You’ve probably seen the term ‘hygge‘ used a lot over the last few years. Whether it’s interiors, lifestyle, cooking, or something entirely different, bringing hygge into your life is bang on-trend. And having a hygge kitchen is a core part of that.

If your kitchen is the heart of your home (as they say!), then it follows you want it to be filled with hygge. But what is hygge and how do you achieve it?

In this post, I’ll explain what hygge is and how you can take inspiration to incorporate hygge into your kitchen design.

What Is Hygge?

Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is a Danish concept of cosiness and togetherness. It can be a noun or a verb: a space has hygge or you can hygge. While it can’t be described in a single English word, there’s a wonderful song from a Danish Christmas programme that describes the concept. I’ve translated some of the lyrics below.

When it’s…rain and sleet and snow outside, and you sit together at the warm fireplace, playing games and eating sweets and drinking tea…that’s hygge.

When you’re many, who are having a nice time together, in peace and quiet, you feel a little joy…that’s hygge.

It’s the feeling of peace, joy, cosiness and safety, together with those you love. But how do you bring this into your kitchen?

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How To Design A Hygge Kitchen

Now that you know what hygge is, it’s time to explore how to instil this cosiness in your new kitchen.

As with the concept itself, there’s no one thing that makes a hygge kitchen. It’s an overall style and feeling in the space. Importantly, hygge is also very personal. So what makes you feel warm and cosy may not be the same as someone else. It’s about finding what works for you.

Here, I’ve drawn together some design concepts and elements to look at when you’re designing your hygge kitchen.

1. Light – Natural and Artificial

Nothing creates ambience more than lighting, and the same is true in your hygge kitchen. If you can, find space for large windows to flood the room with natural light.

When looking for artificial lighting, go for warmer temperature lights with lower kelvins to achieve a softer glow. Add candles and floor or table lamps to create a cosy atmosphere.

2. Warm Neutral/Pastel Colours

Off-white is a very popular colour for a hygge kitchen, as it’s a fresh, neutral and calming backdrop. It’s a blank canvas for you to add carefully selected design elements to enhance the space.

If off-white isn’t your colour of choice, don’t worry – you can choose any light, soft pastel colour to create a calm and cosy space. Just keep the walls as neutral as possible so your personal touches take centre stage.

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3. Natural Materials

Natural materials are a perfect way to warm up any kitchen, and the same is true for hygge kitchens. Be it in your cabinets, worktops, walls or accessories, adding natural elements is a great idea.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with this, either – while wood and plants come to mind, natural stones and fibres are also great ways to bring the outside in.

4. Add Texture

When achieving your hygge look and feel, textures go a long way. Natural stone worktops, tiled splashbacks and wooden bar stools are all ways to add unique touches of texture to your space.

Mixing soft and rough elements, such as concrete floors and a natural rug, make the space tactile and inviting. It’s about achieving the perfect imperfect finish, avoiding all things cold and clinical.

5. Keep Things Simple

Minimalism often goes hand in hand with Scandinavian or Nordic design. Hygge kitchens are thus often minimal in style.

It’s not about having a stark white kitchen with nothing in it. It’s about keeping things simple and having items that bring real value. Whether that’s practical, sentimental or just aesthetic, everything has its purpose and place.

6. Thoughtful Items

Perhaps the most important element of a hygge kitchen is the way it represents what you love. It’s creating the space where you come home after a long, hard day and the stress just melts away. It’s surrounding yourself with the things and people you love.

Decorating your space with thoughtful items that spark joy is key to achieving this look. Choose your accessories with intention, selecting gifts and heirlooms over the latest designer trends. That way, you’ll always love your space.

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– Hygge Kitchen Design Ideas –

Here are some kitchens that I hope will inspire your hygge kitchen design. Just remember, as the concept of hygge is about what brings you cosiness and joy, how this manifests in a kitchen is completely subjective.

Your design may look exactly – or nothing! – like the kitchens here, and still, be the perfect hygge space for you.

Light Up Your Life

This kitchen makes the most of the empty back wall by adding two huge windows, flooding the room with natural light. Adding recessed and pendant lighting further adds to the light and airy feel of the room, creating a beautiful ambience.

Fun for the Family

I love the artwork and quirky elements in this small kitchen! The unique box shelves are full of joy, and the natural textures add depth and visual interest. A great design for the whole family.

Warm and Welcoming

An open-plan space with lots of natural light mixed with warm wood cabinets and an open fireplace makes this large room feel cosy. It makes use of texture with the logs, rug and wooden flooring as well as introducing some plants to help bring the outdoors in. A beautiful hygge kitchen.

Final Thoughts…

I hope you feel a little more relaxed after reading this post and are ready to tackle your new kitchen design. Now grab a cup of tea with your loved ones, and hygge together!

Achieving hygge in your kitchen is easy if you just keep the core concepts of cosiness, love and warmth in mind. I’ve given you some ideas on how to achieve the look, but remember it’s all personal!

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