Minimalism and Hygge: How to get Cozy without the Clutter

Hygge and Minimalism are the two popular concepts these days. Honestly, when I first heard of the Danish concept Hygge, I didn’t think that it would fit in with minimalism. That’s because I thought Hygge was all about creating cozy spaces with lots of candles, books, hot drinks, blankets, and pillows while minimalism was all about decluttering your space.

But, there’s a lot more common between these two philosophies than it looks like. After practicing them both for a long time, I realized that in the end, they promote similar values. For starters, they both require you to be mindful and intentional and guide you to live a meaningful life.

So, today I want to make work easy for you. I’ll dive deeper into the concepts of these two philosophies and explain how they complement each other in many ways.

How Hygge and minimalism go together

To understand that first, we have to understand the roots of Hygge and Minimalism and what they represent today.

What is Hygge?

Pronounced as HOOGA, it’s a popular Danish concept that originated in 1800. It’s quite difficult to explain Hygge

because there is no direct English translation. But, it can be described as slowing down, being present in the moment, and finding contentment in everyday life.

Hygge is not about warm places, hot drinks, cozy blankets, and stuff like that, they’re just a part of it. You taking time to create a cozy space for yourself and later enjoying the quiet time mindfully is the real essence of Hygge.

How to get Cozy without the Clutter

What is Minimalism?

People often confuse a minimalist lifestyle with minimalistic designs. Plain white rooms, with a few pieces of essential furniture, is not the only thing that minimalism conveys.

Minimalism essentially means intentionally figuring out what actually matters to you the most or what adds value to your life, then removing everything that distracts you from focusing on those things.

It is not just about clutter around your house, it’s also about the clutter in your mind. Minimalism guides you to

get rid of everything (a piece of furniture, a toxic relationship, a philosophy of life that’s not working for you, etc.) that buffers you from focusing on what’s important and helps you to live a mindful and simpler life.

 

Minimalism and Hygge – a combined concept

So, if Hygge is all about slowing down and cherishing simple moments, then it’s quite easy to spot how minimalism and Hygge go together.

Let’s discuss more, the word “hyggelig” represents a nice and clean home without clutter, but it must have a comfortable and warm atmosphere.

Clutter is actually considered an enemy of coziness when it comes to Hygge. That’s obvious because the more clutter you’ll have the more distracted you’ll be and that will totally buffer you from enjoying simple moments in life.

Moreover, Hygge and Minimalism both rest on one thing – Intentionality.

Let’s understand this by an example – Instead of stuffing their homes with the latest gadgets and high-quality couches, Hygge enthusiasts will intentionally focus on creating a homey atmosphere.

In the same manner, Minimalists will intentionally prioritize using simpler things to maintain their focus on what’s important.

Hygge and Minimalism, both are tools that you can utilize to live an intentional life full of contentment and

gratitude.

So, that’s how both of these philosophies overlap. But, how can you combine them in your life?

Here are a few practical tips for the same –

• Buy only those things that you love and use. Find a balance between functionality and joy.
• Stick to a neutral color scheme for your home. This is important to create relaxing spaces.
• Use dim lights and candles (be sure that they don’t emit strong fragrances) to create a warm radiance.
• Prioritize different areas of your life. Find comfort in everything that you do. Invest only in the things that you truly value.
• Don’t decorate your home to show-off. Decorate only if you love to do it.

To conclude

Hygge is about simplifying and surrounding yourself with the things that you love and value. It’s not about extravagance, but taking pleasure in the simplicity of your surroundings. This is exactly similar to what minimalism conveys.

While we love the cozy feeling of a cluttered home, it’s not always practical (or healthy). If you’re looking to simplify your life, start by decluttering your home and living room. Get rid of any furniture pieces that don’t serve a purpose or take up too much space. Utilize storage spaces to keep your living area tidy and organized. And finally, follow our great tip for taking just 20 minutes each day to live a clutter-free life. How are you going to take these steps to achieve a minimalist lifestyle? Let us know in the comments below!