Thoughts on the Danish coziness craze from Lori Slater and Stefanie Zeldin, co-founders of In2Green – What is Hygge anyway…
Lori: If you look up hygge* in the dictionary, there’s a picture of me snuggled up on the couch with my dogs.
Stefanie: Most of us don’t have Danish dictionaries.
Lori: Good point. Well, maybe you’ve seen one of the articles in TIME or The New York Times, or one of the zillions of books on the subject. Basically, hygge is a Danish word that sums up a simple, cozy way of life. Per Wikipedia, it’s “a concept, originating in Denmark, of creating cozy and convivial atmospheres that promote wellbeing.” Think board games, hot tea, blankets, and in my case anyway, dogs.
Stefanie: Or in my case, “glamping” in say Morocco.
Lori: Right. Except you wouldn’t be inside your tent, you’d be outside making friends with the other glampers.
Stefanie: Yes! Love meeting new people. But that’s the great thing about hygge – it can mean different things to different people. Sharing s’mores with friends around a campfire – that’s hygge.
Lori: Or reading a good book in bed, under a million blankets.
Stefanie: Sounds like your idea of a perfect Saturday night.
Lori: You know me so well! Anyway, no matter how you hygge, one thing’s for sure: this trend is everywhere. We’re seeing it in hotel and restaurant design, and of course home fashion. Candles, bar carts, warm colors and natural materials…
Stefanie: And of course eco friendly throws…
Lori: Of course! What you have to remember is that it’s about cultivating a feeling of inner peace, and appreciating life’s simple pleasures. So whether you’re a homebody, like me…
Stefanie: Or someone with wanderlust, like me!
Lori: You can’t go wrong building a little hygge into your life.
* Lori pronounces is “hoo-gah,” and Stefanie says “hew-guh.” It’s probably something in between.
** Both love Lori’s daughter Hannah’s wonderful photos. Don’t you?
How do you hygge? Leave a comment telling us how you relax, indulge, and appreciate life’s simple pleasures.
