Hygge – The Art of Living

The Danes are at the top of list of the happiest nations in the world. Their happiness is due to the so-called hygge, which represents a special art of enjoying life.

You can feel hygge and recognize it immediately. It’s that pleasant feeling when you relax on the couch with your loved ones or enjoy good food with your closest friends. It hides in fresh, bright mornings, when light comes through the window. But it’s not limited to staying in a cottage, drinking Irish coffee on a sailboat, and sitting in front of a warm fireplace. We can also have it at the office.

What is Hygge?

It’s hard to pronounce, but hygge (“hooga”) is also hard to explain. Literally translated it means comfortable, but to the Danes it means much more than that. The word hygge dates back to 1800, at least in the meaning it has today. However, different definitions of hygge can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where a similar Old Norse word meant “protected from the outside world”.

Hygge represents a way of life and is an integral part of Danish culture, focusing on well-being, enjoying the little things and good company. Finally, hygge also means an environment or a home where an individual or a family feels comfortable and cozy. Winters in Denmark are long, cold and dark, so people spend a lot of time in their homes, which means that they are more focused on making it nice there. They also usually adhere to the hygge philosophy, which helps them bring peace, harmony and comfort into the home. Hygge is not only suitable for winter, but also for all other seasons.

Ten Basic Principles of Hygge

1. Comfort and well-being in the first place – Comfort and well-being are key elements of the hygge philosophy. In your home, you can achieve this by choosing warm, bright colours, natural materials and decorative objects that will give the room additional warmth.
2. Get rid of everything you don’t need – The meaning of life is in simple things, so don’t keep things you don’t need for a long time. Don’t buy the ones you know will just collect dust. Organize your home, because that way you will feel more comfortable in it.
3. You can reuse old things – Danes don’t just throw things away, especially if they have historical or sentimental value. Many old things are repaired or recycled and used again. With a little imagination, you can breathe new life into old furniture and maybe even change its purpose.
4. Create harmony in the space with neutral shades – Intense colours are disturbing, while neutral colours are calming, according to the hygge philosophy, they should be the predominant colours in your home. Paint your home neutral, because that way the atmosphere in it will be more relaxed, harmonious, and comfortable. In the end, it will make you and your loved ones feel even more at home.
5. Furnish your home with natural materials – Hygge stands for living in harmony with nature, using natural materials, which are key elements of many homes in Denmark. The walls are usually made of stone or brick, the floor and furniture are made of wood, and all other natural materials and products made from them are also welcome.
6. Soft fabrics emphasize comfort – If natural materials give the home pleasant comfort, natural fabrics add softness and warmth to it. In this way, the floor in some rooms can be covered with soft woollen carpets, a sofa or a bed with a woollen blanket, and faux fur, which can decorate any chair, will not be superfluous either.
7. Refine the space with the right light – One of the key elements in creating a comfortable space is lighting. It should not be intense, but gentle and warm, just like the candles that the Danes like to use. But since the hygge philosophy advocates the use of natural materials, be sure to resort to those made of natural wax.
8. Don’t forget the greenery – Greenery not only enriches the space, but also enlivens it, breathes life into it and brings the feeling that spring always reigns in the home.
9.Do you have a fireplace? Take advantage of it! – Fireplaces are not only a beautiful decoration of the space, but in Scandinavian homes they are often a place around which family and friends gather. Of course, this is not unusual, because on cold days we all want to be where it is warm and comfortable. If you have one in your home, use it as a social central point and enjoy.
10. Decorate the balcony – In the warm spring and summer months, sitting on the balcony or terrace is a real pleasure. If you have one, you can arrange it according to the hygge philosophy. The furniture should be made of natural materials, with cushions on the chairs for a more modern look and comfort. Don’t forget the plants that will turn this corner of your apartment into a green oasis.

Finally, relax! When your living space is comfortably furnished, all you have to do is relax, turn off the phone, make yourself a drink, get comfortable and pick up a good book. Or dedicate yourself to your loved ones – talk, prepare a delicious meal and enjoy the moment.

Hygge Principles in the Workplace

Danes apply the same principles of hygge in the workplace, as they have been brought up on these principles for generations, it is natural that they have based their relationships within the community on them in all areas of life, including business. Skilfully transferred to the work environment, the hygge approach has manifested itself in various aspects – from the interior design of office space to the life-work balance model.

Numerous studies, which have been carried out, have shown that the basics for happiness at work coincide to a large extent with the hygge concept, whose three basic postulates can easily be applied to the workplace:
Enjoyment – it is based on the enjoyment of all five senses and the feeling of comfort and security.
Presence – instead of living in the past or for the future, we live for “this, present moment, unrepeatable and unique in our life’s journey”, because at the end of the day small things bring happiness.
Togetherness – mutual trust and friendship of people who spend a lot of time together, whether it is family, friends, colleagues, or co-workers. A positive attitude towards them, a sense of belonging and a desire to give.
The prerequisites for happiness should be the same for everyone, and that is why the principles of workplace satisfaction are applicable not only in different countries, but also in different industries. As we all need to find meaning in what we do, to achieve expertise in the field we work in, bond with our colleagues and to achieve good collaboration with them, we all want independence and space to decide and contribute.

Guided by these and similar discoveries, significant changes have also been made in office space, which, in terms of their design and contents, especially in organizations that strive to offer ’true happiness’, look more like hotels and restaurants than the workspaces.