It’s cold and damp. It’s been raining for a few hours, and it feels like it will stop in just about half a year from now. It’s dark, and you feel a bit down. You know now would be a great time to fall asleep and wake up to better weather tomorrow, but it’s still 6 p.m., and even you can’t fall asleep at this time of the day.
Well, before your mood nosedive so low that it reaches the center of the Earth, let me stop you and tell you that there is a very simple way to have the best time ever. Right now. In these conditions. With the help of your hygge starter kit.
What is Hygge?
Hygge is everything that makes your soul sing; it’s the feeling of comfort, safety, and coziness that you keep seeing in those gorgeous Youtube videos you feel like you can never recreate.
Hygge is the Danish word for those moments when everything seems so perfectly cozy, homie and content. The term doesn’t have a specific translation, but it is used to describe experiences of togetherness (when with others) and sweet solitude (when alone).
Hygge is everything heart-warming you could think of – a warm cup of tea on a cold February day, soft socks at the end of a working day, a good book that takes up all the evening, gentle light that enhances the beauty of a Christmas evening. Hygge is all that and more.
How Did Hygge Became So Popular?
Hygge has been part of the Danes’ lives for many decades, but it became hugely popular worldwide in the last few years.
One of the reasons it became so popular was Meik Wiking’s book from 2017 that is now used as the primary source of learning the art of creating a hygge lifestyle. Many books have been written since, but I can guarantee you that this is the one you want to start with when introducing hygge to your life.
Why Do You Need More Hygge In Your Life?
Even if you’ve never heard of hygge, you have experienced it.
Do you remember those special evenings when you were a child and felt accepted and cherished by your family on a quiet dinner night? Can you recall an evening you spent sharing a bottle of wine with your best friend, had nothing to talk about, but you still felt so good together? All that was hygge.
A Hygge moment is when you snuggle next to your loved one in front of the fireplace and spend the hour in silence, doing nothing but being together.
You need hygge in your life because it makes you appreciate the little things in life.
True hygge is about the experience, the feeling, the connection with others or yourself, the stress-free, worry-free, seriousness-free moments that we all love to keep in our hearts for longer.
The world isn’t feeling as safe and cozy for the last few years, but searching and creating these small moments would make things better and keep us present in our lives.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that you need hygge because it is one of the small ways to feel happy again, no matter where you are and what you are going through.
What Do You Need for Hygge? What is a Hygge Starter Kit?
To experience a hygge moment, you often need just the proper atmosphere. And it happens by itself, without even realizing you’ve created it. But what if you’d like to create a hygge moment?
This is where your very own special hygge starter kit comes in. Meik Wiking calls it a hygge emergency kit that you reach out for when you feel like you can’t handle the day, the week, the world anymore, and you can’t teleport to a warm sunny beach with no worries. The kit will be packed with everything that pleasantly tickles your soul and makes you feel at peace with everything.
Your hygge starter kit could be a small basket or a box you keep under the bed. You could also empty one of the drawers in your bedroom and have your unique hygge essentials in there.
What do you put in a hygge starter kit? I’m glad you asked. I’ve separated the items you want to have into five main groups. You could mix and match the products however you wish; it is entirely your choice how big or small your starter kit would be.
Let’s see how to create your hygge moments.
Something For The Feet
Here's the thing. Hygge is all about being comfy and cozy. When was the last time you were feeling comfy and cozy while your feet were cold? I knew it! Staying warm doesn't get any better than having ugly wool socks on your feet. I got mine yesterday, and trust me when I say this, the feeling beets the ugliness.
Hand knitted wool socks Extra Thick Large Sizes pure wool | Etsy
Having toasty warm feet might be one of our dreams during cold winter days. These are the perfect hygge socks, except that they are... beautiful. With hundreds of happy customers, these socks have proven that they deserve a spot in your hygge emergency kit.
Women's felted wool slippers
Ready to be shipped, these handmade wool slippers are begging you to be part of your cozy self-care hygge kit. Imagine slipping your frozen feet inside of these soft beauties. I can guarantee that just half a minute after that, your feet will be already melting with pleasure.
Something Cozy To Wear or Wrap Into
Once your feet are warm, you want to be sure you are dressed for the occasion. Soft pajamas would do it for the evening, but that's not the only option you could have in your hygge kit.
Cozy Native Aztec Ranch Cardigan
Having a cuddly soft, and oversized handmade cardigan could easily be the main part of your hygge starter kit. This option above (and the others in this Etsy shop) are absolutely stunning. I could actually feel how comfy and fluffy this one would be if I'd put it on.
Quilted thick cotton pajama
Okay, I couldn't just throw the idea of comfy pajamas and do nothing about it. Of course, you could have that soft, gentle, and fall-asleep-now style of pajamas you've always dreamed of.
Handmade Chenille Chunky Knit Blanket
This is a chunky handmade blanket that will fit perfectly in your hygge kit as long as it's in a drawer. Not sure you will fit this in a box, but a good-sized basket should be just perfect for it. Yes, blankets are must-haves for your hygge moment, and there is no need to explain why. Just imagine it's January evening, and it's snowing. Yes, blankets are the first thing you'd reach out for.
Chunky blanket, Chunky knit throw
And just because throws and blankets are such a big part of getting cozy on a chilled evening, I give you this dreamy style chunky knitter option too. It might not fit in the drawer (unless you leave the slippers and the chocolate out, but who'd do that). However, decorating your couch or chair by the window sounds like a perfect role for this throw to shine.
Something To Drink
So, we took care of the cold feet, and we situated you in soft pajamas wrapped with a chunky blanket. What else would you need? That would be a warm drink, of course! Keeping a few tea bags (from your favorite tea) or some hot chocolate sachets are just perfect options. However, don't forget that you might also enjoy a glass (or two) of mulled wine (this is how you do it). And below, you will some of my favorite hyggeligt mugs you can't resist but have.
Minimalist Nordic Style Flecked Melange Ceramic Mug | Etsy
Nordic style mug sounds just right when you are trying to recreate a relaxing hygge moment. And this gorgeous mug is just the perfect combination of cuteness and neutral style that focuses on the feeling instead of the look.
Tall Nordic / Scandinavian-Style Minimalist Ceramic Mugs 14 Fl | Etsy
Ceramic mugs are a thing, and you love them. This sleek mug is handmade, and I cannot even try to imagine how awesome it is to wrap your cold hands around it when you've just poured your favorite tea inside.
Mystique Stoneware Mug - personalized hygge pottery
Okay, I know I said that looks aren't everything when it comes to hygge, but I kind of couldn't just pass by this beauty on Etsy. It's affordable, beautiful, handmade, and totally giving the hygge-vibe. Check it before it's gone.
Something To Eat
If you are anything like me, you can’t imagine having a tea with nothing to chew on the side. I mean… who does that? Below are the options that could easily last for a few months in your cupboard.
- Popcorn – Just the thought of having a pack of your favorite salted caramel popcorn ready to hop in the microwave is enough to tickle your nose receptors, isn’t it?
- Homemade Jam – Don’t buy anything. The homemade jam your mom made last summer is perfect for warming your soul.
- Chocolate – No need to tell you anything extra about the feeling of a gently melting block of dark chocolate in your mouth…
- Cookies – They go well with tea or with hot chocolate or without any tea and hot chocolate.
Something For The Soul
Wrapped in your soft blanket, cuddling with your favorite drink, and munching on those cookies… things are looking and feeling pretty good already, right? What’s missing? Something to keep your soul busy (except the chocolate you left for next time). Here are a few suggestions from me, but feel free to come up with yours.
A Candle
Okay, maybe not exactly what you thought, but candles are a huge part of the hygge lifestyle since lighting must be soft and gentle. Get your favorite candle from the shop (or get this one here, it’s gorgeous) and have it in your hygge emergency kit. You will soon need it among the other suggestions below.
Your favorite book
My favorite book, the one I’ve read more than five times, is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I associate it with self-discovery, bravery, and feeling comfortable with being yourself and making your choices in life. This book goes straight into my hygge starter kit. What’s yours?
In case nothing comes to your mind, a great alternative I could give you is to get Meik Wiking’s book on hygge and explore it whenever emerging into a hygge moment.
Journal
Writing down your thoughts and ideas sounds really promising. Wrapped in warm blankets and sipping a warm beverage asks for a few rows of your thoughts on what matters in life. You could also choose this very moment to start your own Happiness Journal. I have one, and I can’t emphasize the importance of jotting down the days and the moments that make life meaningful. See how to make yours too by clicking here.
Inside Of My Happiness Journal
Inside Of My Happiness | Journal for Living an Intentional Life
Scared of journaling?
Journaling has so many benefits, and you've always wanted to stick to it but never did. It looks and sounds complicated. You think that there are some rules you know nothing of and can't see the magic everyone talks of.
Inside of My Happiness is your go-to journal for the morning and the evening. Get inspired in the mornings, reflect on yourself in the evening. As simple as that.
Music
Your favorite music playlist would be a great addition to the cozy atmosphere you’ve created for yourself at this point. What is it that always melts your soul? Maybe some acoustic mix on Youtube? Why not try this old library ambiance here? I also enjoy listening to a fireplace ambiance. It immediately gives me memories of my old days in the English house we first lived in with my fiance.
Movie
Well, we are in the 21st century, so you might have a spare DVD to tuck into your hygge starter kit but you might not. However, a list with some of your favorite feel-good movies with Amazon Prime Video fits everywhere. What movies would you watch if you need a lift-me-up evening?
A Photo Album
Going through the pages of some old photo albums of your family might give you nostalgia, but it will also make the world seem like a better place. You have so many people who love you and care about you. Keep in mind that their photo albums on Facebook don’t count. I am talking of the old-fashioned real photo album your mom gifted you three Christmases ago, and you never filled with photos. Print some of the best pictures on your phone and arrange them in an entire album to keep close to your heart.
Conclusion
And now you have it – your hygge starter kit ready for you to indulge in good food, a favorite beverage and find a way to give your soul what it needs at the moment. Creating a hygge emergency kit isn’t just a fancy thing most people do lately (although this happens), but it’s a way to honor your needs and being realistic that you will have moments when you will need that extra self-care and nurturing. Getting prepared for those moments isn’t manifesting them. Rather it is being there for yourself, starting now.
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DIY Hygge Starter Kit
Blogger, dreamer, procrastinator, and lover of everything soul-touching. My mission is to make you laugh, provoke your thoughts, light up your day and inspire you to fall in love with life and yourself.
