Hygge(lig) Design - the Danish Way of Living
Ever come across the Danish word hygge? It’s one of those annoying words that can’t be translated well into English, because there is no equivalent. Most of the time, people say it’s similar to the word ‘cosy’ and it’s something along the lines of the feeling of a warm fireplace on a cold winter light, snuggling up with a warm cup of your preferred beverage and perhaps a few candles lit. Honestly, it’s not far-fetched. That scenario is definitely cosy, and could be hyggelig. But the concept of hygge is a lot broader than just that, and I’ll do my best to explain it here in this blog, so you can understand how it impacts my way of designing.
What is Hygge?
So, like any good (previous) scholar, let’s start with a definition: Hygge is both a noun, a verb, AND has an adjective version hyggelig, which obviously makes it challenging to give just one definition. Nevertheless, I thought I’d look up the exact definition in the Danish dictionary (ordnet.dk). Here hygge (the verb) is defined as ‘experiencing or creating a comfortable, secure, and relaxed atmosphere’ (my direct translation). So, with this in mind, you can see that hygge cannot simply be pinned down to lighting candles and making a cup of tea. A space or a design project can be hyggelig (adjective) without having an open fire etc.
I recently posted on Instagram that, to me, Danish design is warm minimalism, and that means the feeling of a warm hug, when you come home from a long day. To me, hyggelig design is about designing spaces that invite you to exhale, relax, and reflect. It’s in the quiet confidence of a well-worn oak dining table, the tactility of linen curtains gently moving with the breeze, or the way a room naturally pulls people in for intimate conversations – not performance.
My version of Hyggelig Design in Australia
In Australia, especially in Sydney, open-plan-living is in. We see it in home renovation shows, realestate listings and in requests from my clients. And open-plan living can be incredibly beautiful, light-filled and align well with the principle of hygge - if done right…
Now, I know I said hygge isn’t just about candles, and yet, I am, showing you a photo of candles. But this is actually my childhood home and if any home is hygge to me, this would be it!
The challenge (as I’ve mentioned again and again in previous blog posts) is that these open spaces often become echoey and overstyled, feeling like a white showroom, where no-one lives. Danish design doesn’t aim to impress - well, it does.. But it’s an understated elegance that makes a place hyggelig. AND, a grandma-vibe home is definitely hyggelig, although not exactly in fashion. Making a design hyggelig, the Danish way, is about making homes that are lived in and loved.
Nothing says hygge like your pet snuggling up in your lap when you’re sick!
(private photo from last week)
I bring that vision into my work by thinking deeply about how a space will feel in real life. Will you actually want to curl up in that reading nook at the end of a long working day? Is the dining area good for long, meandering dinners with close friends – or does it make you feel like you need to sit up straight? Those small cues shape our experience, and when they’re done with intention, they create that elusive hyggelige atmosphere that can’t quite be described – only felt.
So I apologise that you’ve read this far and yet, I don’t have a magic wand that makes you understand the deep-rooted sense of hygge. Though, I hope your knowledge has increased a tiny bit and I promise you, when you walk into a space that is hyggelig, you won’t be in doubt! Let me know if you need my to take you to one!
