Creating a Cozy Home with Soft Textiles and Decorative Accents
Photo by Logan Nolin on Unsplash
With the modern world becoming busier and more chaotic with each passing day, many of us are searching for ways to bring peace and tranquility into our homes. The art of hygge interior design has taken the world by storm recently and has become a favored choice among many interior designers. With its focus on mindfulness and appreciation for life’s little moments, this design trend is sure to keep rising in popularity as more people embrace its power to create harmony within their own living areas.
What is hygge, and why has it become so popular?
Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh) is a Danish word referring to the feeling of coziness and “comfortable conviviality” associated with contentment and wellness. In today’s fast-paced world, it can be challenging to take the time to relax and recharge properly. Fortunately, hygge encourages people to prioritize comfort over chaos by providing an opportunity for respite from the stress of hustle culture.
The Danish concept of hygge was brought to international attention in 2017 with the release of The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking – founder of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. This book explains the Danes’ secret for creating joy by understanding what makes them feel comfortable. Since then, people worldwide have adopted this style to bring more cozy vibes into their lives by curating homes reflective of this trend.
The term hygge is often used in interior design today, as it involves creating a space that prioritizes comfort and celebrates life’s simple pleasures. Hygge centers around creating an inviting ambiance and encourages surrounding yourself with things that give your space character and make it feel like home. By bringing these elements together in your living space, you can create a tranquil refuge from the chaos of everyday life.
How to embrace hygge in your home
Introducing the Danish concept of hygge interior design into your home is a beautiful way to transform your living space into an oasis of comfort and relaxation. While the basics of hygge are simple enough to achieve, they require thoughtful and intentional design decisions that bring together coziness, warm lighting, neutral colors, nature, minimalistic principles, and nostalgic touches in just the right balance.
Prioritize comfort
Comfort is at the core of hygge design, so finding ways to make your space more inviting and comfortable should be a top priority. Soft textiles such as plush rugs and pillows can help make your area feel warm and cozy while still being aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, layer different textures throughout the room to create an inviting environment, like blankets over armchairs or throws draped over couches. When it comes to furniture, opt for pieces with rounded edges for an extra dose of comfort.
When considering how to prioritize comfort with hygge design elements, it’s essential to pay attention not only to physical elements such as textiles but also to mental ones too. For example, having comforting smells nearby, such as essential oil diffusers or scented candles, will help further trigger feelings of relaxation.
Apply a neutral color scheme
Implementing a neutral color scheme into your interior design can have a powerful psychological impact on creating more relaxation and reducing stress in your daily life. Not only can colors be used to evoke active feelings, but they can also be used to create a calming atmosphere that is conducive to restoration and peace.
For centuries, people have used soft hues in order to soothe and heal. Warm colors such as reds, yellows, and oranges create an energetic environment, while cool colors like blues and greens tend to promote tranquility. It has been suggested that nature-based colors—particularly those that represent water—can effectively evoke feelings of calmness and relaxation.
Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends at MasterBrand Cabinets, explains further: “Nature-based colors have a very special way of connecting us with what’s outside our four walls; the sights, sounds, smells – all things that evoke feelings of comfort. When we bring these relaxing colors inside through interior design, we are able to recreate this peaceful atmosphere indoors regardless of the season or time of day.” This simple idea can help us significantly reduce stress in our daily lives by bringing an element of nature right into our homes.
Consider Basic Color Theory
The use of color theory in interior design has been around for many years. The principle behind it is that the right tones can influence certain emotions – from bright oranges being energizing or invigorating to soft blues to create a calming atmosphere. We often find ourselves subconsciously drawn towards certain shades without even realizing it. Translating this concept into our own homes allows us to create spaces where we can not only relax but also feel inspired and motivated within our own environment.
When using these tones in your hygge-inspired decorating scheme, ensure each color is used in moderation. It’s best when not overused in one area, such as walls or furniture pieces. To get the most out of this style, consider blending these neutral colors throughout your home by way of curtains, rugs, upholstery fabric, and throw pillows. This will create an overall feeling of unity while still allowing you to play around with texture and pattern options like faux fur or knits for added depth and visual interest.
Bring nature inside
Bringing nature into the home is integral to achieving a cozy atmosphere. Danish citizen Louise explains, “we try to stay connected to the earth through natural materials. That’s part of why we like to include exposed wood—to bring in warmth or that rustic look.” Wood furniture has a calming presence that helps reduce stress, while bamboo blinds or shades add texture, allowing light to filter in naturally.
Using natural materials in your interior design can promote relaxation, comfort, and peace. Additionally, plants help purify the air by removing pollutants from our homes while also adding color, texture, life, and vibrancy, which will help enhance well-being and create a refreshing atmosphere within your living space.
Set the mood with lighting
Lighting plays an integral role in achieving the cozy ambiance of the Danish hygge design trend. Ambient lights can create a warm and inviting atmosphere in any home. Wall sconces are ideal for providing decorative and functional soft illumination. Floor lamps and vintage accent lights also offer a good light source while adding a touch of character to the room. Overhead lighting should be subtle yet practical to avoid harsh glares and shadows that could distract from the desired cozy feeling.
Natural light is another great way to enhance any space and should be utilized whenever possible. For example, large windows or skylights can brighten the room with natural sunlight during the day, while sheer curtains or blinds can be used for privacy at night without affecting the overall atmosphere.
Employ minimalistic design principles
The Danes have long embraced minimalism as a fundamental design principle alongside the concept of hygge. Scandinavian minimalism is about stripping back the unnecessary and leaning into functionality to create a calm, uncluttered environment. Quality takes precedence over quantity, while each item is specifically curated for the space. It’s about making a visual impact with a few pieces instead of an overcrowded room.
The concept may sound simple enough, but adopting this minimalist approach requires discipline and self-control. This means making decisions based on practicality rather than sentimentality or impulse. This can be difficult for some people as our lives are often filled with clutter from accumulated possessions over time, but you can make space for things that matter by taking steps to declutter your home or office space.
Add a vintage or nostalgic touch
Adding vintage or nostalgic touches to your home can be an effective way to make it even more welcoming. Vintage items provide a unique charm and character that instantly brings a room to life. They also add a feeling of nostalgia and evoke fond memories of days gone by. With the right pieces, it’s possible to create a timeless and classic space with traditional elements from years past. Some fun examples of nostalgic accents that you can add to your space are:
-old photographs
-antique glassware
-classic books
-handcrafted quilts
-vintage frames
-ornate traditional mirrors
Combining modern and vintage pieces will allow you to achieve the perfect balance between comfort and style when implementing a hygge interior design in your home. By incorporating these elements into your decorating scheme, you will be able to evoke feelings of warmth and nostalgia without compromising on aesthetic beauty or functionality.
Shop Kaiyo
At Kaiyo, we are committed to making sure that you can create the perfect cozy home with our sustainably sourced and high-quality, gently used secondhand furniture. With Kaiyo, you get access to everything from sofas and armchairs to dining tables and storage solutions, all at an accessible price. Additionally, each piece has been thoroughly inspected by our team of experts before being posted online, so you know you’re getting something great every time.
Kaiyo also offers a tree-planting program for every purchase made on our site. Our mission is to make it easy and stylish for people to furnish their homes in an eco-friendly way. With so many unique features and benefits, it’s no wonder more people are turning to us when they want to achieve a cozy, hygge interior design in their homes. So, take advantage of what we have to offer here at Kaiyo today – because everyone deserves a beautiful home that won’t hurt the planet!
