The Danish call it “hygge,” (pronounced hue-guh), a word there is no direct English translation for, but the concept best translates to coziness, happiness, comfort and familiarity. Beat the winter blues or keep stress at bay all year round by incorporating hygge into your home. Nine cozy additions you can add to any space:
Soft light
Turn off the lamp and light a candle. According to the experts at Canyon Ranch, lighting candles can have MAJOR benefits when it comes to stress-reduction. String lights and paper lanterns are also a fun way to add a cozy glow to your room.Books
Displaying your beloved books is a great way to instantly create a lived-in space. Virginia-based decorator, Dinna Eckstein of Audrey Kate Design and Staging recommends going for “vintage handbooks that have that linen look.”
Cushions
The folks at Apartment Therapy said it best, “sitting on the floor to work, eat, and hang out is just plain comfortable.” Floor cushions and extra plump pillows are a great way to add seating and comfort to a space.
Life
While you can’t go wrong with a cat, non-pet owners can add life (and a little extra oxygen) to their room with a plant. Brittni Melhoff of the powerhouse design blog Paper & Stitch says “plants make a house feel like a home,” and we couldn’t agree more.
Rugs
Area rugs can be a great way to add coziness in a space or room. Not only do they transform the entire look but also the ambiance of the area. You can use shag rugs, for example in order to give a little warm and comfy look and feel.
Personal Touch
Make your space extra special to you by adding personal touches or monogrammed pillows. Add some memorable items such as pictures that can give nostalgia!
Pigment
Saturated fabrics, like curtains and rugs, in rich, deep hues are a great way to add soul to your space. An overdyed rug is a great way to incorporate color. Dinna Eckstein also recommends adding a rug to "define the space and keep your toes warm."
Something used
Ditch the brand spankin' new and embrace the worn and torn. D.C. designer Heather Cook of Inside Design adds worn-in surfaces and touches, like patina and antiques, to create a relaxed space. “When everything is new and shiny and perfect, I don’t feel that it is as easy to breathe deeply,” Heather said. She also recommends finding the perfect yin and yang balance to softness and sharpness to achieve pure comfort in a room.Art
Adding a variety of eclectic art to a room can give be the missing link your space needs. HGTV star and design guru Emily Henderson recommends a mix of mediums. “A room full of photographs can look generic and bad hotel-like,” she explains.
Texture
Blogger Coco Kelly explains how "good rooms- just like good outfits- are all about perfect layering." Not only does the texture give personality to any space but the right texture can add comfort and softness you crave.
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About RugKnots
RugKnots is a family-owned rug company based in Hagerstown, Maryland. Founded in 2010, we've spent over 14 years helping homeowners and designers find the right rug — from hand-knotted Persian heirlooms to durable machine-made everyday pieces. We hand-inspect every order before it ships, offer free U.S. shipping, and back every purchase with our 30-day return guarantee.
This article was written by our editorial team and reviewed for accuracy. Our writers work directly with our buyers and customer-experience team, who handle thousands of rug questions every year. If you have a question this article didn't answer, reach out — a real human will get back to you within one business day.
