Decorating & Design
20 Cozy Rooms With Serious “Hygge”
This winter, we’re hearing a lot about hygge (pronounced “hoogah”), the Danish version of coziness that’s all about “creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people,” according to the country’s tourism board. Though Christmas is high season for hygge in Denmark, we’ve done extensive research — also known as trolling Instagram for pretty vignettes that heavily feature candlelight, blankets and snacks — and we think it’s a concept worth exploring all winter long. To that end, here are 20 of our favorite warm and welcoming spaces with a distinct Scandi vibe to help you embrace the cozy this month.
A modern take on 70s shag, the rug sets the tone in this chic living space. A cozy sofa extends the welcoming vibe, as do the warm wood tones of the coffee table.
Crisp white walls and white oak floors lend Scandinavian style to this uptown Toronto home, while a throw and comfortable cushions turn a CB2 chaise into a popular spot for tea and iPad breaks.
In an all-white living room, the fireplace’s Venetian plaster surround provides much-needed depth by way of shimmer and roughness.
Slung over a banister, textile designer Bev Hisey’s collection of wool blankets picks up on the vintage album covers that hang on the wall, adding color and graphic pattern to an upstairs hallway.
A teepee is a kid-friendly but super-stylish addition to a living area, especially when it comes with a faux sheepskin for warmth and comfort.
Deliberately undone linen bedding, a neutral palette and some luxe texture — that pillow! — make this principal bedroom the ideal retreat.
In the guest bunkie at designer Jay Hodgins’ Prince Edward County weekend home, a wood stove is both charming and practical (the space isn’t insulated). Concrete drywall panels protect the walls from heat, while a three-legged wooden stool has the right mix of rustic and contemporary.
A trio of candles in heavy, antique-look holders makes for a dramatic vignette atop this unpainted wood mantel. Dark walls add to the cozy feel.
In this downtown Toronto living room, spare decorating and a restrained palette feels warm thanks to a mix of textures, natural accents and, of course, a mod wood stove. A floating Shoji cabinet provides storage, but still feels visually light.
A birch bark vase filled with winter greenery adds ample natural texture and a lovely, wintry scent to this kitchen table. Rustic pottery and homespun linen adds to the cozy, comfortable feel.
An aged Belgian urn doubles as a sink in this powder room, providing a pleasing contrast to the room’s crisp white walls.
In this guestroom, custom burlap-colored linen beds kicked off designer Jill Kantelberg’s design plan. Neutral Hudson’s Bay Millennium point blankets, woven stools and even the wood tones of the floor pick up on the serene palette.
In House & Home editor-in-chief Suzanne Dimma’s renovated basement, a sculptural rocker has artsy appeal, while a woven basket brims with throw pillows and blankets.
Elsewhere in Suzanne’s basement, white wood panelling adds depth and character to the space, while a low foundation shelf becomes a built-in bench thanks to seat cushions and throw pillows.
A rustic tablescape made of forest finds adds modern Scandi charm to a minimalist space. Simple pillar candles are set in mason jars, which are then decorated with pinecones or steamed birch bark.
Natural textures abound in this cozy weekend home — a wooden bowl piled high with pinecones, baskets full of firewood and, of course, the warm tones of the wide-plank coffee table add to the living room’s welcoming feel.
Simple, Japanese-influenced design dominates in this principal bedroom. The bay window has become a cozy nook decked out with square pillows and a Shoji-style window treatment. Nubby linen sheets feel casual, while a Swiss cross blanket is a graphic addition to the otherwise serene space.
Red on white bedding adds a subtle hit of Scandi style to the guest room in this Mt. Tremblant chalet. A panelled wall picks up on the home’s woodsy setting, while a cozy knit throw is a colorful counterpoint to the neutral palette.
White slipcovers have a casual vibe that perfectly complements the pine-panelled walls in this guest bunkie. On the small-scale side table, a vase full of pine boughs brings a little bit of the outdoors in.
A large sectional layered with soft throws begs for a lazy day indoors spent playing board games and watching the snow fall. Natural elements, like an antler chandelier, birch-bark lamp and cowhide ottoman, reference the rustic setting of this woodland retreat.