3 easy ways to make your home more hygge

 I recently caught on that the Danes were the happiest people on earth. Yearning for some mid-life satisfaction myself, I've been reading up on hygge, a Danish term loosely translated as "coziness of the soul." Hygge  (pronounced hoo-gah) is very much about feeling, a feeling you get from certain aspects of life that, as it turns out, you actually have some control over. Things like time spent with friends and family. A comfortable nook created in your home where you like to curl up with a good book. Fireplaces and candlelight not to mention a wall of good books are all hyggelige  (hygge-esque, if you will). 

For a quick  hygge   fix, here are three easy ways to make your home feel more  hygge:

1. Light a  hygge-load of candles.
The Danes love candlelight. Not just one candle either. Try four or more. The more warm, soft glow the more hygge  it is. 

2. Bring the outside in.
Nature sure looks nice from a window, patio or balcony, but even better when we're out in it, gathering up nature's souvenirs: a handful of interesting rocks, a twig with an acorn attached, curling leaves, a single wildflower. Adorning your home with nature is totally  hygge.


3. Let books be your companions.
Nothing says  hygge  like a shelf lined with books, or a stack of books on a coffee table. Books, particularly works of fiction, beckon our imaginations to wander. There's a spirit and an energy to books. Let them speak volumes about who you are and what you're interested in.

What do you do to get your  hygge  on? Share your  hygge  practices in the comments!

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