Tag: Hygge

IS LAGOM MORE FASHIONABLE THAN HYGGE?…

Is ‘Lagom’ the new Hygge? According to the magazine Country & Town House, “since Vogue touted lagom as ‘the new hygge’ last year, (the Danish concept of ‘cosiness’), the word has been popping up everywhere, from lifestyle blogs to new season interiors collections. But has ‘lagom’ really overtaken hygge as the biggest lifestyle trend for this time of year? “.

So, the meaning of ‘lagom’ is ‘Not too much, not too little. Lagom’ but the Swedish translation of lagom is “enough, sufficient, adequate, just right.”

Ikea idea: reuse a bottle

Hygge is all about cosiness and being with friends and family whereas lagom is all about moderation so it’s not exactly the same. Pinterest searches for ‘lagom’ went up by 53% in the first three months of last year, and searches for ‘lagom design’ had risen by 68% in the six months previous. Ikea also launched its ‘Live Lagom’ project last year, to help its customers live a ‘more sustainable, healthy and cost-concision life’, with a Lagom Collection.

How does Lagom translate to the home?

Catharina Bjorkman, Marketing and Style Director at Contura (a Swedish wood burning stove manufacturer), says: ‘As well as being applicable to work-life balance and frugality, lagom defines a sustainable way of living, which translates aptly into the context of homes and interiors.

‘Upcycling, recycling and using sustainable materials where possible is the way to enjoy the home comforts you love, without taking too much from the planet.’

‘Wood burning stoves are central to those looking to style their home around the lagom ethic, since wood is one of the most environmentally friendly fuels. It is a sustainable, renewable energy source, virtually carbon neutral and is also very cost efficient.’

But Scandinavian lagom converts insist this isn’t a trend. (And it isn’t the new hygge, either.)

It will be interesting to see which becomes the most popular over the next twelve months.

A brilliant book Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living by Linnea Dunne –

Step aside Hygge. Lagom is the new Scandi lifestyle trend taking the world by storm. This delightfully illustrated book gives you the lowdown on this transformative approach to life and examines how the lagom ethos has helped boost Sweden to the No.10 ranking in 2017’s World Happiness Report.

Lagom (pronounced ‘lah-gom’) has no equivalent in the English language but is loosely translated as ‘not too little, not too much, just right’. It is widely believed that the word comes from the Viking term ‘laget om’, for when a mug of mead was passed around a circle and there was just enough for everyone to get a sip. But while the anecdote may hit the nail on the head, the true etymology of the word points to an old form of the word ‘lag’, which means ‘law’.

Far from restrictive, lagom is a liberating concept, praising the idea that anything more than ‘just enough’ is a waste of time. Crucially it also comes with a selflessness and core belief of responsibility and common good.

By living lagom you can:

  • Live a happier and more balanced life
  • Reduce your environmental impact
  • Improve your work-life balance
  • Free your home from clutter
  • Enjoy good food the Swedish way
  • Grow your own and learn to forage
  • Cherish the relationships with those you love

Source: Ikea Country & Townhouse Amazon

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ITS TIME TO LIGHT THE CANDLES AND ENJOY THE AROMA…

With Autumn slowly creeping up on us it’s time to light the candles and enjoy the aroma the Hygge way. Candlelight is very important to Hygge style. One of the very basic things you can do is light some candles.

Big ones, small ones, real ones, battery ones, it doesn’t matter. Turn off the artificial lights and sit by candlelight.

A great part of the year darkness rules in Denmark. One of the primary instruments for doing so are the candles. In the long dark period of the year, the Danes gather at home in the gleam of the candlelight.

John Lewis have this SKANDINAVISK Hygge Scented Candle, 200g for £35 –

Vegan friendly, this candle is made with a new Swedish rapeseed wax blend and the glass is 30% recycled. The beechwood lid is from FSC-certified European forests and the packaging card comes from FSC-certified Swedish forests with natural colour dyes.

Certified as a B Corporation in summer 2019, the work of Skandinavisk in the areas of certified raw materials, local production, due diligence in sourcing and supplier standards, and policies toward their staff, including their refugee integration program, all contributed to meeting the stringent criteria to become a B Corporation. Skandinavisk now joins a global movement using business as a force for good, in which all B Corp members are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their staff, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.

Amazon sells a Paddywax ‘Hygge’ Rosewood And Patchouli Scented Candle. Dimensions (HW): 6cm x 8.5cm . Ceramic vessel with copper lid and soy wax blend at £20.95 – with a WOODY FRAGRANCE: Notes of bergamot, rose geranium, and patchouli give this candle its woody aroma; we work with perfumers to source nature’s finest ingredients, creating high-quality, earth-friendly candles that tell a special fragrance story to fit your mood.

It has a clean burn carefully hand poured at our Nashville factory, this circular 5-ounce container is filled with our Rosewood + Patchouli scent; soy-blend wax and cotton wick helps your candle burn beautifully; trim wick before a new burn for a contained flame and even burn; also available in 15-ounce

The best thing is it is recyclable and designed with upcycling in mind – after burning the candle, freeze jars overnight to cleanly remove the wax and wick; great for storing beauty items, holding knick knacks.

Another great site with lots of Hygge style products is Hyggestyle who have this beautiful set of three natural hygge glass tea lights. NORSKA brings you the very finest in hygge candles, bath and beauty products, with the relaxing and exotic fragrances of lavender, neroli and rosemary across the whole range, for £4.95

Manufactured to the highest ethical and environmental standards, they contain no artificial scents, just pure essential oils.

  • Norska use ingredients that are as natural as possible, with no harsh chemicals, parabens or sulphates.
  • Norska use recycled boxes and glass for all their candles and bath products.
  • Norska plastic packaging is recyclable.
  • Norska products are not tested on animals, and not use ingredients that have been tested on animals.
  • Norska candles are made from plant wax, ethically sourced, and only use cotton wicks.

Yes, light some candles, open a bottle of wine, and try to forget about your credit card balance. It’s a key element of practicing hygge. Create hygge by burning candles more often and during simple, everyday moments. Light a candle in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

Source: Hygge Style, John Lewis, Amazon