What is hygge (pronounced HOO-gah)? How can you get this elusive, joyful, cozy feeling in your own home? Does it really make you more content and happy like the research states? Here are your answers, as well as how you can create a hygge home this Fall…or any season of the year! Part of any holistic health routine is having a home you love where you feel relaxed and happy, where you have a safe sanctuary to enjoy. Developing hygge does these things! (This is an updated article!)

I was in a local shop a couple years ago, and I saw this book called The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking. I was intrigued! After all, isn’t it everyone’s desire to be happy? Happy no matter what, even? Granted, we can’t always control our circumstances, but maybe there is something to this Danish thing? Hygge?

So I read that book—-devoured it, actually.

Then I read another: The Year of Living Danishly, by Helen Russell (which is a fabulously entertaining read, by the way). And last year, I tried to implement some of these Hygge strategies I learned from these books in our own home. It’s a process to create “cozy” in your home.

I started during the winter time, and here are some of the things I did to create Hygge last winter. This article is even more in depth and centered around ALL your senses. It’s Fall focused, but you could adjust these ideas for spring and summer too.

And I can say from experience, that doing these simple things to affect the senses in a positive energetic way really does work to enhance happiness, feelings of contentment, hope and joy! So, here we are, heading rapidly into the winter months again, but we pass through these lovely, crisp Fall months.

And in these current times, with the division and unrest in the world, I posit that it’s MORE important than ever before to create a sanctuary in your own home that you can truly enjoy. A place where you can feel completely comfortable. And where those you love can come and find some peace and joy. That’s what hygge is all about!

How should we create Hygge in the Fall? It’s about using your five senses!

I have my reasons for focusing on the five senses in this article. Our senses are our body’s and mind’s first connection with our environment. We get a “vibe” in any place we enter, right? Why not make your home a place where that “vibe” and feeling is one you want to return to? That others can’t wait to visit?

Maybe you’re wondering what, exactly, is Hygge?

Well, it’s pronounced “hoo-gah.” It’s kind of a holistic way of creating an environment that is positive, very comfortable, and causes feelings of contentment and even relaxation.

It’s not all about the environment, either. It’s about spending time with friends. It’s about decluttering and simplifying your life to be able to spend time on what matters most: people and relationships. It’s about warmth and security and maybe a good book.

I know that description is kind of all over the place, but stay with me here. I’m going to describe some ways you can bring some Hygge into your home this Autumn, and really, all the time.

FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Find out more about our school: The School of Botanical Arts & Sciences! There’s something for everyone there!

How to Create a Hygge (Warm and Cozy) Home This Fall

Now that it’s Fall which is one of my favorite seasons, I’ve decided to take a hard look at implementing some special Hygge practices right now! Immediately! And these tips here will help you (and me) enjoy this Fall season!

These are simple things you can do too. And some may not match up with your likes and life, but you can always make your own adjustments to create your own Hygge vibe in your world.

Scent: How to Make Your Home Smell Like An Autumn Day

Scent is one of the first senses to affect the limbic area in our brains. This area in turn directly affects our emotions, feelings, and even actions. It can even affect the physical response of your body.

A Hygge home is going to include fragrances you just love that remind you of the season of Fall. Using scent is a fabulous way to create an environment of relaxation while also enjoying some of your favorite scents.

Here are some great ideas for scenting your home for the Fall months to create a home that reminds you of a walk in the woods or baking treats in the kitchen, or maybe even that campfire you love to cozy up to.

Use and Diffuse Essential Oils:

Diffusing essential oils is my favorite way to get the scent of Fall into my home. First of all, essential oils have proven therapeutic value, in addition to being pleasurable. They are also a “clean” and natural way to scent your home.

Instead of using chemical fragrances, try to go with natural scents that remind you of the Fall season. You can find some great blends to make in this article, Essential Oils to Use This Fall.

Here are a couple of great diffusers that are also beautiful: Woodgrain Ultrasonic Diffuser or how about this nebulizer with a wood base. If you are wondering about the differences, you can find out more about which is the best type of diffuser for you.

Some single essential oils to try include any of the pines or firs, cypress, and the spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, rosemary, and clove. Add a drop or two of citrus, and you have a warm, comforting scent throughout your house.

Your home should smell clean, fresh, and create the scent of a Fall day.

Click here to get your FREE Fall diffuser recipes sent to your inbox now! :-)

Burn Candles or Use Candle Melts:

If you decide to burn candles for fragrance, I recommend using soy or beeswax based candles with essential oils for scent. It’s been proven that fragrance oils are filled with chemicals, and many of these are hormone disruptors. With that said, burning candles or using candle melts is a wonderful way to add a comforting scent to your home while you get cozy on the couch under a warm blanket.

If you prefer using candle melts over candles, you can find some lovely Fall melting pots that make beautiful decorations at the same time! You can find these in electric options, like this Starburst wax melt pot. Or tea candle holders are also great choices, like this beautiful glowing Ivenf Owl.

If you’d like to make your own candles, you can find out how in this article: Easy Mason Jar Beeswax Candles to Make.

Soft lighting makes for good Hygge. A good book helps, too.

Bake Treats or Cook Using Fall Spices:

Oh, you know how your home smells when you’re baking cookies? Well, how about adding some Fall spices? You can make pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and other goodies to give your home a hygge scent this Fall.

Even baking fresh bread like this traditional white bread recipe or this easy seeded no-knead bread are great choices! And your family will love you for it!

Or, perhaps you love the scent of fresh apple cider in the Fall? How about making your own fresh apple or pear sauce spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg? As it’s cooking away, your home will smell A-Mazing! I just make mine in a crockpot on low and sometimes even leave it overnight. Just add a little extra water if you plan to cook it longer. It won’t hurt it, and seriously. Your home will smell great.

Don’t want to can all that applesauce? Try making these Apple Fruit Leather snacks to eat for the next few months. Your kids (and husband, if he’s like mine) will love these. You can feel good because they are also healthy.

Try a Simmer Pot:

A simmer pot is simply a saucepan filled with water and Fall-spiced plants. Just turn the heat on low on your stove, and let the gentle steam bring fragrance into your home.

Some great ideas for herbs and plants to use in your simmer pot for Fall could be cinnamon sticks, clove buds, apple slices, and even orange or lemon rinds. You can also use cardamom pods or allspice seeds.

You can use fresh or dried herbs, fruit, and spices, too.

Potpourri for Fall Scent:

You can easily make your own beautiful Fall potpourri using pine cones, sprigs of dried pine or cedar, dried apples and orange rinds, etc. OR, you can purchase beautiful bags of potpourri that look so Fall like in a lovely bowl like this rustic bark edged bowl (love this) or this multi-colored ceramic bowl.

NOTE: Like the candles above, try to make your your potpourri is as naturally scented as possible if you can.

Soft blankets, or towels in the bathroom, provide a feeling of coziness and warmth to your home. Don’t forget the candles!

Get your FREEE Fall essential oil recipes for your diffuser now!

Touch: How to Make Your Home Feel Fall Cozy:

This is one of my favorite ways to create a Fall hygge feel in my home since hygge is all ABOUT feeling cozy, comfortable, and warm.

Add Blankets & Pillows:

You know what? Find some of those fluffy fleece blankets to throw or fold and keep on your sofa. Or a simple knitted or crocheted throw always looks lovely and warm. You can get these to match the color of your home decor.

Pillows are another way to make a home “feel” cozy. Why not purchase a couple of Fall colored pillows for your sofa like these rust colored velvet pillow covers? If you buy or make covers, you can change them out every season! They’ll add a touch of fall color while also providing a soft place to cuddle.

Add Warmth to Your Home:

In The Year of Living Danishly, by Hellen Russell, I learned that the Dutch don’t necessarily have burning wood or gas stoves in every home, yet their homes feel warm even on the coldest days. This is because most homes in the country are heated by efficient ducts under the home. This makes the floors even warm to walk on! Nice, right?

Now, we can’t always do this here in our country, but what we can do are lay down some comfy throw rugs or area rugs to make our floors feel a little warmer. This Autumn woven rug is perfect at 5’ x 8’, and it’s even on sale! Walking around on cold tile or wood floors is NOT cozy, so by adding some rugs, your feet will be happier and more comfortable.

Use Your Gas or Wood Fireplace if You Have One:

I love fireplaces. They add warmth and light to your home like nothing else can. Very little else says, “cozy” than a crackling fire, no matter if it’s wood or gas.

We happen to have a closed wood burning stove for warmth in our home, which I love for its efficiency. However, I do sure miss the flames.

Bring the outdoors in to help create a hygge (cozy and warm, natural) feeling to your space.

Sight: How to Make Your Home Look Fall Cozy

There are tons of Fall and Winter decorations out now, and these are wonderful for adding that touch of Fall color or happiness to a home environment.

The Front Porch or Walkway:

Autumn door wreaths set the stage as you walk in to your home, so don’t neglect this area! Add some fun pumpkins and colorful mums in pots to complete the look. The outside appearance of your home is one of the most important “first impression” kinds of things to pay attention to in order to create a feeling of invitation and comfort.

Bring Nature Inside:

How about bringing some of the outside into your home this Fall? Things like pine cones, pine boughs, colorful Fall leaves you can dip in wax for a fun and festive garland add touches of nature, which is always pleasing to the eye.

Bowls of fruit from a late summer harvest are eye-catching and delicious too! Or how about using some rose hips and herbs from your garden to fill a Mason jar for a unique Fall decoration?

Use Books to Add Warmth:

If you have a coffee table, adding some interesting books will invite people to sit down and pick them up to take a look. I used to have this book, Material World, sitting on my coffee table. It’s how the average person lives all over the world, and it’s fascinating and beautiful too.

Women Healers of the World is another terrific coffee table book that invites a person to just start reading. In fact, I’m going to pull out my copy right now and redecorate my coffee table!

Don’t have a coffee table? No problem!

Just place books of interest on attractive shelves. You don’t need many, but books add a warmth to a room that can’t really be described. They set a mood of coziness—a relax-rest-and-read vibe.

Lighting:

This time of year is the time to go for some softer lighting. In Denmark, the people are really into their lamps, according to Helen Russell. And their homes are lovely. Personally, I like Tiffany style lamps, and now is the time to get them glowing.

Find that beautiful, softly lit lamp you love and set it by your bedside or on the side table. Turn off all the lights except that one or maybe one more, light your candles, get your fire going….Warmth and…..HYGGE.

Which brings up candles again.

Hygge is really about lovely light, scent, and mood. To set the scene for a hygge home, you really can’t use too many candles! Put them everywhere! Try lighting them and having only candle light for an evening and see how that feels?

Finally, in the lighting arena, how about those delicate strings of lights you can place along your kitchen cupboard tops? Or in the library on top of the shelves? Or on a window sill?

Taste: How to Use Your Taste Buds for Hygge this Fall

Baking, my friends. Baking.

Isn’t it wonderful to be able to offer friends who stop by a little treat baked by you? Besides the fact that you’ll be adding to the “scent” part of creating a hygge environment when you bake these goodies, you’ll be providing warmth in the offering of taste.

There are a few baking articles on the blog, like homemade buttermilk biscuits and chocolate zucchini bread. But the inter webs is full of wonderful food bloggers who have some pretty amazing recipes!

I like to avoid the “big” names and go for the smaller bloggers as they seem to have some better recipes. If you do a Google search, how about checking out the 3rd to 5th pages? There are some really great things on those!

Keeping fresh fruit in bowls to eat not only makes your home look beautiful, but it gives the feeling of plenty and abundance. And beautiful fruit just begs you to reach out for it, doesn’t it?

Hearing: How to Make Your Home Even SOUND Hygge

All of these “senses” ideas are going to be pretty personal because we don’t all like the same things. However, in my opinion, silence is one of the best ways to make your home “sound” hygge.

This is because if you have the TV or radio turned off, you can hear things! Like the lively crackling of the fireplace! Or the wispy burning of a candle! Or perhaps the wind soughing outside in the trees? Food simmering away on the stove!

There are many things to tune into when that boob tube is off.

Perhaps some soft, relaxing music would do it for you, though, if you are uncomfortable with silence (and many are). Try some classical music. I love Mozart because some of his music has actually been proven to lower blood pressure and enhance brain function! Be happier and healthier at the same time!

I also love to listen to good Christian music like Lauren Daigle or some music from all over the world like Loreena McKinnet’s hauntingly beautiful tunes.

You can set the feeling of hygge starting outside your home too! The front porch or walkway is the perfect place to add some Fall decorations that are not expensive at all.

Hygge is Not Just About Your Home

A hugely important aspect of hygge has to do with your relationships with others. Spending time with friends! Getting outside and enjoying the world! Here are some wonderful ideas for enjoying a little hygge with friends, family, or even by yourself:

Going to a nearby orchard and picking fresh apples in season!

Going on a hike in a beautiful place nearby!

How about a lovely bike ride just for the pleasure of it?

Pumpkin patches are classic Fall places to go!

Anyhow, find your friends and your people. Go do some things with them! Or invite them over. Even if you are an extreme introvert like I am (I can go days without talking to a soul), having people around you is important to everyone’s mental health. Keep that support system alive!

Baking on a chilly day fulfills the hygge taste and smell senses to help you create a cozy and warm feeling home. You might just LOVE this easy and traditional bread recipe from the 1600’s!

Final Reflections on Living and Creating the Fall With Hygge:

I think the Danish have it going on, I really do. In their society, belonging to a group is crucial. They pay attention to details like lighting and warmth. Adding touches of color, some flowers or seasonal items adds all kinds of warmth and comfort to your home.

The concept of hygge is so intriguing to me. If you haven’t heard of hygge before, do some research. It’s pretty fascinating!

I hope you’ll feel compelled to create a warm and cozy environment in your own home this fall! Intentionally decluttering, moving some things around, adding some pretty Fall touches….these are just some small things you can do.

Add a few extra candles, some scent, and perhaps do a little baking this Fall! And get outside! Go out and explore, and be sure to bring some things from the outside back into your home.

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Fall Hygge Tips for Creating a Cozy Home You Love in 2024