10 Ways to Live Your Hygge Fantasy
“Hygge: A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)”
Once upon a time, on a rainy Sunday morning, a girl woke up blissfully to the sound of raindrops and silence. This, of course, was a welcome change of pace from the invasive beeping of her alarm clock that would shock her awake every weekday.
Yeah, we all know how good a Sunday morning feels, and the girl embraced every last drop of laziness in her overly-pillowed bed before sitting up, shaking the night from her hair, and padding to her little kitchen to make her first cup of coffee.
After that first euphoric sip of dark, caffeinated splendor, she strolled to her living room, lit a candle, and threw herself on her couch. Enveloped by an abundance of throw pillows, she turned on a peaceful, minor-keyed playlist she had specifically crafted for mornings such as this and began to read her book du jour.
There she sat, clad in knee-high knitted socks, coffee mug nestled in her lap, for a morning of sweet solitude and cozy contentment.
^^^ Hygge Goals ^^^
This is a hygge fantasy and I want to help you live out yours; i've rounded up some hygge essentials to set you up for a perfectly cozy fall. scroll through this post, and you'll walk away with plenty of hygge inspiration! Hyggespiration? (sorry.) Let's get started!
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post, at no extra cost to my lovely readers. I only link the things I love!
1. Free People At Your Side Cable Legwarmer // 2. Aritzia Diamond Mosaic Blanket // 3. Wilfred Free Rourke Sweater @ Aritzia // 4. Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable with Speakers @ Amazon // 5. Aventine (Deluxe) by Agnes Obel // 6. Burkelman That Hudson Valley Candle @ J Crew // 7. Fieldcrest Neutral Faux Fur Euro Pillow @ Target // 8. Joe Sink Pottery Coffee Mug - White Speckled @ Etsy // 9. The Shadow of the Wind by Carolos Ruiz Zafón // 10. Merino Wool Chunky Knit Blanket @ Etsy
1. Cozy socks and legwarmers
You've seen the quintessential hygge image before: a girl's legs clad in cozy knee-high socks with a cup of coffee on her lap, sitting on a fluffy blanket next to a fire. We all want to be that girl in her cute (and subtly sexy) knee-high socks, living that hygge ideal of cozy, cute contentment. Here's where you can start:
2. big blanket scarves for outside and in
Blanket scarves are in style once again this year, and for good reason. They pretty much epitomize coziness. And, as their name implies, they serve the dual purpose of being a fashionable scarf and a comfy blanket for your home. Not sure how to rock a blanket scarf outside your home? Real Simple has a pretty awesome guide on the various ways you can wear a blanket scarf. It'll show you just how versatile these babies can be.
Knitting Happens Blanket Scarf @ Etsy
Sidenote: Loving the fact that this design was inspired by the show Outlander, one of my faves.
3. chunky sweaters
I'm fairly certain that women are fundamentally wired to love a good chunky sweater. And the donning of our first chunky sweater in September is basically an Autumnal ceremony we perform to mark the beginning of Fall. You can't go wrong with a chunky sweater. It's pretty much like wearing a hug.
Wilfred Free Rourke Sweater @ Aritzia
I actually own this sweater in black and can tell you from experience that it's worth the price tag. The fabric is amazing and high-quality, and it's basically the perfect slouchy sweater that will stick with you for years.
HZONNE Women's Boho Chunky Warm Cardigan @ Amazon
Not down for a steep price tag? Here's a budget-friendly chunky sweater from Amazon that looks comparable to the Aritzia one above. The knit may not be as nice, but it looks super cute.
I've felt this sweater in person a few times in the store, and IT'S SO EFFING SOFT.
4. the warm sound of vinyl
I won't pretend I'm not a lover of the accessibility of music through streaming nowadays. I think it's amazing that we have the means to listen to whatever music we want, whenever we want. But there is something to be said for the pure, warm sound of vinyl and the feeling of physically holding the music in your hands. There's a physical intimacy to vinyl, a sensation that is perfectly suited to the hygge experience.
5. chill, moody music
There's an abundance of music that's perfect for a cozy, cloudy Fall day indoors. I've hand-selected three albums that I personally love to listen to while I'm snuggled up on my couch, wrapped in soft blanket, sipping coffee. I highly recommend all three of these for your perfect hygge day! Since I literally just sang the praises of vinyl, I'm including links to the vinyl versions of each album in addition to the Spotify streaming. Just in case you want to go all-out with your hygge listening experience. :-)
6. woodsy scented candles
The glow and fragrance of a lit scented candle (or several) is one of the fundamental characteristics of hygge. Really, any scented candle will do, but there's something about an earthy, woodsy scent that lends itself to hygge vibes. I've smelled and/or owned each one of these candles, so I know first-hand that these are incredible scents that are perfect for a cozy day indoors in Autumn.
7. cozy throw pillows
It's no secret that I'm a throw pillow addict. I have to stop myself from buying more because if I didn't, my apartment would look like the home of a hoarder who only hoards pillows. That being said, I do think the "more is more" mentality is a good one when it comes to decorative pillows, especially in regards to hygge. Hygge is all about coziness, and what's more cozy than being surrounded by comfy, pretty pillows?
Fieldcrest Neutral Faux Fur Euro Pillow @ Target
I actually own this pillow (you can see it in all the photos of my couch) and it's unbelievable that a pillow this inexpensive can be so soft. I cuddle with this thing on my couch pretty much every night.
8. pretty mugs
Does the aesthetic quality of your mug enhance the taste of your coffee or tea? Nope. It most certainly does not. What it does enhance, however, is your experience of your coffee or tea. I know I'm not alone when I say I get great satisfaction out of surrounding myself with things I find aesthetically pleasing; it just puts me in a good head space. And when it comes to hygge, everything right down to the mug you're drinking from contributes to the experience.
I think there's something really special about buying from an artist who hand crafts their work with such detail. And it's definitely very hygge. Terre Ferme's online shop is currently sold out (that's the thing about beautiful hand-crafted products - no mass production) and will be releasing new items at the end of September. I recommend checking them out then if you want to drink your coffee from a work of art!
Utopia Life Studio Pottery Mug @ Etsy
This mug is just plain groovy.
And here's a bonus mug that isn't exactly at the artistic level of the other ones, but I'm into it nonetheless. I feel like it captures the spirit of the Moda Misfit girl. ;-)
9. a good book
I'm recommending one book and one book alone for this list, because if you want the perfect book to cuddle up with on a rainy day this Fall, it should be The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Just read this first paragraph of the book and you'll know why:
"I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books for the first time. It was the early summer of 1945, and we walked through the streets of a Barcelona trapped beneath ashen skies as dawn poured over Rambla de Santa Monica in a wreath of liquid copper."
The entire book is just as beautiful and poetic as that first paragraph. This is not only an exciting read full of mystery and intrigue; it's a book whose words will move your soul, which is exactly the kind of reading material that makes for a perfect hygge experience.
10. soft cuddly blankets
And last but certainly not least, what's a cozy hygge experience without a soft, cuddly blanket? If you're going to be that girl in the knee-high socks reading a book and sipping coffee next to the fireplace, you definitely need to be enveloped by a blanket or two. And they must be soft. Extremely soft. Which the following blankets most certainly are. I personally own the first blanket listed here and sleep with it every night. It's nothing short of incredible when it comes to softness.
