Hygge is a cultural idea originating in Denmark which has become a global phenomenon over the past few years. Pronounced ‘hoo-ga’ this simple word has no exact English translation, but represents a feeling of simple, cozy contentment and well being, the type of feeling you’ll experience when you’re curled up in front of a roaring fire on a frosty night. Most of the things which spring to mind when we think of a hygge lifestyle seem to lend themselves naturally to the winter months. But in fact, there is a whole new side to hygge that you can experience in the summer months, too.
Hygge can also be found in the summertime and all seasons of the year. Think of your favorite warm weather moments – picnics, bike rides, outdoor concerts, farmers markets, and warm nights on the porch with a glass of wine. Hygge is the feeling you get when you are comfortable, happy and completely content in the moment. As warm weather lovers, we experience hygge moments all summer long!
This way of living is all about enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Taking the time to enjoy the small comforts in a cozy, relaxing, intimate way either by ourselves or in the company of a few friends or family. Now that summer is officially here, with all that it brings – long days, warm nights, fireflies and beautiful sunsets. Summer is the time most of us take off from work, travel and go on vacation, spend time with our families and take time to slow down our everyday live. If you think of it, most of us already take part in a hygge lifestyle in the summer, and don’t even know it.
Spend Time in Nature
Summer is the time to go outside and soak up the sun. There is so much that you can do to enjoy your time outside. If you want to start small, I suggest going for a walk, eating lunch outside, or watching the sunset. Other things that you can do is take a hike, go camping, go boating or paddle boarding on the lake, or lay out and watch the stars in the nighttime sky. Hygge is all about enjoying yourself and having that feeling of being at ease. Spending time outside can help you achieve that feeling.
Personally I love laying out by the pool, listening to all the kids having fun and splashing around in the water. I grew up going to a pool everyday of summer, so it reminds me a lot of my childhood. I also went to summer camp a lot as a kid and love camping, roasting s’mores over a fire and running around barefoot.
Make a Summer Home
If hygge in the winter is all about the coziness of a knit blankets or sinking cold feet into a pair of warm fuzzy socks – so the concept has it’s summer equivalent in switching up your home accessories to contrast with the humid, sultry weather. To embrace summer hygge in your home, use light and airy fabrics and finishing’s – linen pillows, lightweight drapes which diffuse the light, and canvas chairs all feel especially good in summer. You’ll also want to take advantage of all the natural light in your home as well as bring in candles. I love buying a new candle each week, with my favorite being beeswax scented candles.
Since I’ve been watching way to much HGTV and home makeover shows, I’m about ready to change up the décor in my apartment. If I owned a home, I would make sure to install white marble or granite counter tops so ensure that light is spread throughout the space. Another thing that can make your home cooler in the summer is by having hardwood or tiled flooring by https://www.sdaflooring.com/showroom This will keep your feet cool and you can decorate the floors with cute area rugs. If you want to go for less drastic changes to your home, you can simply bring in fresh flowers, light your favorite scented candle, and decorate the space with bright colors and patterns.
Bring the Outside In
All my favorite things of summer are outside. The sun is shining bright, the flowers are blowing in the wind, the smell of freshly cut grass is in the air, and small animals are running around. It’s the simple things that make me the happiest when I walk outside. What you can do to continue that happiness is to bring part of the outside into your home. I have plants EVERYWHERE, both real and fake flowers. I also love to have fresh fruit in the kitchen so that I can easily grab a banana or some strawberries or make a smoothie.
My favorite hygge moment of summer is when I get home from a long day of work and I open up all the doors and windows to let the cool summer air in. Even if it’s stinking hot, humid, raining or windy, I love having that air come into my home.
Relax
Summer is all about relaxing and taking it easy. So why not create a space that you can easily retreat too. Create a reading nook in your home that is near an open window. Purchase a chic daybed or put down some cushions and blankets, make a glass of iced tea and grab your favorite book. You could also install a hammock outside to lounge around in the shade of two trees. If you don’t have a large backyard area where you live, you can furnish your porch to be a getaway retreat area. IKEA has great outdoor furniture at a reasonable price that you can buy. I also put throw pillows, candles, and plants on my porch. You could also add some twinkling solar fairy lights or storm lanterns filled with candles and you have a beautiful entertaining space to enjoy an outdoor barbecue or a nice glass of wine after a long day.
“Hygge was never meant to be translated. It was meant to be felt.”
Great post on how to relax and enjoy the Summer! I love Summertime because it is the perfect opportunity to unplug and enjoy some personal time.
I love the idea of bringing Summer home. Going to my local nursery and will be adding more plants inside. Thank you for sharing these tips!
Sandy
Yay for more plants! So glad you enjoyed my post!
Lovely post thanks you! I hadn’t even heard of hygge but feel like I’ve been trying to achieve it without knowing. Going to do some more research now! Thanks
So glad I could introduce you to the subject!
Such a great way to appreciate the seasons – winter or summer!
Hygge is great for all seasons!
This is a great post.
I’ve got to be honest I’ve never heard of Hygge but I feel like I’m half way there with it.
Which is good I guess?
Luke | http://www.lukeheywoodstyle.co.uk
That’s great! Most of us are already taking part in the Hygge lifestyle without even knowing it, so you’re not alone!
These are great ideas! 🙌 I love the idea of buying canvas chairs and more candles for my house haha 😏 this is definitely the time where you smell more freshly cut grass! It’s kinda nice. Def gotta spend more time outdoors. Gotta take advantage of the extended daylight! Thanks for sharing xx
Geraldine | https://geraldinetalks.com
So glad you enjoyed my post!!
This is such a great post! I never heard of Hygge before but it sounds like something I’ve already been trying to incorporate into my life without even knowing it! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
melissakacar.blogspot.com
So glad that I could introduce you to the subject!
I love everything hygge related! I get much more into it in winter but I loved reading these tips to try it in summer! Kate xx
It’s all about enjoying the simple things. Hygge is great for all seasons!
Really informative post! I have never heard of Hygge but I guess ‘feel good factor’ is a similar concept. I live for those simple pleasures in life, nothing can beat them- And now you’ve given me a name for it. Thank you!
Great post, I particularly enjoyed how Hygge can be used in the summer time, you explained this really well 🙂
I say, “Get a relaxing chair for the yard and don’t forget the cup of coffee.”
Lightweight linens are perfect for summer because it keeps your home cool. I know using sheets has not only made my room look better but it keeps it cooler.
never heard of hygge before, learn something new everyday! x
FATIMAH • ROSEYGOLDBOX
http://www.roseygoldbox.blogspot.co.uk
I love that closing quote that hygge was never meant to be translated but it was meant to be felt!
I guess summer hygge for me is iced coffee, shaded walks in the woods, bulky salads…it’s hard to think of because I’m much more of a winter lover!
I really like this post 🙂
I hadn’t really thought about how hygge transfers to the summer, but you’re right, a lot of it I am doing already. I love getting outdoors in the sunshine and just relaxing, soaking it all in. I haven’t really thought about transferring those feelings to inside my house though, so now I’m looking round at what I could adjust 🙂
Sammy | Self-Care Sloth
Great post. Being near the ocean with a book is all that I need to relax, but sometimes we need to be creative to achieve that in other ways. Thanks for sharing this.
I LOVE this concept, thank you for introducing it to me in this post!
-Kyra
This makes me wish I enjoyed summer more! I really hate the heat and the intensity of the sun. Maybe one day I’ll find a way to truly relax during the season.
I love these tips! I love staying cosy all year round, but like you said the way you go about it differs from in the Autumn or Winter. Fans and iced drinks are the way to go for me 100%. xx
El // Welsh Wanderer
I love creating outside spaces (in the shade) in the summertime – it’s always relaxing being able to sit in the shade with a drink and a good book. Getting fresh air is one of my favourite things about summer – just being able to relax outside is so nice.
This was such an interesting post! I’ve always wanted to learn more about Hggye 🙂
Nicolette Muro| thebrightestbrunette.com
This is a really cool and cute idea! Thanks for sharing this piece of culture from Denmark, I can definitely relate to it as well.
Great post! Everyone gets into the hygge mindset in the winter…it’s just so easy to do. But the same principles apply year round! My fave ways to hygge in the summer: candles, cookouts with friends, and game nights!
xoxo,
Jacqie @ thelipsticknarratives.com
Lovely ideas!