What is hygge?
Have you seen the word hygge all over the internet? Do you know how to pronounce it? (We didn’t either.) What’s the deal?
Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) has several definitions + no direct English translation, but it’s a Danish term that describes the feeling of cosiness and comfort that leads to a feeling of contentment and well-being. It was a finalist for word of the year last year, and the idea of it has spread internationally since 2016.
It’s the •feeling• of a knitted blanket, soft candlelight, a hot cup of tea, a bowl of homemade soup, ceramic-potted succulents, sitting next to a loved one + a crackling fire. Get it?
Some even call it a cure for SAD (seasonal affective disorder) – and you can implement it at home and in your workplace to help de-stress and enjoy your setting more.
Earlier this week, we learned how to hygge our desks with Richland Library. A few tips:
- Declutter | put papers, biz cards, pens, etc. into drawers + containers to free up more counter space
- Bring in nature | outdoor elements like succulents, houseplants and flowers purify the air + calm us down
- Lower lighting | if you can, turn off bright/fluorescent overhead lights and use lamps + candles, instead
- Get comfy | Bring in a big cozy sweater, scarf or blanket to wrap up in, or stash slippers or wool socks under your desk to change into
Watch the #LibraryDIY video on Facebook or Instagram later today.
How can I hygge in Cola? These local things are the definition of hygge:
A glass of wine with a friend in a warm-lit local restaurant
This sleeping fluffball at the cat cafe
Cozy couches in a coffee shop
A steaming bowl of handmade pasta
📍 Pasta Fresca | 📷: @streetsandeatsofsc
📍 The Whig | 📷: @messykitchgirl
This outdoor living space with a fireplace
📍 Greenbriar neighborhood | 📷 via The Moore Company
A hot latte with a foam heart
📍 Drip | 📷: @charlielatte
Bundling up to go pick out your holiday tree with family
📍 Hollow Creek Tree Farm | 📷: @thefarmers_
This tree in its fall sweater
📍 Main St. | 📷: @breeinmotion
Layering up for a Sunday hike + hammock session
This vintage homegoods shop
This holiday storefront
Here’s the before shot of the desk we hygge-d at Richland Library (note the clutter, busy desktop + junk food) ⤵️
And here’s the after shot (we put clutter away, cleaned up the desktop, added a plant, replaced the junk food with a cup of tea + fruit, and brought in a warm scarf + pair of slippers) ⤵️
After we filmed, our team immediately started brainstorming on how we could hygge the COLAtoday workspace at SOCO BullStreet – including evergreen candles, string lights + maaaaybe a mini Christmas tree.
