Oh, the weather outside is, if not frightful, than at least freezing.
There is no denying that hibernation season is well and truly upon us.
But you don’t hear us complaining. I mean; seriously, is there anything nicer than snuggling up inside the four walls of your house, fire blazing, comfy clothes on (or jammies; we won’t judge!) and enjoying time with yourself and your family?
We didn’t think so.
But for all this staying in, you’ll want your home to be as snug and cosy as humanly possible. So to help you enjoy the winter months, BIC multi-purpose Mega Lighter has partnered with best-selling author of the ‘Little Book of Hygge’ and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Meik Wiking to teach us a thing or two about ‘hygge’.
1. Focus On Atmosphere
‘Hygge,’ while hard to define, has been called “the art of creating a nice atmosphere.” Think about how your home feels to you, and also to your guests and family. Set about creating rooms you cannot wait to come home to, that make you feel instantly more relaxed when you step into them.
2. Lighting
In Denmark, and Scandinavia in general, people have a love-affair with candles and lighting. Use warm lighting to create a cosy atmosphere in your home by opting for low-level mood lighting over harsh ceiling lights, and candles over dim artificial lights once the long evenings roll in.
3. Light A Fire
Count your blessings if you are in possession of a fireplace, especially a wood-burning one – this is pretty much peak hygge. If not, then go wild with candles, as real fire creates a warmth and feeling so completely different from the use of artificial lights.
Danes are big consumers of candles, and, in fact, light more than twice as many candles as people in other European countries do.
4. Think About Your Furniture
Meik is a fan of rustic furniture for creating that perfect lived-in and comfortable look. He also recommends being mindful of what materials you pick for your furniture, advising that organic, tactile materials feel nicer against your skin.
Pay attention to how things feel, not just how they look, when you are decorating for optimising your ‘hygge’ factor at home.
5. Invite Some People
Hygge is all about spending time with people you care about – without it involving a big night or even much effort at all. “Hygge is a way of being with people without it draining your energy,” the happiness expert explains. Which sounds pretty good to us, no?
Spending time with people you love is pretty much the single most important thing you can do for your happiness, and what better way to do just that than to have them over for some proper Danish ‘hygge’?
And at the heart of that homely experience during winter is the BIC multi-purpose Mega Lighter, an essential accessory for every household whether it’s lighting a fire to create an inviting atmosphere or sparking a candle to set the mood.
For more information on availability as well as tips and handy product information, please visit the BIC website: www.myBiclighter.com.
