5 Ways to Hygge as a Family

It’s 2019, y’all (how in the heck did that happen?!)! I’m not sure why time is flying by so fast, but every January I find myself with the same urge for a clean slate. Are you the same? For me, that means a lot of purging of the things and getting back into productive routines. But this year I also really want to focus on adding more Hygge into my little family’s life.

You may remember me mentioning Hygge here before (like here and here). It’s not a new concept, but for some it’s still a bit of a mystery. I, personally, love the idea of incorporating a more Hygge state of mind into my life, but how does one do that with a couple of small hooligan children running amok? I think I’ve come up with a pretty good plan.

This post contains affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

To recap, Hygge (pronounced “hoo-guh”) is a Danish word that has no literal English translation, but it roughly translates to coziness, warmth, homeyness, togetherness, and being present in life with your important people. The practice of Hygge has been a way of life in Scandinavian countries for centuries, but within the past few years it has started to catch on in the U.S. I, for one, am a huge fan, as I mentioned. I mean, any culture that has been dubbed the “happiest people in the world” probably know a thing or two about good lifestyle choices, am I right?

So how can you add more Hygge into your family life? It may seem hard with kids, but I really think it’s doable. Essentially, Hygge focuses on being intentional about enjoying your time and space together with the people you love. Here are some easy ways you can bring Hygge to your family:

1. Create comfortable spaces. Make your family gathering space as comfortable as possible. Add soft blankets to your couch or create special pallets on the floor for the kids. Or keep a basket full of throws in an easily accessible place. Even better, get your kids their own special blanket that they keep in that family space; my daughter has a mermaid tail blanket and my son loves his football blanket. Add some squishy pillows and let the kids bring a few of their favorite stuffies to the gathering place and get cozy together!

2. Use more lamplight. Danes are obsessed with low lighting, specifically candle light. And while I would love to use more candle light than electricity, it’s not the smartest or safest idea with grabby little hands roaming around my house. Instead, try incorporating more lamps into your spaces and equip them with low-watt bulbs. Also, instead of having overhead lights glaring down at you at night, fire up those lamps and enjoy the ambiance.

3. Ban all phones/tablets. Make it a rule to put away your phones and iPad’s and kiddie tablets after a certain time every night. Instead of getting lost in the time suck of the internet (or answering emails or Instagram or Facebook…pick your poison), spend time with your family having fun. Watch a movie, play a board game, or read books to your kids. Have an actual conversation with your spouse or play a game of chess or scrabble while drinking wine and remembering how much y’all like each other. Engage more with your people and grow your relationships.

4. Comfy clothes. I don’t know about you, but I can’t fully relax until I’ve taken off my bra and put on my cozy socks. And I think there is nothing cuter than a kid in flannel pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Invest in a few pairs of soft pajama pants, a cozy knit cardigan and some wool socks and make it a habit to wear them in the evening and encourage your kiddos to do the same. Start the habit of making everyone end their day as cozy and comfortable as possible and watch how much better you all sleep at night!

5. Snuggle. I don’t care how old your kids are, get yourself some snuggles while you have the chance! There is nothing more relaxing and wonderful than laying with your babies and snuggling with them while watching a movie or talking about their day. And when your kids are in bed, snuggle with your spouse! Then do yourself a favor and read more about the fine art of creating a Hygge home for your family with these great books:

There are so many ways you can create a cozy and relaxing atmosphere for your family, but these tips will at least get you started. Hygge can be just the type of lifestyle shift you need in this new year to bring that feeling of togetherness back into the fold of everyday life. After all, if the “happiest people in the world” swear by it, maybe we should try it too?