Category: Hygge Celebrations

The cosiest kind of party

A hygge party isn’t about impressing anyone. There’s no dress code, no fancy canapés and no pressure. It’s a small group of people you like, gathered somewhere warm, with good food, soft light and plenty of time to talk.

As NPR puts it, the secret to a hygge party is to get cosy and embrace imperfection. Here are ten simple ideas for hosting a cosy get-together of your own.

This post contains affiliate links, marked “(affiliate link)”. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

10 ideas for a hygge party

1. Keep the guest list small

Hygge works best with a handful of people, so everyone can join in one conversation. Four to eight guests is ideal. Invite people who’ll feel comfortable kicking off their shoes.

Your 15-minute hygge moment: Host a small gathering: just food and company.

2. Light candles everywhere

Switch off the big light and let candles and lamps do the work. Group them on trays, windowsills and the table. Natural beeswax candles (affiliate link) give a warm, clean glow all evening.

Your 15-minute hygge moment: Light every candle in the room.

3. Set up cosy seating

Pile floor cushions around a low table, drape blankets over the sofa and make sure everyone has somewhere soft to sink into. Large floor cushions (affiliate link) are a brilliant investment if you love hosting.

Your 15-minute hygge moment: Set up a cosy spot for a group.

4. Serve simple comfort food

Forget fiddly nibbles. A big pot of chilli or soup, warm bread, a cheese board and something sweet is perfect. Paste Magazine has some tasty ideas for a hygge party menu.

5. Make it a potluck

Ask everyone to bring a dish. It takes the pressure off you, and sharing food that friends have made is wonderfully hygge. Hello Hygge’s tips for holding a hygge party are full of easy ideas like this.

6. Warm drinks on the go

Keep a pan of mulled wine, spiced apple or hot chocolate warming on the hob so guests can help themselves. Serve it in big mugs everyone can wrap their hands around.

7. Play games together

Board games and card games get everyone laughing and talking. The Hygge Game (affiliate link) is made for exactly this, with conversation cards that spark lovely, meaningful chats.

Your 15-minute hygge moment: Play a board game instead of watching TV.

8. Make a cosy playlist

Soft acoustic music, jazz or old favourites in the background set the mood without drowning out conversation. Keep the volume low.

Your 15-minute hygge moment: Make a playlist of songs that feel like home.

9. Host a swap party

Ask everyone to bring books, clothes, plants or homemade treats to swap. It’s sustainable, fun and everyone leaves with something new. Jacquie Ellis explains how a hygge swap party works.

10. Take it outside

On a clear evening, gather round a fire pit with blankets, hot drinks and marshmallows. It’s one of the cosiest ways to spend time together. My guide to the perfect cosy campfire setup will help, and a few marshmallow toasting sticks (affiliate link) are a must.

Your 15-minute hygge moment: Toast marshmallows with people you like.

Relax and enjoy your own party

The best hygge host is a relaxed one. Do as much as you can in advance, let guests help, and don’t worry if things aren’t perfect. Hello I’m 50ish and Quiet Like Horses both have more lovely hosting ideas.

Not ready for a party? Start smaller and invite someone over just for tea, or read how time outdoors improves relationships with family and friends.

More cosy reads: 12 cosy hygge recipes and meals, 12 ideas for a cosy hygge wedding and Hygge Christmas: 12 cosy ways to slow down this December.

Want more cosy ideas like these? Subscribe to my newsletter below and get new hygge ideas and 15-minute hygge moments straight to your inbox.

A wedding that feels like a warm hug

A hygge wedding swaps stiff formality for warmth, comfort and connection. Think candlelight, long tables, good food shared family-style and guests wrapped in blankets as the evening draws in. It’s a day that feels relaxed, personal and full of love.

Polka Dot Wedding has a lovely guide to creating a wedding with hygge cosiness. Here are twelve ideas to help you plan yours, whatever the season or budget.

This post contains affiliate links, marked “(affiliate link)”. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy or book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

12 cosy hygge wedding ideas

1. Choose a cosy venue

Barns, country houses with open fires, cosy pubs or a family garden all suit a hygge wedding far better than a big hotel ballroom. Look for wooden beams, soft lighting and a fireplace if you can.

2. Fill the room with candlelight

Candles are essential. Cluster them down the tables, line the aisle with lanterns and add tea lights to every windowsill (check your venue’s rules first). Wooden lanterns (affiliate link) look beautiful and can be reused at home afterwards.

3. Hang fairy lights overhead

Warm white festoon or fairy lights strung across the ceiling create a magical glow once the sun goes down. Warm white festoon lights (affiliate link) work indoors and out.

4. Offer blankets and sheepskins

A basket of blankets for guests and sheepskins draped over benches are the most hygge touches of all, especially for an autumn or winter wedding. Wedding Photojournalist has more ideas for a cosy winter wedding.

5. Serve a sharing feast

Long tables with big platters passed between guests feel warmer and more relaxed than plated courses. Barns and Yard explains how to create a hygge wedding feast.

6. Add a hot drinks station

A hot chocolate or mulled drinks bar, with marshmallows, cream and cinnamon sticks, is a guaranteed hit as the evening cools down.

Your 15-minute hygge moment: Make hot chocolate the long way.

7. Decorate with natural, seasonal flowers

Dried grasses, eucalyptus, foliage and seasonal blooms feel relaxed and natural. Wedissimo’s garden of hygge wedding ideas is full of pretty inspiration. Dried flower bunches (affiliate link) are a budget-friendly option that lasts.

8. Keep the guest list small

Hygge is about closeness. A smaller wedding means more time with each guest and a more intimate feel. Cote How has hygge wedding inspiration if you’re dreaming of something small and cosy.

9. Give cosy wedding favours

Send guests home with something that keeps the warm feeling going: a small candle, a bag of loose tea or a little bar of soap. Mini beeswax candle favours (affiliate link) and little soap favours (affiliate link) are easy to buy in bulk.

10. Dress for comfort

A knitted wrap or cosy cardigan over your dress, and comfortable shoes for dancing, mean you can relax and enjoy every minute. A soft bridal knitted shrug (affiliate link) looks lovely in photos too.

11. Create a cosy lounge corner

Set up a corner with sofas, rugs, cushions and lamps where guests can sit and chat away from the dance floor. Add a few board games or a guest book for quieter moments. Hygge Studio has lovely styled wedding and event inspiration.

12. Plan a slow mini-moon

After all the excitement, a few quiet days together is pure hygge. Copenhagen is perfect for a cosy mini-moon: browse boutique hotels in Copenhagen (affiliate link), or see my hygge holidays for cabin escapes.

Keep it simple and personal

The heart of a hygge wedding isn’t the decor. It’s the feeling of being surrounded by people you love, with nowhere else you’d rather be. Choose a few cosy touches that feel like you, and let the rest go.

Need a gift for the happy couple? The Little Book of Hygge or The Hygge Game (affiliate links) make thoughtful presents for their first cosy nights in. You can also find out what hygge really means.

More cosy reads: 10 ideas for hosting a cosy hygge party, 15 hygge gift ideas and 10 cosy hygge retreats for a restful honeymoon.

Want more cosy ideas like these? Subscribe to my newsletter below and get new hygge ideas and 15-minute hygge moments straight to your inbox.

What makes a good hygge gift?

The best hygge gifts aren’t flashy. They’re the things that invite someone to slow down: a soft blanket, a candle, a good book or a game to play together. A hygge gift says “take some time for yourself”, and that’s a lovely message to give.

Here are 15 hygge gift ideas for her, for him and for the home. Many are handmade or made in the UK, and every one is something to use rather than put on a shelf.

This post contains affiliate links, marked “(affiliate link)”. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Hygge gifts for her

1. A hand-knitted headband

Soft, warm and easy to wear on a winter walk or at home with a cup of tea. Look for one hand-knitted by an independent maker in soft yarn: it makes a thoughtful stocking filler. Here are easy ways to style them.

2. Hand-poured beeswax candles

Candlelight is the heart of hygge. Natural beeswax candles (affiliate link) burn cleanly with a soft honey glow and make a simple, lovely gift.

3. A handmade ceramic mug

A favourite mug turns an ordinary cuppa into a small ritual. Look for a generously sized one from a local potter or maker. Pair it with a bag of good tea for a simple, lovely present.

4. Thick wool socks

Never underestimate warm feet. Nordic-style wool socks (affiliate link) are a classic hygge gift, especially tucked into a gift box with a candle and some chocolate.

5. Natural soap for a slow bath

Gift the time to soak. A few bars of plastic-free natural soap (affiliate link) with a candle and some bath salts make a calming self-care bundle.

Hygge gifts for him

6. Cosy slippers

Hygge gifts for him don’t have to be complicated. Wool felt slippers (affiliate link) are warm, last for years and get worn every single evening.

7. A camping lantern for fireside evenings

For the outdoorsy man, a rechargeable or candle camping lantern (affiliate link) brings hygge outside. Add my guide to the perfect cosy campfire setup.

8. A good coffee or tea set

A pour-over coffee set (affiliate link) or a proper teapot invites him to slow down and make a drink the long way. It’s a small daily ritual, and that’s what hygge is all about.

Hygge gifts for the home and to share

9. The Hygge Game

One of the most searched-for hygge gifts, and for good reason. The Hygge Game (affiliate link) is a box of conversation cards that gets everyone talking around the table. It’s perfect for Christmas, family gatherings and cosy nights in.

10. The Little Book of Hygge

Meik Wiking’s bestseller is the perfect introduction to the Danish art of cosiness. Pick up The Little Book of Hygge (affiliate link), or browse my list of the best hygge books.

11. A chunky knit blanket

The ultimate hygge gift for the home. A chunky knit blanket (affiliate link) gets used every evening from October to March, and looks beautiful folded on the end of a bed.

12. Natural room scents

A scent that changes with the seasons makes a home feel welcoming. A natural reed diffuser (affiliate link) in a warm, seasonal scent makes a lovely housewarming gift.

13. A jigsaw puzzle

A jigsaw left out on the table is an open invitation to slow down together. Choose a calm landscape or a cosy cottage jigsaw (affiliate link).

14. A hygge gift box you make yourself

Fill a box with a candle, socks, tea, chocolate and a handwritten note. Simplify, Live, Love shares lovely ideas for DIY hygge gift boxes with sustainable wrapping, and Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff has more on giving the gift of hygge.

15. 100 Days of Hygge Habits

For someone who needs a little more calm in their life, 100 Days of Hygge Habits is a card deck of daily 15-minute hygge moments, packed in a hand-knitted bag. There’s also a digital version if you need a last-minute gift.

Give the gift of time

The most hygge gift of all costs nothing: your time. An afternoon walk, a pot of tea together or a handwritten note can mean more than anything wrapped. For more ideas, see my top 10 gifts for busy mums.

Your 15-minute hygge moment: Handwrite a note to someone you love.

More cosy reads: Hygge Christmas: 12 cosy ways to slow down this December, 10 hygge advent calendar ideas and 10 cosy knitwear pieces that make lovely gifts.

Want more cosy ideas like these? Subscribe to my newsletter below and get new hygge ideas and 15-minute hygge moments straight to your inbox.

Busy mums are often brilliant at looking after everyone else and terrible at looking after themselves. So the best gifts are not more things to manage. They are little invitations to stop, sit down and enjoy a moment of comfort.

That is exactly what hygge is about. The Danish idea of hygge is about warmth, cosiness and enjoying the simple things, and it makes a wonderful theme for a gift. Here are ten hygge-inspired ideas that any busy mum will love.

1. A soft, chunky throw

A beautiful blanket is the ultimate hygge gift. Look for something heavy and soft, such as wool, chunky knit or a sherpa-lined throw, that she can wrap herself in at the end of the day. Pair it with a note encouraging her to build a cosy corner just for her.

2. A seasonal candle

Candles are at the heart of hygge. Choose a scent that matches the time of year, such as spiced orange in winter or fresh fig in summer. It is a small gift that turns an ordinary evening into something special. For inspiration, see light a candle that smells like the season.

3. A hand-knitted bag for her cosy essentials

A roomy, hand-knitted bag gives her a place to keep everything she needs for a quiet moment: a book, a journal, a flask and a snack. Have a look at my hand-knitted collections.

4. A good book about slowing down

A book is a gift of time as much as anything else. Choose something gentle and uplifting, or a book about hygge itself. Our guide to the best hygge books is a great place to start.

5. A beautiful mug and her favourite tea

So many mums drink their tea cold because they never get the chance to sit down. A handmade mug and a box of her favourite tea or hot chocolate is a gentle reminder to take a proper break. It pairs perfectly with our idea to swap your usual mug for your favourite one.

6. Thick, cosy socks

Never underestimate the joy of warm feet. Wool or cashmere-blend socks feel like a small luxury and are perfect for slow mornings and evenings on the sofa.

7. A hot water bottle with a knitted cover

Simple, practical and incredibly comforting on a cold night. A knitted cover makes it feel extra special and keeps it warm for longer.

8. A journal and a lovely pen

A notebook gives her a place to put her thoughts, worries and small joys. Add a note suggesting she start by writing herself a love letter, or simply jotting down one good thing from each day.

9. A bath and pamper set

Bath oils, a soft towel, a candle and a do-not-disturb sign make a lovely bundle. The real gift is the uninterrupted time to enjoy them, so pair it with a promise to keep the kids busy. Our guide to a slow, unhurried bath explains how to make the most of it.

10. The gift of time

Perhaps the most precious gift of all. Make a handwritten voucher for an afternoon off, a lie-in, or a morning where someone else does the school run. The NHS recommends setting aside regular “me time” to help manage stress, and for many mums that time is the hardest thing to find.

Add a list of 15-minute hygge moments so she has ideas for how to spend it.

How to make any gift feel more hygge

• Wrap it simply in brown paper, string and a sprig of greenery
• Add a handwritten note telling her why she deserves a rest
• Bundle a few small things together, such as a candle, tea and socks, as a cosy evening kit
• Give her permission to actually use it, and help make the time for her to do so

A gentle reminder

The best gifts for busy mums are not about how much you spend. They are about saying “I see how hard you work, and you deserve to rest too”. Whatever you choose, wrap it up with that message and it will be treasured.

You might also like: self-care for busy mums: hygge habits that actually fit your day.

For more advice on having hygge moments subscribe below: