Hygge Nesting with The Quiet Moose

Welcome to cozy season

By Alexandra Dailey | Nov. 4, 2023

There is an innate desire to be warm and cozy this time of year, snuggled up with a blanket near a crackling fire, holding a good book, or having a meaningful conversation. Such an atmospheric desire and setting has a name: hygge.

A Danish word and way of life, hygge is defined as a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that creates a feeling of contentment or well-being. Said plainly, hygge means nurturing a warm, welcoming setting to enjoy and share with others. (And no matter what you call it, this kind of comforting, anxiety-free, intentional environment has been proven to help with stress and mental health!)

There are multiple elements to creating hygge in your home, and we delved into the process with two interior designers from Petoskey’s The Quiet Moose.

Kristyn Lent and Nadine Hogan bring nearly 50 years of combined experience in interior design to the table, including work on new builds and remodels. When we asked them for tips about creating hygge in the home, both eagerly shared their insight and creative perspectives.

First and foremost, it’s important to know that certain areas within a home tend to bring people the most joy. According to Lent and Hogan, those are spaces where people come together with loved ones: the kitchen, dining room, living room, and bedrooms.

“Hygge design focuses on creating welcoming and serene spaces and incorporating soft textures and warm color palettes,” explains Lent. “Hygge style gives your home a cozy, lived-in feel with comfortable furniture pieces you can sink into and lighting that provides ambiance.”

“Colors like warm, rich neutrals and blush tones, textures like boucles, faux furs, chunky woven throw blankets, and subtle geometric patterns” all align with the aesthetic, Hogan adds. Wood tones and other natural materials are also a big element of hygge designing.

But the best part is that creating a hygge space is achievable without breaking the bank. There’s no need to completely redo an entire room or home—you can commit to a simple hygge nook, a special, quiet place that’s just for you. Start by adding a handful of items; Lent and Hogan recommend incorporating accessories like throw blankets, pillows, rugs, scented candles, and comfy bedding for virtually instantaneous hygge.

Brands that fit the bill and come highly recommended by these two designers are Four Hands, Alder & Tweed, Dovetail, and Surya.

Other go-to strategies for making your space feel cozy include bringing in greenery to make an indoor connection with nature (succulents may not be very Scandinavian, but they sure are cute!); opting for soft, warm lighting with candles, twinkly string lights, and lamps instead of brighter overhead lights; and setting out books or photo albums that inspire happiness for you and guests.

And we know we’ve already mentioned blankets, but seriously…more blankets. Winter is coming, after all.

Ultimately, achieving hygge is a personal endeavor and process, as what creates a homey setting is individual and subjective. For Lent and Hogan, it’s fairly simple: you want to make a “space to unwind, reflect on the day, journal, read a book, light a fire, have a cup of tea or glass of wine, and enjoy conversation with a loved one,” Lent says.

Shop all things hygge at The Quiet Moose at 300 E. Mitchell St. in Petoskey. quietmoose.com