If you like to keep up to date with the latest interior news, then you have probably stumbled across the word ‘Hygge’ floating around news pages. If you’re unsure what exactly Hygge is, but love to keep your home on-trend, then keep on reading, as we’re going to tell you everything you need to know!

Pronounced ‘hoo-gah’, Hygge is the latest lifestyle and wellness trend to dominate interiors this winter. Defined by blogger Hygge House as the ‘feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure in making every day things more meaningful, beautiful and special’ the hottest new lifestyle trend has travelled over the pond from Denmark and made a big impact in Britain. Although there is no exact translation for the word in English, you wouldn’t be going wrong by associating Hygge with everything ‘cosy’, with some people even pointing out the visual similarity between Hygge and ‘hug’. So why the sudden rise in popularity for this Danish lifestyle, that has been around since the 18th century? In a fast-paced world full of technology and social media, Hygge encourages people to switch off and enjoy the moment. Part of its rise in popularity is because as a lifestyle trend, it’s actually very easy to achieve. Enjoying a cup of tea in front of a roaring fire is Hygge, changing out of work clothes into a cosy knit jumper and your favourite woolly socks is Hygge, enjoying a home cooked meal with friends is Hygge – do you get the idea? You might already be practicing Hygge without even realising it! There’s a very easy way to know if you’ve reached peak Hygge, if you create a situation where you feel completely safe and snug, you know you’re there.

Although very much a lifestyle and wellness trend, Hygge has also begun to creep into interior design. Its ethos is all about using your home to create a warm, cosy environment with your furnishings. Like the wellness side of the trend, Hygge is a very affordable concept to buy into. You can start with some simple accessorising; think candles, and lots of them, whilst scattering a few warm throws over your sofa or bed is also a good way to begin to introduce Hygge into your home. For the Danes, lighting is a crucial element, agrees Vivien Life, British ambassador to Denmark. Speaking to The Telegraph she went on to say that, ‘Danes take Hygge lighting and design very seriously. Lights are used to make spaces feel warm and relaxed, and you see a lots of low-slung dining room table lamps out here’. Mood lighting makes all the difference to a room, avoid cold white lights and look to more smooth yellow toned bulbs if you’re after a soft grotto-like glow in a space.

So, there you have it, when it all boils down, Hygge is a very simple idea to get on board with. It’s about taking time out to focus on what’s around you, and looking for ways to create a perfect, self-care moment, even if it only lasts a couple of minutes. The Danes are famed for being one of the happiest nations in the world, and if Hygge is the secret to that happiness, it’s a valuable philosophy for us Brits to learn.