coziness, lifestyle or even frame of mind. Hygee is not a product or service that one can simply buy from a store, so coming to terms with its relevance and application is going to take a little work.
HYGGE (VIA THE OXFORD DICTIONARY)
Pronunciation /ˈhʊɡə//ˈh(j)uːɡə/
NOUN
mass noun
- A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture) ‘why not follow the Danish example and bring more hygge into your daily life?’ as modifier ‘count on candlelight—almost a requirement for that special hygge experience’
Origin
Danish, from Norwegian.
Pronunciation
hygge
/ˈhʊɡə//ˈh(j)uːɡə/
Find out what's happening in Los Altosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In the recently published Los Altos Town Crier article, How to Cultivate Coziness at Home By Removing Clutter, Los Altos based Interior Designer Celeste Randolph writes;
I have experienced hygge personally. A friend of mine moved to Los Altos from Denmark years ago and her home any day of the year encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being. She decorates her living room with comfortable white sofas and a large glass cocktail table that sits on a light-colored rug. Her light-filled living room opens to her dining room that houses a Mid-Century style table and chairs. Her home is sparkling, fresh-smelling and organized. Her art is modern, hung on clean, white walls. Her objects are minimal but really chic, purchased from their trips home every summer over the years. Current magazines are placed in pretty baskets near the sofas for easy reading along with soft throws strewn on the sofa for comfort. The aroma of dinner being prepared fills the room. She offers you your favorite drink and places small bowls of delicious snacks on the cocktail table for your taking. Her husband has music playing on their sound system that fills the room. - Celeste Randolph, How to Cultivate Coziness at Home By Removing Clutter
Find out what's happening in Los Altosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
WHERE TO FIND INSPIRATION FOR CREATING HYGGE AT HOME
Hygge on Pinterest:
Start by following a few Hygge Boards on Pinterest, then create your own Hygge Pinterest Board and start pinning!
How To Hygge on Pinterest (HERE)
Blogs I Follow for Hygge Inspiration:
1. How to Hygge the British Way
So there you go, you don’t need to Google it. Hygge, as I’ve come to understand, is beyond definition. With the word itself being more a feeling, it’s that something that can’t be defined or bought. By background, my family is Scandinavian, almost 100%, which could be why I am drawn to the idea of Hygee. I have always been a “nester”, and the idea of creating a cozy home, surrounded by comfort and people I love has always brought me peace and calm. And in this digital age we now live, where there is an app for everything and the world moves so fast, I believe it is important to slow down and just be. As my yoga teacher likes to say at the end of each class, “…and as you take rest, try to transition yourself from a human doing, to a human being”. I have found myself repeating this phrase, as I prioritize and focus on surrounding myself daily with what it is that brings me joy.
About Us: Rick and Suzanne Bell are real estate agents with over 40 years combined experience in real estate home sales. Serving Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Mountain View and surrounding Silicon Valley communities, Rick and Suzanne deliver a diverse and unique skill set when assisting clients in the marketing of their homes.
Rick’s background in both commercial and residential real estate marketing, coupled with his personal experience in real estate investment and home renovation empowers Rick’s clients with creative, unique and practical solutions when preparing and marketing their homes for sale.
Having managed nearly 500 employees as a Nordstrom store manager, Suzanne’s background in leadership, problem solving & customer service provides for a very unique skill set in addressing the challenges often faced during a modern real estate transaction.
