The Art of Hygge: Creating a home that feels good to live in

There’s a Danish word I’ve always loved: hygge.

It’s one of those words that doesn’t have a perfect English translation. It’s often described as a feeling of coziness, comfort, warmth, and togetherness—but I think it’s really about something bigger:

Creating a life that feels good in the small, everyday moments.

The Danes have made something of an art form out of it.

“In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people.”

— VisitDenmark

And I love the idea that hygge isn't something you have to buy. You don't need a perfectly designed home, expensive furniture, or a giant kitchen island.

Hygge can happen in a tiny apartment, a sprawling estate, or anywhere in between.

It might be a cup of coffee in your favorite chair before the kids wake up. Dinner around a crowded table. A pile of blankets on the couch during a movie night. A fire on a chilly evening. Kids sprawled across the floor with friends. A dog curled up at your feet.

It’s less about what your home looks like and more about how it feels to live there.

So, What Exactly Is Hygge?

Author and happiness researcher Meik Wiking identifies ten principles of hygge:

Atmosphere. Presence. Pleasure. Equality. Gratitude. Harmony. Comfort. Truce. Togetherness. Shelter.

Read that list again.

There’s not a single mention of square footage, countertops, appliances, architectural style, or home value.

And yet, those ten principles say quite a lot about what makes a house feel like home.

Hygge Isn't About Having More

One of the things I find most appealing about hygge is that it encourages us to notice what we already have.

In a world that constantly tells us we need the bigger house, the better kitchen, the latest furniture, or the perfectly styled room, hygge offers a different perspective:

What if the goal isn't to have more, but to enjoy more of what we already have?

That doesn't mean your home can't change. Sometimes a different home really is what you need. Your family may have outgrown your space. Your lifestyle may have changed. You may need to be closer to work, family, schools, or the outdoors. You may be ready to downsize or start a completely new chapter.

But the question I love asking is:

What kind of home will help you live the life you actually want to live?

That's a very different question from, How many square feet can I afford?

Finding Your Own Version of Hygge

For me, hygge is less about creating a picture-perfect home and more about creating a home that works for the people who live there.

It's a place where my kids can be loud and silly. Where friends can drop by. Where there’s room for everyone to gather—and where no one worries too much about making a mess.

It's having spaces that invite you to linger rather than rush through them.

It's making your home feel welcoming, comfortable, and distinctly yours.

And I think that's why the concept resonates so much with me as a real estate professional.

The right home isn't necessarily the biggest, newest, or most impressive one. It's the one that supports the life you're trying to create.

A Little More Hygge, Wherever You Live

You don't have to move to create more hygge.

Try putting your phone away during dinner. Light a candle. Invite friends over even if your house isn't perfectly clean. Make your favorite meal. Get outside. Sit by the fire. Read a book. Play a board game with your kids. Create a cozy corner where you actually want to spend time.

Or simply slow down long enough to notice something good that's already happening around you.

As Benjamin Franklin put it:

“Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.”

Maybe that's the heart of hygge.

Not waiting for the big, extraordinary moments to make us happy, but creating a home and a life where the ordinary moments feel extraordinary enough.

And when your home supports that? That's something worth paying attention to.

What does hygge look like in your home?

I'd love to know. Is it Sunday morning pancakes? A backyard full of kids? Your favorite reading chair? Dinner with friends? A dog curled up beside you?

Whatever it is, I hope your home gives you plenty of it.