How to Go "Hygge" with a Fresh Coat of Paint
WINTER in northeast Ohio is known to make many of us need a bit of a cheer up – and the latest decorating trend may be just the ticket. Anyone casually scrolling Pinterest or Instagram or half-watching HGTV cannot have failed to notice presenters trying hard to not mispronounce the word ‘hygge’ – and it is the word for the season.
Hailing from Danish, there is no exact English translation – hence the tongue rolling to get it right – but it is the word our Scandinavian friends use to battle the long, cold and dark winters from their cozy homes. Starting to see why the word may work well for those of us used to dealing with Lake Effect weather?
At its essence, hygge is about resorting to the simpler pleasures of life – essentially creature comforts in our homes to hole up in when the weather and season makes outside rather undesirable. In décor terms, think Ikea simplicity with home comfort warmth – a roaring log fire, comfortable throw blankets, and hot cider. And as in all good room settings, the overall tone of the mood is set by the color scheme chosen.
Hygge works best when it is simple – and a fresh coat of paint is an ideal way to start embracing this highly attractive interior styling. As well as being simple, it is quick and affordable to achieve – and with plenty more weeks of unpredictable weather, snow, ice, rain and grey skies left ahead of us, it is certainly not too late to hygge your family room.
The key for your walls and ceilings is neutral. That is not to say boring and plain – more a case of less-is-more. By neutralizing walls and ceilings, it accentuates the features you do have in the room – the fireplace takes center stage and the furnishings you select will really stand out. The Scandinavians know a thing or two about doing this well and are experts at creating a minimalist room to really let the comfort features pop.
By going neutral and removing the clutter of busy wallpaper or stenciled designs, the room instantly becomes more relaxing and less busy and overstimulating. Think about it for a moment – why do restaurants deliberately go for busy? They want you to find the place interesting but they also do not want you to stay too long, occupying a table that could have another round of customers sat at it.
A cool color palette takes attention away from the walls to highlight the features of textiles and shapes in the objects you do choose to enjoy. Let the color creep in through the accessories – but that does not mean everything has to be clinically white. After all, the image of many Nordic homes is a log cabin – the plain and neutral colors can be warm colors as well.
So if it is time to hygge your home, start with the basics and set the mood from the beginning with a fresh coat of paint in your rooms.
And here at PaintPositive, we understand the Lake Effect winters as well as you do – we are the experts in everything paint and would be delighted to help you hygge your house today. Call PaintPositive now for a no-pressure estimate and we can get the walls done while you shop for throws and candles.
