January and February. For lots of people, the most depressing months of the year. The festivities have long gone, the Christmas decorations are down and away, payday seems a million miles away, and everything seems a little, well, sad. We all want to find ways of cheering ourselves up and bringing comfort into our lives. The Danish have a word for this concept: hygge.

Hygge is all about maximum comfort and coziness. Those winter aesthetics on Instagram, of piles of books, candles, fluffy blankets, hands wrapped around mugs of steaming hot coffee…that pretty much sums up what the concept is about. 

We spend a lot of time at home in the winter, so it is important that it feels safe, cosy, and is somewhere you enjoy spending your time. By bringing hygge into your home, you can make it feel like this, and here, we look at a few ways to do this and help you to beat the winter blues.

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Warm hues

Lots of people think of deep and dark colours when they think of hygge, but it doesn’t have to mean that at all. In fact, lots of us subconsciously yearn for hues that remind us of warm summer months – soft yellows, oranges, greens, and blues. If you are not ready to paint, you can introduce pops of these colours with cuddly pillows, snuggly throws, carpets, and rugs.

Sort out your flooring

When you think about it, your flooring is pretty important. It is one of the first things that you notice and can bring a room together. If your floor is adding to your low moods, sort it out. Look at having luxury flooring fitted if your budget allows for it. If that is not an option, spend some time giving your carpets and floors a deep clean and adding new interest with rugs and mats.

Light it up

A lack of exposure to natural light is one of the biggest causes of low mood in the winter months. This is called SAD – seasonal affective disorder. You can help to overcome this by making sure your room has as much natural light coming in as possible. Open the curtains and blinds and move furniture around, so your sofas are near windows. If this isn’t possible, find places to add stylish lamps and light fittings, and buy light bulbs that mimic natural light.

Surround yourself with things you love

The whole concept of hygge is comfort and wellbeing, and there is no better way to establish that than by surrounding yourself with things that you love. If you are an avid reader, fill up your bookshelves and side tables with piles of your favourite books. Fill the mantlepiece with framed photos of all of your favourite people. If that quirky wall print brings you joy, hang it, even if it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the room.

By putting some of these tips into practice, your home will feel like a cosy and happy haven to help you get through the winter.