By Jessica

As I write this monthly review, we are forecasted to get 10-20cm of snow…perfect timing for a post on cozying up your space. The month of October seemed to fly by. And honestly I feel like we got to enjoy such a nice long fall…which is definitely not always the case. It was so nice on Thanksgiving weekend that my family and I even got to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal outside.

But the last couple weeks have started to feel chilly. The days are definitely shorter. And it’s just the perfect time to bring elements into our homes to add the touches of warmth and coziness that, I feel, are essential for our long cold months ahead. Instead of dreading the cold (which I really do) I’m trying to shift my mind and use the opportunity to take a look at our current spaces in our home and how they are functioning for us. And I’m kind of excited about it!

I find that the interior of our home is largely ignored in the summer months because the priority is set on enjoying the sunshine and getting outside. Now we’ve transitioned back into largely being indoors. And there are certain elements in my home that make it more enjoyable, homey, cozy, and comforting as the weather shifts.

The first word that comes to mind is hygge (sounded hyoo-guh). We’re all told to create hygge in our homes to help during these colder months. So I asked Julie what the best way to create hygge in your home would include. She is the best person I know to ask because she is from Denmark, the country that has inspired the rest of the world with this idea of hygge. She just laughed. Julie’s thought to me was that it is not a specific thing or item or event that creates hygge, it’s a concept. A complete way of living. And an article I read on hygge was on the same lines as Julie’s response. The author’s thoughts were that this idea of hygge has been misconstrued to promote marketing and sales of certain home décor items, taking away from the way of life that it truly is (my interpretation of his thoughts, not a direct quote).

And now I’ve been thinking more about how we create a way of life. Not for one season, but that lasts throughout the year. What are the ways that we can surround our selves with what we truly enjoy, what brings us joy throughout the day, how does our home represent our families, how do we transition through season but keep the overall feeling of goodness in our homes.

“Danes created hygge because they were trying to survive boredom, cold, dark and sameness. The undefinable feeling of hygge was a way for them to find moments to celebrate, acknowledge and break up the mundane or harsh. With so many cold, dark, days, the simple act of lighting a candle and enjoying a cup of coffee could make a huge difference to one’s spirit.” - Alex, Hygge House Founder

Doesn’t this resonate with you? Maybe even more-so because of the crazy times we are currently living through?

It definitely resonates with me.

So I thought I would share with you a few parts of my life that I find bring joy…some specific to the colder days…because that’s where we’re headed!

Coffee….

Every morning starts with a freshly ground coffee at our home and I really love it. It takes a bit longer, but I enjoy the process. I love the smell. I love picking a mug that suits my day to enjoy the coffee. On week days I can’t enjoy the process quite as much because it is accompanied with getting kiddos ready for school and myself ready for work. But when the weekend comes…it’s heavenly. Quiet mornings with a good coffee can only be beat when I have good company to enjoy them with.

Candles and cozy blankets…

At this time of year, I always find myself pulling out heavier, cozier blankets to replace the lighter ones I have in summer (because no matter what time of year, I need to have throw blankets around). And lighting a good smelling candle. I love the atmosphere that candles create. There’s an intimacy they create alongside warmth. When I put the poll out (on social media) on how to create cozy environments in our homes, the top response was blankets and candles. Clearly I’m not alone in this practice.

Decluttered spaces…

Julie’s post, The Less is More Approach, discussed this topic perfectly. Decluttering our spaces of the things we do not need, use, want, feel obligated to have, frees up our minds and our homes to house the items that have meaning, value, function, and joy. I was just sitting in my living room the other day and I have a set pair of wooden candlesticks that I received from my Grandma’s house. Immediately when I saw them, I had feelings of warmth and love because that’s what she showed me daily. When our home is filled with clutter and messy, I can’t even see the items of value because they are hidden behind all the piles of stuff that cause stress. One of the responses to my poll, was “personal collected items that remind me of family/friends.” Isn’t that so true? Let’s declutter our homes (if this is a problem for you…I know it can be for me!) and give the items in our home that evoke joy the stage. One of my top suggestions when I’m helping people in their homes, is display what you love. Keep what adds functionality to your life. Put the items out that represent your family and you.

Varying textiles…

One my favourite ways to warm up our living spaces is by pulling out the sheepskins and adding them to our sofa and chairs. I’ve always loved the textural difference that they bring to the room. I love mixing elements of wood, wool, soft cushions, heavier throws, velvet, and cotton. There’s so much warmth and interest that can be created when we layer different textiles into our homes.

Creating homes, not just places we stay in…

I think the what I want most when working with clients, is for them to truly love their home. That’s what I want for all of you. Let’s create spaces that serve our life. Spaces that we can enjoy time with friends and family. Spaces that function for our daily lives and schedules. Spaces that create joy, even if it’s little things, like showcasing family heirlooms. Let’s use our fancy dishes for Wednesday night supper, just because we can. Let’s clear the items out of our home that cause stress and bring in what creates joy. Let’s tackle that project that’s been put on the backburner for way to long (hello unfinished bathroom vanity…) because we know in the end it will bring us a sense of completion and accomplishment.

Cozy and warm homes can be created by throw blankets, candles, warm textiles, and comfy furniture, but I largely believe that the true warmth and coziness comes from the people who inhabit the space. Let’s be those people.

Here’s to November…