10 Ways to Create Hygge in Your Yard Year-Round

It’s no surprise that the Danish word hygge has gone viral in the last few years—cozy fun should be part of everyone’s daily agenda, especially in today’s current climate. While embracing the concept seems easy enough indoors (just add a mug of tea, a cozy blanket, and flickering candles), we wondered: how do you bring hygge to your garden? For the answer, we turned to hygge expert Bronte Aurell, author of the new book ScandiKitchen: The Essence of Hygge (Ryland Peters & Small, 2017) for advice. “Often, hygge is represented as something that happens only in the winter with lots of candles, but this is not a true representation, because hygge can happen all year round,” Aurell says. “Hygge is, in essence, making time to be in the moment–and appreciating it while you’re in that moment.” Here's how to take the friendly feeling into your own backyard.

If your yard has some open space on the ground for sitting, “set up a good old picnic with your kids or some good friends,” Aurell says. “Bring out some nice food, lay down on a blanket, and look at the sky. Discuss what the clouds look like. Look for four leaf clovers. Talk.” Stressful topics are off-limits.

It seems like a no-brainer, but lighting up your backyard with fairy-tale string lights and candles makes for soothing magic. “Keep it classy and go for white lights (it’s not Christmas for the entire cool season) and stylishly enclose your yard with them,” Aurell says. “It only takes a little light to break up even the darkest night.”

Aurell suggests toting cozy living room furniture or throw pillows outdoors on a nice day. “Watch an old movie outside with your friends on a big screen or read a book with no interruptions while you snack on your favorite treat. Or simply eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner outside, together.”

“Go camping (even if it’s just in the backyard) and sleep under the stars,” Aurell says. The sounds and scents of the outdoors are instantly calming, especially in our tech-addled age. Be sure to pack a thermos of something restorative—be it hot chocolate or a hot toddy.

As winter descends, do what the Vikings did: get lit like a cave man. If space allows, a firepit, chimenea, or outdoor fireplace is an instant boon to your backyard. “Toast marshmallows, roast chestnuts, and wrap up warm–bring your friends together around a central focal point,” Aurell says. Add extra hygge by tossing in fragrant woods to the blaze, like sweet-smelling cedar.

The shoddily constructed structures of your youth are just as fun for grown-ups—we promise—and can even be improved upon with a more permanent structure. “Build a den with your kids, then cozy up inside and share a packet of biscuits,” Aurell says. “Remember what it was like when you were a kid and go back there, even if it’s just for a few hours.”

It sounds counterintuitive, but “rain makes for great hygge opportunities,” Aurell says. “If you’re lucky enough to have a covered porch or patio, sit outside in a rocking chair, wrapped up in a blanket with a cup of hot tea, and marvel at nature. Or put on your best rain clothes, go for a walk, and jump in some puddles with your kids...you may feel silly, but I guarantee you’ll love it and they’ll remember it forever.”

If you don’t have a backyard shed you can convert, Aurell recommends building a little cabin. “It’s expensive, but quite a nice option if you feel it’s hard to be cozy in your house,” she notes. “A small snug hideaway at the bottom of the garden can be wonderfully hyggelig. A space with no electronic devices, no TV, no interruptions!” A.k.a., pure bliss.

“Re-introduce game night with friends or family–and bring it all outdoors,” Aurell says. Whether you take a Risk or get a Clue, you’ll have a merry time; even Twister can be retrofitted for the yard (just place it over a picnic blanket). More: Classic Outdoor Games with a Modern Twist

“Invite friends over for a barbecue and ask your friend who plays the guitar to bring it and lead a sing-along, like in the good old days,” Aurell says. Bonus points for dredging up songs from your summers at camp. #memories