Gather ‘Round the Fire to Experience Hygge

As winter sets in and the days get shorter, it’s time to embrace the Danish concept of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah). What is hygge, you ask? It’s a centuries-old lifestyle that celebrates coziness, contentment, and finding joy in life’s simple pleasures.

Ready to give it a try? Grab a mug of hot cocoa and read on to learn more.

A Cozy Fire is Key to Hygge

While folks in Denmark incorporate hygge into their lives all year long, it feels especially worth pursuing during the long nights and slower pace of winter. And there’s no quicker way to get in the hygge spirit than by pulling up a seat in front of a roaring fire.

If your existing masonry fireplace is inefficient, you may want to install a fireplace insert into that space. Inserts contain and radiate heat back into the room more effectively than traditional fireplaces. If you don’t already have a fireplace, this might be the winter to add one to your home. Given that there are a number of options that can bring hygge to your home, VanderWall can help you determine if gas, wood, or electric is best for you, or if you’d prefer a cozy wood stove.

Other Ways to Practice Hygge

The art of hygge includes spending informal time with family or close friends and sharing a meal, wine or beer, or hot chocolate. Provide yourself and your guests with comfy chairs and blankets as you sit around the fire. Oh, and don’t forget the candles! (The Danish are Europe’s biggest consumers of candles, burning through around 13 lbs per person each year)!

You can increase your home’s hygge quotient using what you already have at hand:

• A comfortable sofa
• Comfy chairs
• Some poufs or floor cushions
• Fleece or knit blankets
• Plenty of scented candles (think cozy scents like vanilla, winter aromas like pine, or mix and match)
• A playlist of relaxing music
• Comfort food (like soup, stew, curry, or chicken pot pie)
• Warming drinks like hot chocolate, hot apple cider, warm sangria, or hot toddies

Keep in mind, you don’t need to limit yourself to your living room. You can keep that hygge feeling going outside with help from an outdoor fireplace to keep you and your guests warm and toasty.

Bring on the Hygge with Help from VanderWall

However you decide to bring on the hygge this winter, be sure to practice fireplace safety, and know that you can count on the experts at VanderWall for help with everything from installation to hearth supplies and tools. Visit our showrooms in Grand Rapids and Spring Lake for inspiration and assistance.

Source: What is hygge | All you need to know about the small joys of life

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