Today was the perfect Sunday. We enjoyed the beautiful sunny morning and I spent the afternoon making Christmas decorations whilst watching “The Holiday” on Netflix. And I kid you not, I just looked out my window and it’s snowing! My living room looks straight out of one of the Hallmark movies I’m sure I’ll watch tonight.
To make this year extra special I scoured Pinterest for inspiration for my holiday decorations. Keeping Adam’s style in mind, I’ve decided to go the Scandinavian route: natural materials, white candles, warm wood elements and lots and lots of greenery.
I’ve been reading a lot about the concept of Hygge lately to get into the spirit of the season. I featured The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking in my last blog post and it’s been my go-to in the evenings before I go to bed.
Hygge (/ˈhjuːɡə/ HEW-gə or /ˈhuːɡə/ HOO-gə) is a Danish and Norwegian word which can be described as a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. In recent years it has been described as a defining characteristic of Danish culture.
Wiking describes Hygge as drinking a hot cup of cocoa with friends by the fire or cooking a hearty meal during a storm; it’s about the experience of indulging in life’s simple pleasures. I wanted my holiday decorations to reflect this ideology because it puts focus on how we interact with our home instead of the stuff we buy to fill it.
At the end of the day, I want my home to feel welcoming and festive. I don’t want to worry about kitschy items getting in my way as I go about my day-to-day or the number on the bottom of my credit card bill come January. Instead, I’m focusing on the feelings associated with each piece of decor that I bring through the front door.
I’m excited to hang up the handmade garland I made today because I know it will always remind me of this perfect Sunday. The thought of cuddling up to enjoy our first Christmas tree warms my heart.
And so it begins. Happy Holidays!
