Discovering Hygge in Copenhagen & Bringing It Home
As an interior designer, I’ve always been drawn to the way spaces can shape our daily experiences. I knew Hygge was a concept, but it wasn’t until my family and I traveled to Copenhagen that I truly understood its essence. It clicked for me—not as a trend or a style but as a way of life. And more importantly, I saw how it can be woven into our homes to create spaces that nurture us.
What Is Hygge?
Hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah") is a Danish term that embodies a feeling of comfort, warmth, and well-being. It comes from a word meaning "to give courage, comfort, joy" and is speculated to have origins linked to the word "hug." More than just coziness, Hygge is about creating an atmosphere of togetherness, relaxation, and contentment. It’s not something you buy; it’s something you cultivate.
Many people associate Hygge with a neutral, minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic—think white walls, candles, and chunky blankets. But true Hygge is about how a space feels rather than how it looks. It’s about thoughtful living, being present, and surrounding yourself with objects and experiences that bring you joy.
The Hygge Lifestyle in Copenhagen
Experiencing Copenhagen in the fall was an eye-opener. The Danish embrace of Hygge was everywhere, from the warm glow of candles in every window to the way people gathered outdoors in courtyards, enjoying meals with real plates and glasses, even in the chilly air. There was an emphasis on connection—on slowing down and appreciating the simple moments of life.
In a city where winters are long, dark, and cold (much like Berlin, where I currently live), Hygge is a way to counteract the gloom. It’s a survival technique that makes the season not just bearable but enjoyable. It reminded me that our homes should be a refuge—a place where we can truly exhale and be at peace.
How to Incorporate Hygge Into Your Home
Inspired by our time in Denmark, I’ve been thinking about how to bring more Hygge into my own life and the spaces I design. Here are some ways to create a home that nurtures well-being, warmth, and connection:
1. Thoughtful Organization & Decluttering
A clutter-free home is a stress-free home. Everything should have a place, making it easier to maintain a sense of calm. When you come in from a long day in the cold, the last thing you want is to be greeted by chaos. If it’s not worth making a place for, it’s not worth keeping.
2. Creating Rituals Around Mealtime
In Denmark, we noticed how intentional mealtimes were. At home, we always eat breakfast and dinner together at the dining table, but I want to elevate this experience—turn it into a ritual. I’ve rearranged a nearby closet to store napkins and table essentials so my son can help set the table. I’ve also invested in one beautiful candle holder, making it a tradition to light a candle at dinner each night. When the sun sets at 4 PM, that little flicker of light feels like a moment of magic.
3. Making Time for Comfort & Joy
Hygge is about being intentional with your time. I’ve curated a private Pinterest board of cozy winter activities, mostly recipes and baking ideas—small comforts that I can look forward to. Taking the time to indulge in things that bring joy, whether it’s a warm drink by the fire or curling up with a good book, makes the season feel special.
4. Gathering Your People
One of the most striking things about Copenhagen was how people made an effort to connect. Moving to a new country, not knowing the language, and trying to build a community has been challenging, but I’ve learned that reaching out is key. Come winter, having people over for a shared meal or a casual evening can be a form of Hygge. Even as an introvert, I know the warmth of good company can make the darkest months feel lighter.
5. A Capsule Wardrobe for Ease
While I haven’t fully committed to a capsule wardrobe yet, I see the appeal—less decision fatigue, more intentionality. Streamlining your wardrobe can be another form of Hygge, making daily routines smoother and freeing up mental space for what truly matters.
The Heart of Hygge Interior Design
At its core, Hygge interior design is about creating a home that serves you, rather than the other way around. It’s about designing a space that allows you to be present, to relax, and to enjoy life. Whether that means layering soft textures, curating a meaningful collection of objects, or simply ensuring your home functions seamlessly for your family’s needs, the goal is the same—to create a sanctuary where you can exhale.
If you’re ready to bring Hygge into your home and create a space that is as beautiful as it is functional, Jamie House Design is here to help. Let’s design a home that truly supports your well-being. Contact us today to get started!
JHD Travels: Venice
When we decided to make the move from Houston TX to Berlin Germany a big deciding factor for me was to travel and show AJ the world. We have a long running list of places to visit still, but we started with celebrating AJ’s 2nd birthday in Venice. He’s not old enough to expect a proper party, he’s young enough to keep strapped in his stroller, these were are reasons. I would have made any reason really, I wanted to see Venice.
When we decided to make the move from Houston TX to Berlin Germany a big deciding factor for me was to travel and show AJ the world. We have a long running list of places to visit still, but we started with celebrating AJ’s 2nd birthday in Venice. He’s not old enough to expect a proper party, he’s young enough to keep strapped in his stroller, these were are reasons. I would have made any reason really, I wanted to see Venice.
Flying within Europe is ridiculously inexpensive. We’re taking advantage.
Venice is like a dream. The lighting is incredible. The buildings are incredible.
Venice is also packed with people. With tourists. Packed. So many rolling suitcases. The food isn’t great, at least coming from Berlin. I’M SURE there are pockets of delicious unspoiled by tourists food. But we didn’t find them IN Venice.
I would love to return to Venice alone though. I want to get my design geek on without dragging my guys through it. It’s incredible to imagine all of the life that’s taken place there. It’s also really wild to see the direct effects of Climate Change. Wild and sad and scary.
If you go to Venice you must roam the cities at night. Grab a slice of pizza from a street vendor, and wonder the streets. It has a sort of magic feeling at night.
Essentially, one day in Venice was good for us. Luckily for us we stayed in nearby Marghera. Here we found really incredible pizza and bakeries, delicious gelato, and an amazing grocery store. After our one day in Venice we went to nearby Murano. It’s a charming small Italian island that revolves around the beautiful Italian glass industry.
We spent a lot of time wandering around the behind the scenes neighborhood. The hidden from the tourists areas. When I travel I want to see how people live. The reason Venice turned me off so quickly was how so much of what we saw were catering to the tourists. I really love when a place can remain itself and still allow people to visit and observe. There just isn’t much to learn by visiting a ton of tourist shops or restaurants that have the same food every other place has.
A big storm rolled in while we were in Murano. We had to rush to the boats to get back through at least a foot of ocean water that was washing onto the walkway to the dock. There’s a huge example of how they’re seeing the direct implications of Climate Change. You can read how they’re handling it here.
At the last minute we decided to take a train, the next day, to Treviso. It’s about a 20 minute train ride from the Marghera train station. Easy. Plus they’re known for Prosecco. Done.
In Treviso we had the best pizza of our lives. I know Southern Italy supposedly has the best pizza, and I’ll surely get there eventually, but for now this is the best. Plus Prosecco. Prosecco all day.
Treviso is built around canals like Venice, but it’s completely different from Venice.
Treviso is the type of town I could live in. Cozy and charming, easy to get around in, but still accessible for daily life. We didn’t see many other tourists either so that was a breath of relief. {Tourists are the worst. ;) ;) }
This quote from Julia Child in her My Life in France book sums up my feelings about travel:
“I didn’t like traveling first-class at all. Yes, it was nice to have a bathroom in the hotel and fine service at breakfast, and I’d probably never visit those grand hotels again, but none of it seemed foreign enough to me. It was all so pleasantly bland that it felt as if I were back on the SS America. ”
Now based in Denver, Jamie House Design continues to offer expert interior design services for high-end remodels throughout the US and abroad. Whether you’re preserving a beloved home or updating a space to better suit your lifestyle, we bring thoughtful design, timeless materials, and unparalleled attention to detail.
If you’re considering an interior design project, let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact Jamie House Design today to discuss your project.
Wynn Encore Vignettes
I was in Vegas for the latter part of last week taking part in the Bold Summit (Business of Luxury Design). It was great. It was exhausting. What is it about Vegas that is so exhausting? I slept for days afterwards and believe me there were no "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" moments for me. I witnessed those moments for others, but I was there to work.
Of course staying at the Wynn Encore is itself sensory overload for a designer. It was beautiful and tastefully tacky all at once. The hall to the conference rooms is excruciatingly long. I wore flats and brought my cute shoes, the walk is killer. Along the way are gorgeous vignettes though. Beautiful studies in accessorizing. So many perfectly symmetrical and others perfectly asymmetrical. Just really tastefully done vignettes. Here are my shots from my phone of a few of them.
Isn't the attention to detail stunning? The scale of each of these is really very large, it's hard to see that in these shots. I have a lot of respect for Roger Thomas and his team to pull off such tasteful interiors on a grand scale.
Now based in Denver, Jamie House Design continues to offer expert interior design services for high-end remodels in Houston and beyond. Whether you’re preserving a beloved home or updating a space to better suit your lifestyle, we bring thoughtful design, timeless materials, and unparalleled attention to detail.
If you’re considering an interior design project, let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact Jamie House Design today to discuss your project.
Culture Travel : Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
I got a long weekend in Fort Worth this past weekend due to my husband speaking at an Android conference. I got to meet with a client, eat great food and visit my favorite museum. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth was designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The building gives me goose bumps, it feels alive. I love the art of course, but the building. The building is a modern piece of art itself. The concrete walls. The amazing windows and the shadows the mullions create is beyond. Goose bumps. I always get emotional in this space. I didn't get a shot of the famous windows, I was running out of time and my phone died midway through the museum.
I got a long weekend in Fort Worth this past weekend due to my husband speaking at an Android conference. I got to meet with a client, eat great food and visit my favorite museum. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth was designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The building gives me goose bumps, it feels alive. I love the art of course, but the building. The building is a modern piece of art itself. The concrete walls. The amazing windows and the shadows the mullions create is beyond. Goose bumps. I always get emotional in this space. I didn't get a shot of the famous windows, I was running out of time and my phone died midway through the museum.
Now based in Denver, Jamie House Design brings high-end interior design expertise to home design in the Denver and Littleton areas. We work closely with builders and developers to create homes that are both marketable and exceptional. Contact Jamie House Design to discuss how we can bring your vision to life.