How to Hygge

If the thought of winter’s onslaught fills you with dread, here’s a happy remedy: hygge, a Danish concept the Oxford Dictionary defines as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality [that creates] a feeling of contentment or well being.” In other words, décor that fits the hygge (say “hoo-gah”) bill is actually meant to encourage us to be present, enjoy time with friends and family and delight in the simple things, like donning sweatpants and sipping hot cocoa while binge- watching Netflix, or dinnering avec candlelight and smooth jazz tunes. Get clued in to that sweet hygge life with these beautifully functional home décor finds—well before the snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures hit. —Isabel Ong

breathe in. One accessory that hygge has become synonymous with is the candle. Let the scent of fresh foliage ll your home with Parisian-brand Cire Trudon’s Balmoral candle ($139 at Provide). It comprises notes of mint, cut grass and pinewood so you’ll never feel a tinge of cabin fever.

hidden pleasures. Imagine snuggling up in your favourite knit sweater while a storm rages outside. Now double that warm feeling of satisfaction with a luxurious Crate & Barrel throw ($100) made of thick cotton-blend yarn. Ahh … hygge bliss.

light right. Hygge is all about pockets of light, and Urban Barn supplies the means to that end in spade (case in point: this large Lenore brass lantern, $49).

chair lift. When getting lost in a good book is your definition of a weekend well spent, Brentwood Classics’ rawhide leather Graydon chair ($1,550 at Hudson’s Bay), with its gentle curves and plush cushioning, is the perfect spot to curl up in.

scent hound. You don’t always need candles to do hygge, as Tom Dixon’s Orientalist scented diffuser ($119 at Net-a-Porter.com) proves. Its intoxicating musky-yet- oral fragrance, with notes of cassis, magnolia and patchouli, sets the stage for an intimate tête-à-tête.

faux fabulous. Happily (and hygge-ily), no adorable little animals are harmed in the making of currently trending faux-fur pieces—including this Urban Barn Sansa toss ($49) in realistic-looking chinchilla.