How many little tealight cups end up in your bin each winter?
Candlelight is at the heart of hygge, but the cosy glow can leave a surprising amount of rubbish behind. Foil cases, plastic cups, half-burnt wax that never quite gets used up.
This week, why not take 15 minutes for a little hygge moment and swap a disposable candle for a reusable lantern? It is a small, gentle change that keeps the warmth and loses some of the waste.
One lantern is plenty to start with.
Make it cosy
Have a look at what you already have before buying anything new:
- An old lantern, storm lamp or hurricane jar from the loft or shed
- A rechargeable LED lantern, perhaps from your camping kit
- A refillable oil lamp, if you prefer a real flame
- A soft cloth to give the glass a polish
- A favourite spot that usually holds a tealight
Your 15 minutes of gentle glow
- Hunt one out. Check cupboards, the garden shed and the camping box first.
- Clean it up. Wipe away the dust and polish the glass until it shines.
- Charge or fill it. Plug it in, pop in batteries or top up the oil.
- Find its home. Set it where the old candle used to sit, on a shelf, table or windowsill.
- Switch it on at dusk. Turn down the big light and enjoy the new glow.
Slow it right down
Hygge is not about buying more things. It is about enjoying what you have and caring for it. A lantern you keep for years has its own quiet charm.
As the lantern glows, try to notice:
- The patterns the light throws on the walls
- How the room feels just as warm and welcoming
- The satisfaction of using something that will last
- One less little thing heading for the bin
Finish gently
Sit with your lantern for a few minutes and enjoy its light. If you love the idea of making small, kinder swaps, you will find plenty more in my list of ways to make your camping trip more sustainable, and many work just as well at home.
You could also:
- Look for a lantern in a charity shop or at a car boot sale
- Take it outside for evenings in the garden
- Swap tealights for refillable candle tins or beeswax pillars
- Pop it in the car boot for your next camping trip
If you choose an oil lamp or a real flame, keep it on a steady surface away from curtains and never leave it unattended.
Your 15-minute challenge
This weekend, give yourself 15 minutes.
Find a lantern. Give it a polish. Charge it up.
Then light up your favourite corner, knowing that glow will keep coming back.
It does not have to be brand new. It does not have to replace every candle.
It just has to be this weekend.
The cosiest light is the one you keep.
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