Illustration by Marisa Dengate
On a recent visit to Copenhagen, I kept seeing the funny word hygge. It was on storefronts, on sweatshirts, on totes. I quickly learned hygge (pronounced HOO-gah) is the Danish mantra of coziness, comfort, and charm–which is fitting, as the entire Danish culture seemed to ooze with effortless ease. From the kindly locals to the clean architecture and the whimsically colored canal fronts, the Danish lifestyle imbued well-being.
In Copenhagen I felt perpetually at peace. There was a thrumming undercurrent of safety, inclusion, and acceptance. Joy, even. It was a feeling I wanted to stuff into my suitcase. I wanted to bring hygge home.
Copenhagen-based interior designer Josephine Stokkebye says a person can “create hygge” anywhere—alone or with people, at home or in public. “It’s more like an energy, an ambiance, a feeling that you get. It doesn’t have to be a specific place or with specific people,” she says.
For Stokkebye, creating hygge is about food, candlelight, and the practice of presence—especially if it means curating a space where oneself or others feel at ease. But hygge is unique for everyone, she insists. Everyone gets to define what hygge means to them.
Back home, I consulted with Amy Ostigny, owner of construction and design firm Designing with Amy, who translates the heart of Danish hygge into what she calls “organic modern” design. “This style is about simplicity,” Ostigny says. “Less is more.”
To achieve a hygge aesthetic, paint color plays a primary role. Ostigny recommends wall shades of linen or white with warm yellow undertones, as well as sage greens (try Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams) or even rustic browns (like Sealskin by Sherwin-Williams).
Wood accents—especially live-edge varieties—infuse rooms with a refreshing rawness. Try them on headboards, coffee tables, or kitchen islands. Stone accents in fireplaces, showers, and four-season rooms help blur the line between indoors and out.
Lighting, too, is a powerful hygge tool. Under-cabinet lighting in kitchens, sheer curtains that usher in natural light, and even simple accent candles can go a long way in creating a homey space.
And don’t forget the greens. “Plants really make it cozy and warm. Every room should have some source of green in it, in my opinion,” says Ostigny. Fake plants, she warns, might have the opposite effect, so if a lush indoor tree feels like too much upkeep, go with a hearty and low-maintenance succulent instead.
Lastly, think layers: chunky cable-knit blankets over sofas, pillows piled high on bedscapes, and double layered area rugs for depth and dimension.
Shop these styles and Designing with Amy’s showroom on Beechmont Avenue. For custom, hand-crafted tables and desks, check out Table Bar. Craving artful hygge accessories? Visit Wildfire Hygge Goods in Hamilton.
As for me, I’ll be creating hygge this fall on my well-worn couch with a fuzzy throw, an oversized mug of pumpkin spiced anything, and a glowing candle that reminds me of dreamy days in Denmark. My husband and kids can join too, as long as they’re willing to snuggle. From my home to yours, happy hygge-ing.
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