Reena Simon's hygge tips for winter
As the temperature drops, it’s time to layer up your home, turn up the hygge factor and get ready for winter, says Reena Simon
1 Make sure your house smells welcoming this winter. Create cosiness from the moment guests walk in with a magical combination of spicy cinnamon, clove and orange. It could be in the form of candles, diffusers or dried bits in hurricane lanterns. They smell divine and provide the perfect atmosphere.
2 The great fear of missing out fades into the background when cosy nights at home by the fire dominate a winter calendar. Arrange your living room seating so that it faces the fireplace and decorate the mantelpiece with candles and foliage, which celebrates the season while giving a nod to Christmas.
3 Bonfire Night isn’t the only time you can gather around an outdoor fire. There’s no need to fret over being chilly while trying to get it going if you use a ‘Swedish torch’, which is a log with deep cuts that allow the fire to light quickly. Who doesn’t love gathering the family around the fire to enjoy toasted s’mores?
4 If you are missing the natural light this winter, invest in some mirrors and place them in areas where you can amplify the light. You can create cosy reflections by placing them near candles and table lamps and no matter how gloomy it is outside, inside will feel much lighter and brighter.
5 Embrace the cold weather and go for a walk before returning home to a bubble bath. Turn your bathroom into a cosy sanctuary with the softest towels, a fluffy robe and lots of candles – no overhead lighting allowed.
Winter is, hands down, the cosiest season, with so much warmth, light and hygge – Reena Simon
6 Hygge avoids extravagance, encouraging us to enjoy the simplicity of our surroundings. Set up a cosy spot, perhaps in front of a window, to sit and read – the Danes call this a hyggekrog – and let’s slow down a little this winter.
7 We crave comfort more than ever during winter and are naturally drawn to fabrics that are warm and soft to touch. It’s the perfect time to bring in hints of bouclé, wool, sheepskin or velvet throughout your home.
8 Bring nature in with fallen branches and twigs, placing them in vases around the house to echo the winter landscape. As the famous Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf said, “A plant is only worth growing if it looks good when it is dead”.
9 I love to spend many a winter’s day enjoying a somewhat indulgent hot chocolate. I’ll happily drink this while sat in a cosy coffee shop, watching the world go by, or enjoy at home in my favourite mug.
