SOULFUL SPACES THROUGH A HYGGE LENS — Infusing warmth, intention, and emotional comfort into the place you call home.

Autumn’s crisp air stirs our natural instincts to prepare for the hastening winter. It motivates us to make our homes cozy and inviting, so that at the end of a long day, we cherish stepping inside and instantly feel our shoulders drop, our breath ease, and our minds soften. That moment—where space and spirit meet—is at the heart of hygge, the Danish art of creating comfort and presence. But beyond cozy blankets and flickering candles, hygge offers something deeper: a way to craft soulful spaces that support emotional well-being and connection.

Hygge as a Way of Seeing

Hygge, pronounced hyoo·guh, is often translated as “coziness,” but its true meaning runs richer. It’s about attending to the small details that make life feel nurturing, about noticing the textures, rituals, and rhythms that help us slow down and savor the space around and within us. Notice how the sun dances through your home as morning shifts to evening, notice the sounds that fill your home and the aromas that touch your emotions, as well as the textures and colors that add depth and personality.

Through a hygge lens, design becomes less about aesthetics and more about feeling. Spaces are not styled—they’re experienced.

Begin with Warm, Honest Materials

Soulful spaces use materials that feel alive: natural woods, soft wools, downy cottons, and linen with a gentle crease. These textures evoke warmth and honesty, grounding us in the moment.

• Opt for wooden surfaces that age gracefully
• Choose chunky knitted throws or woven baskets for tactile comfort
• Select a soft area rug that makes every step a delight
• Use ceramics or pottery that is artistically unique or slightly imperfect for character

It’s the interplay of texture—not the perfection of it—that creates depth. It’s about touching and feeling nurtured by the surroundings.

(photo credit: The Spruce)

Create Lighting That Breathes

Light is the heartbeat of hygge. Instead of bright, uniform illumination, hygge favors soft, layered lighting that shifts with the day. I have recommended layered lighting in previous articles. But, to recap, maximize the function and ambiance of the room by having various lighting options from bright, uniform light for upbeat activities, to medium light for conversational gatherings, to soft lighting for hygge unwinding. Our bodies and souls respond beautifully when our home’s lighting is in sync with the shifting sunlight.

To layer a room’s lighting options, lights should be able to be turned on and off in strategically organized zones. As the day begins to fade, quiet the room by eliminating the overhead lights and turn on table lamps or floor lamps; as dusk grows deeper, add candles and reduce the intensity of the lamps. It’s interesting that following the sun’s clues to quiet your home will also quiet your children and your pets.

To curate a hygge ambiance:

• Mix in some warm bulbs that mimic candlelight (2200k or lower)
• Use 3-way bulbs or dimmers in table lamps and floor lamps to create flexibility in light intensity
• Turn off overhead lighting to reduce glare
• Burn actual candles, or high-quality battery candles, for ritual and mood
• For those with a fireplace, light a fire for another layer of light and warmth

When comfort, intention, simplicity, and contentment come together, hygge magic unfolds.

Burning actual candles can create a hygge experience far above a battery candle, but only if the candle is unscented and made of natural materials (coconut wax, soy wax, or beeswax) and has cotton, wood, or linen wicks. Please, please, please, DO NOT burn synthetic candles made with paraffin wax, synthetic fiber wicks, or any scented candle. As synthetic candles burn, the toxins from the wax and fragrances will contaminate your home’s air. These synthetic candles release formaldehyde and VOCs into the air, which contribute to many health issues such as respiratory problems, eye problems, hormonal imbalances, and more. You can easily search the internet for numerous warnings about these candles, or click here for an interesting article from “Women’s Health Network”.

Instead of buying cheap, scented candles, invest in slow-burning unscented natural candles and then add a few drops of your favorite organic/pure essential oil to the burning candle’s wax pool. This allows you to orchestrate the mood of the room. If you are new to the world of essential oils, don’t naively buy a bottle at the nearest “big box” store. Essential oils are powerful. Research the essential oils company to make sure the oil is actually pure oil with no fillers. The FDA only requires 5% of pure essential oil to be in the bottle for the manufacturer to label it as “pure”. Many companies add byproducts and fillers to their oils, and these, too, contribute to health issues as alarming as the synthetic fragrances. I personally only recommend Young Living Essential Oils. There are other quality companies out there; please do thorough research before purchasing an essential oil. That is what I did, and found the quality of Young Living Essential Oils to be higher than any of the other companies available to me. Contact me if you would like more details on my findings.

(photo credit: edwardgeorgelondon.com)

Candles, soft lights, and gentle scents can whisk our cares away. When the light and the air feel gentle, you naturally become gentler with yourself—as will everyone in your family.

Curate More Meaning, Less Stuff

Hygge isn’t minimalist—but it is intentional. Soulful spaces are curated with meaningful pieces that tell your story. There is a fine line between a relaxed, hygge room and a disheveled, cluttered room. Be intentional with the items you display. Having fewer items set out creates more prominence for the items that are on display. To keep things fresh, have fun changing the accents periodically; this can be done as the seasons change or as new photos or items come into your life. Swapping accents is the easiest way to create a new hygge vibe!

To help you prioritize, ask yourself:

• Does this item comfort me or inspire me?
• Does it spark a happy memory or emotion?
• Does it add calmness, or does it create visual noise?

When you prioritize, keeping what matters and releasing what doesn’t, the room becomes a reflection of your inner landscape.

Allowing nature to inspire a room helps us stay grounded and in sync with nature’s rhythms.

Invite Nature In

Nature grounds us, regulates us, and reminds us of life’s cycles. Through a hygge lens, nature isn’t just décor—it’s connection.

Ways to bring it inside:

• Fresh greenery, fresh flowers, or hardy houseplants
• Stones, driftwood, or shells collected from a special place
• Seasonal elements like dried grasses in autumn, pine branches and pinecones in winter,  or wildflowers, forsythia, or pussy willow branches in spring
• Consider the outdoor landscape as part of the room’s décor; let it become an ever-changing backdrop
• Let your space shift with the seasons; it will keep things fresh and in harmony with nature’s rhythms, which creates a natural hygge element that nurtures our soul.

Design for Togetherness—and Solitude

Hygge champions both connection and quiet. A soulful home supports both.

Create pockets of togetherness:

• A circle of chairs around a low table
• Floor cushions for relaxed gathering
• A dining space that welcomes lingering conversation

Friends fill a home with joyful energy; a hygge home welcomes everyone whether it’s a planned gathering or a casual spur-of-the-moment chat.

And also create spaces for solitude:

• A reading nook with a soft throw
• A spot by a window for morning tea
• A cozy corner devoted to journaling or meditation

Quiet time is as important as sharing your home with friends; it brings balance which nurtures harmony.

Balance is the essence of well-being. Let the morning ignite your soul for an active and purposeful day; then, as the day winds down, intentionally create the moments where space and spirit meet. This will not only improve your mood and health, it will also improve the balance and harmony of your whole household.

Ritualize the Ordinary

The magic of hygge lies in small, daily rituals that deepen your relationship with home.

Here are some simple rituals to consider:

• Lighting a candle at dusk
• Making tea and sitting for two quiet minutes
• Fluffing pillows and opening windows each morning
• Playing soft music while cooking dinner

Rituals turn everyday moments into soul-nourishing ones. Be creative with the rituals that soothe your soul, and when you find the right ones, your soul will nudge you to not forget. As you perform each ritual, you will find yourself slowly relaxing.

A Home That Holds You

Soulful, hygge-inspired spaces aren’t about chasing perfection—they’re about creating places where you feel safe, warm, and wholly yourself. When you design with intention and tenderness, your home becomes more than a shelter. It becomes a sanctuary.

Through a hygge lens, you’re not just decorating your space.
You’re gathering a feeling.
You’re curating comfort.
You’re building a home that holds your soul—and embracing everyone that steps inside.

Let’s look through the hygge lens together so your home can embrace you—body, mind, and spirit.

(Click here to curate the moment where space meets spirit.)