Hygge

Hygge

Date Published 24 January 2017

Give your home a Hygge

When it comes to enjoying life in a cold winter the Scandinavians know a thing or two. For those not familiar, ‘hygge' (pronounced hoo-gah) refers to the Danish lifestyle – a concept roughly described as a feeling of comfort and contentment, as well as indulging in all the good things and people in your life. At this time of year, when staying indoors is the new going out, injecting some Hygge into your home will create the perfect ambiance and possibly help sell your home.

Buyers want to imagine their life in your home and creating a warm, relaxing atmosphere makes this easier. Key to the hygge mindset is a sense of well-being, rather than extravagance or impressing people; it's about creating a space that is warm and cosy and somewhere you can spend time with friends and family.

Embrace the short days by investing in candles. Denmark and other Scandinavian countries love the power of the warming glow of candlelight rather than drowning the whole place in a fluorescent glow. If candles aren't practical you can still get the hygge atmosphere by using lamps to create pools of light, but don't dim the lights too much, you don't want potential buyers to think you're hiding something!
Get cosy! Bring warmth and comfort into a room by adorning sofas with – thick chunky knit cushions, faux fur throws and fluffy woollen rugs in subtle hues. You don't need to overhaul your interior but a good declutter so that you only have what you really need around you will certainly help. Remember it's indulgence yes, but extravagance no. So don't overload rooms with accessories, just keep the bits that mean the most you.

And relax; encourage the viewers to slow down and enjoy spending in time in your home. Make potential buyers feel at home with a drink and dare I say it ….cake (diet time is nearly over) Making time to sit down and enjoy your home helps buyers to imagine themselves living there. Extra points if you can make the estate agent a drink too!

Keep hygge in mind if you're selling your home this winter. It's a state of mind that will encourage viewers to enjoy your property and hopefully lead to a successful sale.

Matthew Curtin
Novahomes Plymstock and South Hams Specialist