How to Create a Winter Sanctuary With “Hygge” — The Danish Concept

Did you know that Denmark is the happiest country in the world? One might as how they do that? How are the constituently the happiest country in all of the world? Of course, there are many factors to this, but one factor my be the concept of “Hygge”.

Hygee (pronounced hue-gah) is a Danish concept and word that means “a feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary, every day moments more meaningful, beautiful, or special”. You can apply this concept in your very own home, or in other places in your life.

For instance, interior specialists Baytree Interiors help people personalize their homes in order to fit in with this concept. Rustic materials, cozy textures throughout the home, soft furnishings, and a simple, neutral colour scheme keeps the home looking like a soft, winter wonderland. In this way, you can bring the little joys of winter right into your home. By doing that, you can appreciate the little things about winter and the cold (something the people living in Denmark are quite used to), and thus apply Hygge.

Another way to help bring in some winter appreciation into your home is considering the lighting. Using lamps and candles — especially in the evenings — can help bring a beautiful ambiance into the home that you can’t get from most overhead lighting.

On top of bringing this concept into your personal home, can also do this for a wedding! Garden weddings can be great, and if it’s too cold in the inter, you can bring the concept inside. With rustic furniture that brings the aspects of the cozy winter inside to your reception or wedding ceremony. Soft lighting from candles helps, too, bring in the warm atmosphere from the cold. A wedding colour scheme that includes pale colours, or red and green to remind you and your guests about the beautiful world that is right outside the exit doors. With blankets, or cloth gloves for your wedding favors, too. All of these things can help bring in this feeling, and create even a more relaxing, romantic atmosphere.

Hygge is all about using the little things in life to bring more joy into your life and the life of the people around you. What do you think? Do you like the concept of Hygge? Do you plan to try to use it in your own home, or maybe at something like a big wedding? Whatever you do, just remember to invest effort in to what you already have.

Give Your Kitchen an Artistic Makeover With These Popular Trends from 2017

Kitchens are the epicenter of the house. You cook, you have family meals, interesting and awkward conversations, and so much more in your kitchen. Basically, you spend some of the best times and create some wonderful memories here. Little wonder then that remodeling the master bathroom and kitchen continue to be the best investments one can make to a home.

So, whether you are looking for giving a whole new look and feel to the most celebrated room in your house, or are thinking of selling your house, kitchen renovations will add value to both your personal and commercial ventures. Here are the top trends for 2017 for kitchen renovation that you should be staying ahead of.

1. Say Hello to Quartz

There is no denying that the countertop can make or break a kitchen. So when you are thinking of renovating your kitchen, say hello to Quartz countertops. Aesthetic and functional, they are soon emerging as the most sought after countertop option. For one, it is extremely tough. It is resistant to spills, stains, and burns, high force hits and chips. And it does not even require sealing to prevent staining. Talk about easy maintenance. Being low maintenance and resistant to heat and scratches, it’s perfect to whip up a storm in your kitchen. Quartz is really easy on the eyes and lends itself well to traditional and contemporary designs.

2. Make Your Kitchen Glamorous with Granite Look-Alike

Counterparts continue to be the centerpiece in the kitchens. Granite countertops look posh and sophisticated undoubtedly, but lack practical application in kitchens where there is a lot of activity. Besides, they are not easy on the pocket. In your renovation process, include granite look-alike laminate counterparts that have bigger stone patterns and rounded edges. This gives a polished, high-end granite look and is much more budget friendly.

3. Add Auto to Your Kitchen

Technology is changing the way we live. Why should our kitchens be left behind? Make your kitchen future ready by adding some dynamic technology to it. Some interesting kitchen technology we came across is a meat thermometer that alerts your smartphone when dinner is ready. A hands free faucet could be a great addition to your kitchen for those days when you are too busy cooking, and have your hands full at all times.

4. Opt for Open Shelving

If you are thinking kitchen renovation,one thing you must include are open shelving. Open shelving allows you to put all your beautiful crockery on display. This has been a major trend through 2016, and is all set to continue in 2017 as well. However, there are a few practical considerations you need to pay heed to, before you incorporate this trend. For one, all your dishes, drinkware and serving pieces may not be so nice as to be put on display. All of us have certain pots and pans that are not really meant for displaying. We recommend keeping a part of your closed cabinetry for these purposes. Also, dust is a determining factor. With open shelving, dust will gather on your favorite pieces and you will need to give them a rinse much more frequently than before. If you are up for these challenges, open shelving is for you, and can take your kitchen design and look notches higher.m

5. Upgrade Your Kitchen Accessories

The quickest way to give your kitchen an upgrade is to bring on board some cool new kitchen accessories. Think cool egg slicers, lemon zesters, ice lolly molds. You may have had the same variety of these tools forever. Begin your renovation by upgrading these basic accessories. They will change the feel of your kitchen. Take the coolness quotient of your kitchen higher by including a coffee machine that you can control from your bed via an app. Your kitchen and your morning will get a lot better when there is a steaming mug of coffee waiting for you.

6. Bring in the Grey and Copper

Kitchen industry leading manufacturers have given their verdict. Kitchen cabinetry in gray are becoming the new sleek in kitchen designs. Gray is being touted as the new white, and the color to opt for in kitchen cabinets and doors. With the neutrals being in vogue for the primary part of the kitchen, kitchen accents and fixtures get bolder. Replace stainless steel with copper. Include copper colored handles, accessories and appliances in your kitchen to complement and accentuate the gray cabinets. You can also add a bright colored sink to add a fun element.

7. Increase Space and Make Your Kitchen More Functional

A kitchen revamp is not only about changing the exteriors of your kitchen. It is also about making your kitchen more dynamic and functional. Do some research, and you will find hardware manufacturers who are changing the way drawers and cabinet doors functions, making them much more space efficient and convenient. Opt for hydraulic easy-close doors that can fold up and out of the way with a button touch. These are great for saving space in a crowded area like a kitchen.

8. Return to the Basics

Design like fashion is always cyclical. In quest of giving a new look to the kitchen, designers are recommending going back to the past. The vintage kitchens of the past are being revisited for design inspiration. British countryside, pared-down traditional styles are getting a thumbs up. It’s all about keeping it simple and basic. Cut down the excessive decoration and the fluff. For this redesigning project, keep your kitchen warm, traditional, and authentic. Use Pinterest and Houzz boards for ideas to recreate this look.

Moving Towards a More Sustainable Kitchen

If you pay close attention to the dominating kitchen remodeling trends of 2017, you will notice that most of them are veered towards a more sustainable form of kitchen. Whether it is returning to the basics, or opting for quartz countertops, they all reflect a desire for sustainability. The concept of greater sustainability also implies that you should use more earthy materials like wood, wicker and clay for remodeling your kitchen rather than glossy finishes and extravagantly luxurious features and fixtures. Hope this guide has been helpful to you and taken you out of the kitchen revamp rut. Get ready and enjoy refreshing the heart of your home!

Author Bio
Korie Cantor is a writer who writes about living and lifestyle. She possesses a great sense of style and loves to share her thoughts about fashion and it’s latest trends. Follow her @koriecantor