I wish you could feel the difference of my home in just a few short weeks taking the information of this book to heart. Welcome to mid-November in Michigan, where the majority of the days are cold, damp, and overcast, and the near-nonexistent sun sets around 5 p. For more details, please consult the latest information provided by Royal Mail's International Incident Bulletin. Hygge ideas and concepts are even more appropriate in Minnesota winter months, but I learned here that it’s not *all* about the weather.

Wiking offers insightful advice on curating genuine habitats for togetherness through treasured textiles plus tactile textures. So I love natural light and making home a comfortable place (and reading books that validate my loves - sue me)!Rather than hyper-focusing on a very narrow and stereotypical (not to mention materialistic) definition of Hygge, this book actually delved into the Science and Psychology of happiness and what one needs to do/change in their life/environment to achieve that elusive state even in the dark depths of the coldest, nastiest winter. Meik will explore the size of our spaces, the way we decorate our homes, the amount of natural light coming in, how much access to green space we have and how we can extend these design principles from inside our homes to our neighbourhoods and beyond.

It takes it from thinking, "oh that's a nice idea" and forgetting about it to "I see the value in why this would help" and I'm more likely to implement it. I’ll be honest, I put this one on hold in our bleak February and then forgot all about it until it became available a couple weeks ago.

The Hygge Home will teach us all how to create a much-needed cozy safe space in our homes into which we can retreat to escape the tough things going on in the outside world. I don’t get paid for writing it, I’m not in it for the kudos, financial rewards, to become an influencer, work with brands or otherwise make any money from the blog.

As someone who reads a lot of fiction but isn't keen on non fiction, I found it interesting and engaging. The book looks at the role our physical world plays in enhancing and helping hygge… and no, it’s not about fluffy cashmere socks and expensive fur rugs at all. It is accepted by you that Daunt Books has no control over additional charges in relation to customs clearance. What I did appreciate was the author’s idea of "Viking-proof" seats, rooted in "prospect-refuge theory" of landscape aesthetics (we seek places where we can see without being seen), and the vacant chair principle (purposefully leaving an empty seat to make it easier for someone to join the group).Letting in natural light aids better sleep and living, while creating islands of light on a cold night creates warmth and brings people together. And I just wasn't the audience for the author's corny sense of humor and cultural references (Laura Ingalls Wilder and Winston Churchill aren’t inspiring or cozy to me). The LED variety of which the bulbs don't heat up to scalding and that use up far less juice than their traditional counterparts. The journey… the process of curating and collecting a hygge home together… is part of the experience.