Love all things hygge? Here are 15 Ways to Add a Bit of Hygge to Your Fall!
Who doesn’t love autumn?
Crisp mornings that are perfect for wrapping around a mug of coffee.
Trees turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red.
Leaves crunching under your feet, and of course the pumpkin spice latte. Though really you should give the pumpkin spice mocha try instead.
It’s that time of year were hygge is on the minds of so many. Once again asking the question of, “How can I add more hygee to my fall?” “What are simple ways to embrace coziness and literally feel it too?”
But maybe you are like “Hygee? Hygee what?!”.
Somehow you missed the buzzword that of the past few falls and winters. That’s okay because now you get to learn what it means and how to embrace it!
Hygge, pronounced, “who-ga” (more or less, if you really want to say it right, watch this video 😄), is a Danish word that is roughly described as coziness, though it is said that there is no adequately translate the word. Hygge is thought to be more of a feeling or an atmosphere.
Hygee is a beautiful gift in the cooler months where the days are short that encourages you to embrace the season you are in and not be longing for the next.
No matter who you are you can benefit from adding a bit of hygge to your fall!
15 Ways to Add a Bit of Hygge to Your Fall
1. Button up a Flannel Shirts
I am convinced that everyone needs a bit of flannel in their life. All the better if it’s plaid. Really, most of the time you don’t look like a farmer or cowboy, well unless you throw on a pair of boots then you did that to yourself. Unless you are, then have at it! 🙂
Flannel is pure hygge, it is so warm and cozy. It’s perfect for the brisk days of fall before the fridged days of winter force you to bundle up.
2. Hot Drinks
Who can resist wrapping their hands around a mug on a cool day? Tea, coffee, apple cider, hot cocoa, however you like it take a bit of time in your day to savor the moment and relax with a hot drink.
Autumn Inspired Hot Drinks:
If it’s simply too hot where you live then here are a few beverages that taste like fall but feel like summer. Even though my Octobers have days in the 80s I shut myself up inside for a bit with the fan on and sip away.
Autumn Inspired Cold Drinks:
3. Autumn Scents
The smell of cinnamon and other spices wafting through the house makes you want to curl up with a blanket for a bit.
You can add autumn scents two different ways, the first would be to defuse “autumn scents” like orange, clove, and cinnamon. Or you could purchase a pre-made blend. Please know that not all of them are childsafe. That is why I love Plant Therapy, they label which of their oils are childsafe to save you some mental energy.
(This not a sponsored post, I simply use and trust their oils.)
Not ready to commit to essential oils? My tried and true favourite way to make my house smell like fall is to simmer a bit of orange or apple peel with cinnamon and cloves in a small pot on the stove or in a small crock pot. It is a child-safe option and uses up scraps from the kitchen.
If you’ve made a batch of Chai then you can dump the spent spices in your pot.
4. Bake All the Things
Baking is pure hygge. Pulling a load of fresh, homemade bread out of the oven? Apple muffins? Pumpkin pie? All about that hygee. Like seriously, it is hard to find a better feeling. You don’t have to feel guilty about heating the whole house up now that is cooler out. Embrace the delight of from scratch bread and other baked goodies!
Things to Bake:
5. Pull Out Your Favourite Books
Forget the lazy days of summer to catch up on your reading. Curl up in your favourite stuffed chair (or couch if you are reading with your kids) and crack open the books that you meant to read while you were adventuring, gardening, and swimming.
Naturally, you should have a hot cup of something tasty to sip as you read because, hygge.
Books to Savor:
6. Set Out Candles
Candles offer a soft, gentle glow to a room feel warm and cozy. Bee’s wax and soy wax candles are wonderful, non-toxic options. You can make your own or buy a few on Amazon.
7. Pull Out the Throw Blankets
Sofy, cozy throw blankets are a must for those crisp days. You can cul up your favourite comfy chair, covered up in a blanket, while you sip a cup of tea and dive into a classic novel. Have you noticed the theme? Hot Drinks = good books. Or turn on a “fall” flick like You’ve Got Mail.
8. Create Savory Seasonal Dishes
Seasonal living allows your body to ebb and flow as the world outside changes. Your body starts to crave, warm, soothing foods. Try to focus on in-season fruits and vegetables like butternut squash, pomegranates, and pumpkins. It doesn’t all have to be pumpkin spice lattes.
Every autumn creamy butternut squash pasta sauce with bacon and rosemary finds a place at my table.
9. Have a Pot of Simmering Soups and Stews on the Stove
What hits the spot better than a steaming bowl of soup or a stew made with homemade bone broth? The heartier the better. Pair it with a bit of crusty bread slathered in butter and you are good to go. It warms the heart and soul on a blustery day.
The Perfect Autumn Soups:
10. Create a Cozy Nook(s)
Pile those books and blankets in a cozy little spot to create a nook or hyggekrog. Maybe it’s your favourite, oversized chair, maybe it’s a window seat. Be sure to create (or help create) spaces for others in your house too!
Meik Wiking explains in his book (The Little Book of Hygge) , “the one thing that every home needs is a hyggekrog, which roughly translates as “a nook.” It is the place in the room where you love to snuggle up in a blanket, with a book and a cup of tea.”
11. Light a Fire
Gather friends and family around a bonfire on a crisp autumn night. Enjoy simply being together. Maybe even roast a marshmallow (for a twist try from scratch chocolate honey ones) or two! If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove you could always bring the party inside.
12. Wear Your Favourite Sweaters
Is there a type of clothing that people look forward to more in the fall than sweaters? Nothing is better than pulling on a sweater with a pair of jeans and wool socks once the leaves start to change color.
13. Bring Nature Indoors
Simple decorations like pumpkins and leaves are a perfect way to bring a bit of fall into your home. You could fill a basket with your finds.
14. Pull out the Warm Socks
Along with sweaters, warm socks are another Autumn essential!
Summer is so hot in my area that I never wear socks. I’m a barefoot girl by nature but when the temperature drops I pull on my cozy socks to warm my toes. SmartWool socks are my all time favourites!
15. Slow Down
In a time of year when it’s easy to rush from one thing to the next as festivities start to take off, now is the time to create pockets of intentional rest. Traditionally late fall and winter was a time when farmers could finally take a moment to breathe between the last harvest and first planting in the year to come. Granted most of us aren’t farmers but it is important to remember to not be on the go so much.
This is the also the season when we are more susceptible to sickness and exhaustion. Take a moment to breathe, make a cup of tea, and enjoy those you love.
Slow living also comes into play in the kitchen as well. I really do enjoy my Instant Pot but sometimes it’s nice to have a pot of soup simmering on the stove as you pull a loaf of from scratch bread from the oven.
Those moments are pockets ofintentionalityy that allow you to embrace each season in it’s turn.
I love this list. Just reading it makes me feel cozy. I love all the fall things! The colors and clothes and cuddles and blankets and food and chai lattes!
Awe, thank you, Bethany! I’m sorry for the late reply, I haven’t been able to be on here in a while.
Hygge is a lovely word, we have it in the Norwegian language too. It is indeed about an atmosphere, a feeling. In Autumn (I love Autumn!), it creeps in our houses with the lighted fires, candles and warm blankets. It is brought to us through warm meals and the contrast between short days and darkness versus indoor warmth and comfort. A precious atmophere. Cozyness, warmth, security all wrapped up together. Pam x
I love that! ❤️
Katie, this is an inspiring list. My family likes chai. We like it so much that one of my DC makes chai-spiced cookies. Oh, my GOODNESS! I am especially fond of throw blankets, so those have been out on every chair and sofa in our home. Thank you for these ideas and God bless.
I love your suggestions to help enjoy this season of “hygge”! This word must be similar to the Dutch word “gezellig”. There is no exact translation – it means a combination of cozy, pleasant, enjoyable, nice.
Thank you! 🙂 It seems like it is similar. Thanks for sharing!