Making your home cosy for winter

With winter well and truly here, how can you help your home to look and feel more cosy? There are a number of ways of bringing warmth back in to a room and one great way of doing that is by following the Hygge design trend. If you’ve never come across Hygge before, it can be easily summarised by the use of warm, neutral palettes and soft, textured furnishings. Hygge originates from Denmark and as such doesn’t have an exact English translation. But the ethos of the design is clear enough. It’s message spreads simplicity and modernity that sees homeowners take pleasure in the little things in life.

Rugs

One of the best ways of getting the Hygge look is with the use of a rug. Not only are they perfect for bringing in literal warmth to your home, they’re also great for adding that much needed texture. Choosing the right rug is imperative and therefore your best choice would be a shaggy rug. Shaggy rugs earn their name thanks to their longer pile length. The longer the pile length, the shaggier and thicker the rug is. These rugs have a plush feeling underfoot that will leave you feeling excited to walk around bare foot, even in the winter. A great alternative would be a sheepskin rug. Their similarly long textile gives you that fluffy look and feel for a more natural aesthetic. The main advantage of a sheepskin rug is its versatility. It’s smaller size and softer underside means it can double as a throw on a sofa or bed as well as a rug.

Colours

As mentioned earlier, the Hygge look is all about simplicity. This is reflected in the colour scheme which uses neutral and soft tones. Think of off whites, creams, beiges, delicate blues and greys with warmer purple undertones. These colours create a welcoming and calm atmosphere that is perfect for any Hygge home. These familiar colours are great long-term since they have a wider appeal than bolder, brighter colours. This is something to consider if you don’t plan to redecorate before you sell on your property in the future.

Accessories and Textures

Rugs are undeniably a staple piece of any Hygge look, but there are also the accessories to consider to help build that perfect design. When it comes to textiles, including bedding and cushions, think of using chunky knit materials or soft bed throws to promote that gentle, relaxed look. On you walls, consider using wooden photo frames for art work or photos. This natural wood offsets white walls nicely to give you just a slight hint of Scandinavian inspiration. Arrange art work in a sort of casual, haphazard way so to avoid the wall looking too pre-planned and clinical. You ultimately want to create that slightly misshapen home that has a gorgeous country charm. Using candles is a great way of creating those inviting aromas and soft warm lights in the evenings.

While this look is perfect for winter, you can also adapt it come spring and summertime. Swapping out those thicker furnishings for lighter materials and pastel coloured accessories can help you to easily transition between seasons.