Simple Hygge Winter Decor
Hygge and cabin living seems like an obvious combination. But striking the right balance between cozy and comfortable in a fresh, simple, way presents quite the challenge for me.
During this winter season of being home, the spaces around our cabin have been restyled to create the cozy environment of hygge for my family.
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The Clutter of Christmas
The weeks surrounding Christmas are always festive and full of memories. They can also be vibrant with color and years of memorable decorations. Toward the end of the holiday season the decked walls can feel quite cluttered and overrun with red and green.
I love taking time in January to embrace open space on shelves and walls. To do some annual purging and scaling down of extra “stuff”. This year found my family selling furniture and making a few trips to our local donation center too. It felt so great to literally clear spaces of excess.
What is Hygge?
For several months I’ve been marinating on the idea that it’s time to simplify the decor in our modern cabin. I’ve always loved Scandinavian and Nordic style with a nod to rustic mountain living. One of the tell tale visual descriptors of Scandi and Nordic style is hygge.
Hygge is the Danish and Norwegian word for a feeling of coziness and comfortable conviviality, or friendliness, within the home. It’s the idea of enjoying the present moment and seeking to be grateful for the simple things like a warm fire or a cup of coffee. Hygge embodies the idea that simply being home can and does fill a person with the truest sense of belonging and joy.
Less is More
Just a few cups and the coffee maker. With this view, does it really get any better?
Seriously, this little spot is one of my happiest in our cabin. I love the refreshing feeling of a simple placemat, a single pine bough, and some rustic mugs.
Edit Down
Our home library with my mini workspace nestled next to it has always been tricky to style. Every six months or so I go through the books and scale back a little more. This January we took the plunge again and sent many books to the donation center. Colorful bindings are turned backward for the most part to calm the space down visually as well. Pictures, local artifacts, and small family heirlooms speckle the shelves here and there giving our library a lived-in feeling.
Embrace Space
I think I love styling my mantle most of all. So scaling back and embracing a significant amount of open space was a real challenge for me. I spent weeks pouring over ideas on pinterest. I’m thrilled with the result and the open space feels so great.
Thoughtful Details
Small vignette decorating took a serious simplified approach this season too. I still took the opportunity to nudge my family toward thoughtfulness and hope with little phrases and reminders here and there though.
These two small spaces, while tiny, are intentionally left clean and simple albeit for a few elements to draw the eye and evoke a sense of home.
The Beauty of Nature
I think winter is our little slice of forest’s best season. So I took inspiration from outside and kept the dining room very simple with pine garland and mercury glass votives laid on a fuzzy white scarf. It’s clean, welcoming and elegant all at the same time. Perfect for a formal dining room.
Hygge Home
Feeling at peace and safe at home has always been my goal in styling and decorating our modern cabin. Winter can hold both a majestic and terrifying beauty. Since my home decor journey on this blog started I’ve learned alot about creating visual layers of texture, color, and depth. But something about this season’s decor just feels right. Embracing open space, editing down clutter, and choosing less so what we do have can be more was the right decision. It’s calm, beautiful, natural, and effortless feeling. It doesn’t just feel like home, it is home.
With hope for you and your intentional home,
