Whether you have been hearing the word “hygge” with no recollection of what it means, or you simply want to learn how to live a more simple and positive life, practicing it in the fall season is perfect.
Surprisingly, hygge is pronounced like hoo-gah. This is a practice that originated in Denmark, as Danish believes in simplifying your life in order to bring in more positivity, comfort, and contentment.
Hygge is all about being cozy, warm, comfortable, positive, and happy. You spend more time with family and friends. You forget the notions of material possessions and simplify your life. You spend more time in front of the fire while snuggling under a warm blanket.This and so much more is what hygge represents, and you can use it in your everyday life.
Fall also happens to be an amazing time of year for hygge. During this season, you tend to want to see your loved ones more often, express gratitude, and decorate your home. Here are some different ways to practice hygge during the fall season.
Enjoy the Scents of Fall
Two great things to combine for hygge in the fall season is by combining scents that remind you of the season, and using them to relax. This is a really effective way to relax, unwind, and get cozy in your home, while also embracing your favorite scents and flavor during the fall season.
Scents to Consider
There are many different types of fall scents, including those that are stand-alone scents like herbs and essential oils, and scents that are combined to remind you of everything from forests in the fall to the smell of baking treats in the kitchen.
Here are some excellent ones to start with:
- Pumpkin
- Spices like nutmeg and ginger
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Apple
- Orange
- Clove
- Cedar
- Chai
- Fir
- Eucalyptus
Ways to Enjoy Fall Scents
If you want to practice hygge in the fall season, you have some different options for enjoying the fall scents. Here are some ideas:
- Burn Candles – This is probably the simplest way to enjoy fall scents for hygge. You are already relaxing on your couch, while snuggling under a cozy blanket with a good book. Lighting a candle seems like the next natural step. You can find many fall-inspired candle scents from pumpkin spice to vanilla chai latte.
- Use Essential Oils – Another option you have is to use essential oils. If you get an essential oil diffuser, you can add a few drops of your favorite scents to the diffuser. The great thing about oils is that they can be used alone, or you can create your own blends. There are also many fall-themed blends already mixed for you.
- Try a Simmer Pot – A simmer pot is made with a pot of water and various elements to bring that smell into your kitchen and the rest of your home. For a fall simmer pot, add ingredients like orange rinds, apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and any fall spices you happen to have on hand. Let it simmer over the stove, then turn the heat off, but leave the pot out.
- Bake with Fall Spices – If you want to do actual baking instead of making a simmer pot, you can do that as well! Bake your favorite pumpkin pie, gingerbread cookies, or apple crumb to get those smells wafting throughout your home.
- Put Out Potpourri – Potpourri is great when you want the smell to last, without having to do anything extra. All you need to do is fill a big bowl with potpourri of a fall scent, then leave it out. Once the smell is gone, just replace it with something new.
Bring Cozy into Your Home
Hygge is all about being cozy and comfortable in your environment. A really easy way to do that during the fall is to bring the cozy and simplicity into your home.
Decorate for the Season
An easy way to start is by decorating for the fall season. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or time to do this. Just switch up your colors a little by adding more warm colors like red, orange, yellow, and green.
This can be in the form of throw pillows on the sofa, changing the flowers in your vase, and adding little decorative accessories where you think your home needs it.
You will not only embrace the change of the season, but decorating always creates a warm and welcoming environment at home.
Add Lots of Blankets and Pillows
This is definitely a must for hygge – especially in the fall! It is going to get a bit colder, so you want to stay warm and cozy in your living room.
Add soft blankets that can envelop you while watching a movie or reading a book. Make sure to have throw pillows of different sizes and shapes to create that comfortable environment you are looking for.
Get More Warmth in Your Home
Make sure your home is nice and toasty, but not too hot. If you have indoor heating and air, this will be simple to do. However, for hygge, it is best to get warmth from things that add to the environment, such as with candles burning or a fireplace.
Add Candles and Essential Oils
Not only are candles good for light and warmth, but for getting some fall scents into your home as well. The scents also help bring you into the fall season, and help you relax when you use aromatherapy candles or essential oils.
Lay Out Some Great Books
Since you are looking to relax and live a simplistic life in the fall with hygge, consider reading more, and watching less TV or using the internet every day. Find some good books, in whatever genre you enjoy the most. Lay them around on tables and chairs to encourage you to read them more often.
Bring Nature Indoors
Finally, don’t forget to bring some of that Autumn nature indoors! This can be in the form of seasonal flowers like pansies and chrysanthemums, or with any of your favorite house plants.
Experience Fall Outdoors
While a lot of people consider hygge to be something you do indoors, it is not just about being cozy in your home. During the fall, you can also practice hygge by going outside and enjoying seasonal activities with friends and family.
The important thing is that you are happy and enjoying life with people you love. Always focus on the positive and continue expressing your gratitude.
Some fun fall outdoor activities that will help you practice hygge include:
- Apple picking
- Going to a pumpkin patch
- Staying at a cabin
- Enjoying fall hikes
- Going on bike rides
Indulge in Fall Treats
If you are someone who has always loved fall, then you know how happy you are when it is time to get into your kitchen and bake.
There are so many wonderful things about cooking and baking during the fall season, from the smell of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, to making cookies with your kids, and cooking your favorite comfort foods.
To practice hygge in the fall, don’t underestimate the power of food, family, and being together during this time of year. Enjoy quiet evenings at home by baking gingerbread cookies with your kids, or inviting friends over for a dinner party with all your favorite comfort foods of the season.
You can even keep it healthy by going for more fresh produce of the season, and focusing on fall superfoods.
Utilize Your Fireplace
You probably already know the benefits of using a fireplace, from having more heat without turning on your heater, to having more ambience during the cooler months. There are also some unique benefits for the purpose of hygge, especially during the fall season.
Get Softer Lighting
Hygge is all about comfort and simplifying things, so you don’t want to have bright fluorescent light bulbs turned on all day and night. If you want to go for soft lighting, you don’t always have to replace all your lamps for the fall season.
An easier option is to turn off most of the lights in the room, then start up your fireplace. This is going to offer enough light to see, without taking away from your relaxing and happy atmosphere.
Create a Relaxing Atmosphere
Naturally, having a fireplace really brings more warmth into a family room. Even if you don’t have a traditional fireplace, you can always put in an electric one.
While you won’t get the same smells and warmth from it, it still provides that atmosphere and ambiance you are going for. You can also get a portable fireplace if that is your only option.
Encourage More Family Time
Have you ever noticed that when the fireplace is going, people tend to gravitate toward it? It creates this wonder ambiance in the family room, where everyone wants to gather in the same room to sit quietly and watch a movie, or each do their own thing, while still being together. That is the beauty of having a fireplace.
Make Family Memories
Lastly, remember to make family memories during the fall season if you want to practice more hygge. This is a wonderful season for spending more time with family and friends.
From the holidays that take place in the fall, to the various activities you can enjoy, there is a lot you can do!
