Have you ever spent hours agonizing over the perfect lamp for your living room? I know I have. We all want our homes to feel like sanctuaries, places where we can escape the stresses of the day and find comfort in simple pleasures. For me, creating that calm environment started with finding the right lighting.
As I delved into this quest, I stumbled upon the Danish concept of ‘hygge’ – a feeling of coziness, contentment, and well-being. The Danes are masters of creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, and lighting plays a crucial role in achieving that hyggelig feeling.
Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, emphasizes the importance of choosing the right lamps and bulbs to create the desired mood. It’s not just about maximizing natural light, but understanding the different types of light – cooler or warmer – that different bulbs produce.
Think about where you’ll place the lamp, its purpose, and the overall ambiance you want to create. As Wiking points out, “A soft, warm light may be perfect for dinner or a glass of wine, but when you have to wash the dishes, you need a brighter light to see as well.”
To truly embrace the hygge ethos, Wiking suggests creating ‘islands’ of light in your living room. This can be achieved using a variety of lamps – floor, table, bedside, and even overhead – to illuminate different corners of the space.
Hygge experts recommend using ceiling or wall lamps with glass or fabric shades instead of traditional chandeliers to enhance the cozy feel.
If you’re not ready to invest in a whole new set of lamps, candles offer a fantastic alternative. Their soft, flickering light can instantly create a calming and relaxing atmosphere, perfect for dinner or a quiet evening.
For an extra touch of hygge, choose scented candles with warm and inviting fragrances like ginger, sandalwood, fig, or pine. These scents, when strategically deployed, can truly transform your home into a haven of hygge.
So, the next time you’re looking to create a cozy and comforting atmosphere in your home, remember the Danish approach to lighting. By thoughtfully choosing your lamps, bulbs, and candles, you can create a space that truly feels like a haven – a place where you can unwind, recharge, and simply be happy.