You can’t pull up your social media feeds these days without seeing some reference to “hygge.” The Danish term — pronounced “hoo-gah” — is nearly as pervasive as pumpkin spice, with applications ranging from beauty and self care to interior design.
So what exactly is hygge?
“At its core, [hygge] is centered around embracing life’s little moments and taking pleasure in the simplicity,” says Kristy Woodson Harvey, author and owner of Design Chic, in an email interview. Indeed, the trend is defined by “The Little Book of Hygge” as “being about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things.” It’s that feeling you get when you’re surrounded by loved ones, when you’re safe and when you feel at home (whether you’re actually in your house or not).
[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]
[custom_gallery]
This sense of “home” is what makes hygge such a big trend in interior design, with certain features, textures and colors creating the cozy, warm and calming spaces that hygge invokes. However, you don’t have to transform your home into an homage to Scandinavia in order to achieve hygge. In fact, you likely don’t have to change a thing about your space if you already feel comfortable, warm and loved when you’re there.
If your home is more of a stressor than a stress-reliever, channeling the spirit of hygge can help reform your space into something that adds value to your life. “Any rooms that are designed deliberately to slow you down, allow you to disconnect and to simply be cozy and be, are going to be rooms where you have thought about Hygge,” says Mark Cutler, an interior designer in Los Angeles, in an email.
At the cusp of the hectic holiday season, a calm, safe space is just what you and your family need to stay grounded. Here’s how to bring hygge into your home without a high-powered budget.
More from U.S. News
12 Millennial-Inspired Ways to Spend Less
7 Habits You Can Learn From Highly Successful Savers
How to ‘Hygge Up’ Your Home Decor for Less originally appeared on usnews.com