What is hygge? Hygge (pronounced huh-guh) is a Danish term that embodies a sense of coziness and contentment, especially on a cold day. Since the good old Danes are supposed to be the happiest people on the planet, we should all probably pay more attention to this concept and follow their example to add some joy to our lives.
The cold, dreary days of winter can leave us feeling blue. There is even a day in January called Blue Monday that is supposedly the most depressing day of the year. This year it falls on Monday, January 19, 2026. By this time of the year, all of the happy high vibes and festiveness of the holidays and time off of work and school is in our rear-view mirror. What’s left going forward is months of cold, dark, and gray days until the happiness and liveliness of spring. That can certainly lead many people to feel depressed this time of year.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! Enter hygge.
Instead of allowing ourselves to get discouraged and downhearted about the cold weather and the fact that the sun is still setting much earlier than we would like, we can take charge of our feelings and romanticize the heck out of the remaining cold, winter days. Here are some ways to make your life feel like you are the main character in a cozy, happy romantic comedy that just happens to be set in the winter.
Indulge in a warm, comforting drink.
Think hot cocoa, a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee, or a cup of your favorite herbal tea. Get out your prettiest mug or teacup and treat yourself–multiple times of day. Take your warm drink to a cozy corner of your house and savor it. There is something so soothing about feeling warm liquid slide down your throat and into your belly on a cold day. Stop to take a deep breath and appreciate how good it tastes and how cozy it makes you feel. Wrap your cold hands around the mug and soak in the warmth. Imagine you are the main character in your own rom-com and this is the scene where the heroine looks chic and peaceful sipping her warm drink by the window.
Add some twinkle lights to your indoor and outdoor space.
It doesn’t have to be December to enjoy the warmth and ambiance of twinkle lights. Add some twinkle lights (some people call them fairy lights) to your home any time of year you want to feel an extra bit of coziness. There are many fairly inexpensive options available online. Most are battery powered, and some outdoor options are even solar powered. Some even come with remote controls or timers to come on automatically, which makes them even more easy and fun to use.
Put a string of lights above your headboard to give your bedroom a warm, ethereal feeling. Wrap some lights around various plants in your home–that fake Ficus or fiddle-leaf fig tree or the pathos plant in the corner. I have some around a fake olive tree in my den that I love. Every time I turn them on, it makes me feel happy. Weave some in between dishes, glasses, and plates if you have a glass-front cabinet. Place some in a lantern and put it on a table or fireplace hearth in your living room. Outside, you can wrap them around trees or the posts of your porch or pergola.
Wherever you end up putting them, they will bring instant joy and coziness to that little corner of your home. You just can’t be sad when looking at twinkle lights. It’s not allowed.
Put out soft and cozy blankets.
Invest in the softest, coziest blankets or throws you can find. Add them everywhere you want to relax–your sofa, your recliner, the end of your bed. Be mindful of how a blanket feels against your skin before you buy it. We’re going for max softness here–nothing that makes you feel itchy or could dampen your mood. In your free time, wrap yourself up in your softest blanket, grab your warm cup of tea, and watch your favorite show or movie. Can life get any better than that? TJ Maxx and Marshalls are great places to look for throws and blankets, but I have even found some great ones from Wal-Mart. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to feel like you’re wrapped in marshmallows.
Wear cute winter clothes.
Sure, sundresses are pretty and sandals make our toes happy, but winter clothes can have their moment. Celebrate the cold weather by wearing your cutest sweaters–the fair-isles, the turtlenecks, the cardigans, and the cable-knits. They can all be beautiful. Embrace the joy of wearing coats. There are so many chic options available. Wear your coziest, warmest boots to keep your tootsies toasty. And don’t forget the best part of dressing for the winter–the accessories! Go crazy with cozy scarves, beanies, hats, mittens, and gloves. Remember, you’re the main character in your own movie. How would she go out for a night on the town–in a boring, over-sized sweatshirt just to keep warm or in a beautiful, soft fair-isle sweater with an elegant wool coat, cozy pink scarf, and a beanie with a pom-pom on top? Dressing in your best winter clothes will lift your mood and help you embrace the season just as it is.
There are so many more ways to add hygge into your life this winter. I have created a fun BINGO card that you can download below that has even more ideas. You can check them off throughout the winter as you try them or even come up with your own ideas.
No matter how cold it gets or how cloudy the day, we have the choice to either feel dark and gloomy or cozy and content. I hope you choose cozy and content. Share how you hygge in the comments below. Happy hygge!
Click here to download your free hygge BINGO pdf document.
A Spoonful of Joy 