Beginner's Guide to Hygge-Inspired Living

New to the Hygge movement? Want some easy-going cozy vibes but feeling a bit overwhelmed? The Beginner's Guide to Hygge-Inspired Living can help with that!

First off, you may be asking? What the heck is Hygge?

Hygge (pronounced hyoo-guh) is the Danish art of creating cozy, comforting moments by embracing simplicity, warmth, and mindfulness. It's about slowing down, enjoying the little things, and making your space and routines feel like a soft little retreat. While the word itself doesn't have an exact translation into English, the feeling behind it is very clear.

Over the years, it has become a worldwide phenomenon because people are craving cozy vibes after years of non-stop stress: small choices, steady warmth, less noise. Here at Autumn & After, it's the crux of our entire company. And we want to keep these vibes going year-round.

Here's the Beginner's Guide to Hygge-Inspired Living, designed to help you get started the Autumn & After way.

Set the Mood with Soft Lighting

Start by swapping out those harsh overhead lights for something gentler. Think natural light, soft lamps, and our personal favorite—candles. We love lighting up our Late Night Reading candle for a calm, bookish vibe or our Cozy Nook candle when the cooler days call for something a little more snuggly.

Create a Cozy Comfort Zone

Pick a corner of your home and transform it into a snug retreat. Add a blanket (or three), your comfiest loungewear, and maybe a well-loved sweater. This is your designated "slow down" spot. Winter hygge loves blankets—summer hygge loves breezy fabrics and open windows.

Fav Foods and Fav Drinks

Have a favorite comfort food? Pour a steaming mug of tea, hot cocoa, or a glass of chilled lemonade or rose. Light our Yuletide candle while you sip—it smells like spiced nostalgia in a jar, accessible at all times of the year.

Be Present, Not Perfect

Forget the to-do list for a while. Hygge is about embracing the moment. Watch the rain. Stir your soup slowly. Sit with a friend and just be. Bonus points if you're wrapped in a blanket during any of these.

Celebrate the Simple Stuff

A good latte. A new movie you've been dying to stream. A cozy music playlist. Your cat is snoring on your lap. The fan hitting you just right after a warm shower. These are all hygge wins!

Burn Crisp Autumn Day to layer the moment with warm autumn woods for a bit of self-indulgence.

Gather Casually, With Intention

Host a no-pressure hangout with some of your favorite people. Nothing formal. Just good food, storytelling, or playing a board game. Hygge thrives on small, meaningful moments—no perfect table setting or dressy clothes required.

Unplug and Wind Down

Log off early. Take a calming bath or shower, read a chapter or two of that book you've been meaning to get back to, or write in your journal. Let our Rainy Night candle guide you into the quiet hush of the evening.

Hygge is about intentional enjoyment and comfort, no matter the reason or season. It's in the details: the pauses, the way we treat everyday moments as if they matter—because they do.

So go ahead. Light the candle. Savor the sip. Make anytime of the year your softest season yet.

No matter the month you are reading this post! Let this be your starting point—The Beginner's Guide to Hygge-Inspired Living—and let Autumn & After bring you the glows, scents, and aesthetics to every corner of your space.

You've got this.

EW Prescott | Sci-Fi Horror Novelist and Co-Owner of Autumn & After Candle Co.