Welcome February! I think January was a rough month for us all, so I’m hoping that February will bring the love. Since it also happens to be the first Wednesday of the month, it’s time for another 10 Minute Decorating post with some of my favorite bloggers. This month we’re talking all about bring some warmth and coziness to your home with simple winter decor ideas. You can find links to all of the projects at the end of the post, so don’t forget to check them out!
Winter has never been my favorite time of year. In fact, I’m usually counting down the days until spring as soon as Christmas is over. This year, however, I found a little book that’s inspired me to embrace winter. To take some time for rest, and reflection, and family. To take some time to just unplug.
Honestly, with all of the turmoil going on in the world these days, a little time to focus on gratitude and happiness is needed more than ever. Hygge {pronounced Hoo-gah} is all about enjoying the simple things in life, savoring each experience, and being with the ones we love. It’s about creating a sense of home and safety where we can just let our guard down and be ourselves. Sounds pretty good right about now, eh?
Adding some hygge to your life doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, the simpler everything is, the better! Here are nine easy ways to add some hygge to your home.
Unplug.
There is SO much information that we come across each day that it can often get overwhelming. It’s hard to know who to trust, which sources are reliable, and what the actual facts are. I read that the information that is now generated in TWO DAYS is equivalent to the information available from the start of time until 2003. No wonder our heads are spinning!
Unplugging is not about sticking our heads in the sand and not being informed about the world around us. It’s about taking a little time each day {or even a whole day if you can swing it!}, to just be present in the moment and enjoy the ones that you are with. To bring hygge into your home, turn off the televisions, leave the cell phones at the door, and take some time to slow down and embrace the simple things in life.
Light Candles and Create Soft Lighting
Create a calm and cozy environment in your home with softer lighting and some flickering candles. Use up those old candles and don’t leave them for decoration only! Take some of those twinkle lights from Christmas and place them around your home. It’s amazing how relaxing this can be! Put a candle on while you’re cooking, reading in bed, or taking a bath. It only takes a few seconds, but it really makes everyday tasks seem so much more luxurious.
I also love the battery operated mini lights that come with an automatic shut-off {I got mine from Michaels and Home Sense}. Every 24 hours they will automatically come on and stay lit for 4 hours.
Cuddle Up with Cozy Blankets and Pillows
I am always cold during the winter so I’m usually not too far away from a cozy blanket. I have them stocked all over the house! I love all of the different textures that they bring and how they instantly warm up a room. Faux furs, chunky knits, soft wool – I’ll take them all!
Snuggle up on the sofa with a favorite blanket {or two!}, or create a special little space for you to sprawl out in. Fill it with your largest, fluffiest pillows and spend some time cuddling and talking about the day with your partner or kiddos. Again, mix up different materials and textures for a soft and cozy feel.
Fill your Home with Your Favorite Books
I love reading, but it’s definitely one of those activities that I never seem to have time for. This winter pull out some of your favorite books {or those books that you still have yet to read!} and put them on display. Place them on your shelves or stack a few on your coffee or side table. The more you visually see your books, the more likely you are to take some time to actually read them. Turn the television off and cozy up with a book in your favorite comfy spot or snuggle in bed with your kids sharing a classic children’s story together. Keep a book or two beside your own bed to wind down in the evening. For an extra hygge factor, make sure you have your fluffy blankets and some candles burning. 🙂
Set up a Hot Beverage Station
There’s nothing better than a tasty, warm drink to take away the winter cold! Create a simple hot beverage station in your home with your family’s favorite drinks. Tea, coffee, hot cider, hot chocolate – anything warm and indulgent! Not only does it create a pretty display, but it also makes it much easier for family and friends to grab a mug and relax. We’re big hot cocoa drinkers around here so I have this hot chocolate bar set up in our kitchen. I’ll get a few different toppings each week when I’m grocery shopping to change it up a bit and the kids love creating their own concoctions.
You’ll also want to make sure you have an awesome mug to drink it from. Some mugs just fit so nicely in your hand!
Bring the Outside In
Add elements from nature such as leaves, twigs, or greenery to warm up your space. Fill a small bowl with nuts or place some branches in a simple white vase. Choose items that you love or have special meaning to you. You could even try collecting some items while out on a nature walk!
Indulge in Sweet Treats
I think that this may be my favorite thing about the hygge way of life. Cakes, pastries, homemade baking, and chocolate {of course!} are all part of of hygge. It’s about being kind to yourself, taking a little break from the health food, and savoring each bite. How can you argue with that?
Create a Hygge Basket
Have a basket ready with some blankets, pillows, a lighter for your candles, and a couple of your favorite books. It looks pretty and makes it easy to tote all of your hygge essentials anywhere in your home!
Share it with Family and Friends
Perhaps the most important thing about hygge is who we share it with. While it is always nice to have some time completely to ourselves, staying connected with family and friends is probably the best way to make it through the winter. Enjoy each others company without all of the distractions of the outside world. Spreading the love starts from home, so take some time to nurture yourself and your loved ones this season.
Share the love this February! xo
For more winter inspiration and decor ideas, please check out these posts. I’m sure they’ll bring some warmth and coziness to those winter days!
I really like these ideas. Home will be new, feel comfy and ready this winter looking like this. hanks for the ideas.
I love it! I think I need that book!
Yes! I enjoyed it. Very simple book but I guess that is what hygge is all about! 🙂
Your home is the neatest coziest I have ever seen,,God bless it and fill it with happiness and harmony.
Thanks so much for your sweet comment! I hope your home is filled with happiness and harmony too. xo
just scrolling through your post makes me feel all sorts of cozy. someday when i’ve got my own house, i’m going to do things like this (i hope)! for now, i’ve got my zebra-print, super soft robe for wearing in the mornings. cozinessssss
Thanks so much! It doesn’t take much to create some coziness – an awesome robe is perfect!
Interesting! I never heard of that book. I want to check it out. Thanks for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It 🙂
It was a simple book {in keeping with the simplicity of hygge I guess!}, but I enjoyed it! Thanks for hosting.
I’ve seen the word Hygge and I’ll be honest, had no idea what it was or meant until this post! I need some Hygge in my life…desperately 😉 Thank you for sharing this information with us at Funtastic Friday!
I am in love with all of your blankets! Omgosh could they look any softer or cozier?! I also love the idea of automatic mini-lights. That’s genius! Thanks for sharing your tips with us at Merry Monday this week!
Love the purse and blankets. Could you tell me where you bought them?
The purse was actually just from Target. The plaid blanket is Home Sense {or Home Goods}, the faux fur blankets are from Chapters, and the knit blanket was from Target. 🙂