What Does Hygge Mean to Us?
To us, hygge is about creating a home that feels good, warm, comfortable and uniquely yours. It’s found in the thoughtful details, the textures that soothe and the colours that lift your mood. From your bedding to your dining table to the little rituals of daily life, read on for our tips on how to make your home hygge (with a Sage x Clare twist, of course!).
Table of Contents:
- What is Hygge, Anyway?
- Why Embrace Hygge in Your Australian Home?
- The Pillars of Hygge: Essential Elements for a Cosy Home
- Hygge Room by Room: Practical Tips for Every Space
- Your Hygge Living Room: The Heart of Cosiness
- Creating a Hygge Bedroom Sanctuary
- Kitchen & Dining: Hygge Through Food & Connection
- Bring the Outdoors In: Hygge with Nature
- Beyond Decor: Cultivating a Hygge Mindset
- Shop the Hygge Edit: Sage x Clare's Essentials for a Cosy Home
- Ready to Hygge? Start Your Journey Today
What is Hygge, Anyway?
Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a term with Danish origins that encapsulates a feeling of cosiness, contentment and well-being. It’s a kind of lifestyle philosophy about creating moments that bring us comfort and joy. This can be as simple as sharing a warm meal with loved ones, setting the mood with soft lighting, enjoying a good book in bed or savouring a slow Sunday morning.
It isn’t about trendy or expensive decor, having a lot of stuff or the perfectly styled house, but the atmosphere you create and how you feel in it. We like to think of it as a hug for your soul. Put simply, it’s a sense of being safe, relaxed and at ease in your space.
At Sage x Clare, we believe the aesthetics of a space, i.e. colours, lighting, textures and scents, deeply shape how grounded we feel and influence our overall well-being. In other words, making a home ‘hygge’ is at the heart of everything we do. So here are our favourite ways to embrace hygge at home.
Why Embrace Hygge in Your Australian Home?
Even though it has Danish roots, we feel the slower, softer way of living that’s central to hygge is a natural fit for us Aussies. It’s less about cold weather, a roaring fire and woolly socks, and more about creating a home that feels calm, warm and deeply lived-in.
Think barefoot sunset chats on the deck, cuddling up with a cuppa on the couch or the smell of a Sunday roast wafting from the kitchen. It’s small rituals like these that turn our spaces into true sanctuaries.
Embracing hygge invites us to pause, to be present and find comfort in everyday moments and rituals. It helps ease stress, invites connection, strengthens our sense of belonging and boosts our mood.
In all the hustle and bustle of daily life, hygge brings us back to what matters most: slowing down, finding joy in the simple things and creating a home that feels oh-so-good to be in. And once you feel its magic, you’ll want to recreate it over and over
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The Pillars of Hygge: Essential Elements for a Cosy Home
Texture Play: Layering for Ultimate Comfort
The secret to that inviting, lived-in look we adore? Texture, texture, and you guessed it, more texture. Layer up with a knit throw draped over perfectly rumpled linen bedding, plush velvet cushions piled on the sofa and a shaggy wool rug that begs you to kick your shoes off. When it comes to nailing hygge, the more tactile the better. It’s about building a home you can ‘feel’ in the best possible way.
Explore our ultimate ‘touch-me’ pieces in bedding, cushions and rugs, all designed to dial up the comfort and bring serious cosy vibes to every corner.
Lighting the Way: Warm Glows and Soft Ambience
If it were up to us, the ‘big light’ would be banned at our house pretty much all the time. Lucky for us, mood lighting is the way to go when it comes to hygge. Creating that cosy atmosphere starts with soft, ambient glows that instantly warm up a space. Set the scene with dimmable floor lamps, LED tea lights, pillar candles and table lamps. The goal? Lighting that whispers, not shouts.
Some of our all-time favourite lamps for creating that warm, glowy vibe at home include the Miffy Star Light Lamp, the iconic IKEA VARMBLIXT Table Lamp, the Carrington Linen Floor Lamp and this Ceramic Mood Lamp.
Natural Nods: Bringing the Outdoors In
Nothing brings the calm, grounding vibes essential to hygge quite like natural elements. Introduce raw and earthy elements like textured jute rugs and runners, terracotta pots, handcrafted ceramics and rattan furniture to instantly inject warmth and soul into your spaces.
A Sense of Scent: Invoking Relaxation
Scent plays a powerful role in our mood and hygge. Opt for the subtle, grounding aromas of essential oils (like lavender or sandalwood), scented candles (we love the Palo Santo Candle) or a little incense. Anything that instantly calms your mind and makes you want to breathe deep and settle in—that’s the vibe.
And if nothing else? Simply wash your sheets. There’s nothing more comforting than crawling into a freshly made bed, its crisp linen still carrying the scent of sunshine and fresh air. For the ultimate unwind routine, spritz your linen with some heavenly Sweet Sleep Pillow Perfume and let the day melt away.
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Mindful Moments: Declutter and Simplify
Hygge invites us to live with meaning, not an excess of things. Often, the most comforting spaces are the ones where everything has a purpose, and nothing feels too precious to use and enjoy. A calm, thoughtfully curated room helps you slow down, breathe deeper and feel more at ease.
Simplifying doesn’t mean getting rid of all your stuff. It means surrounding yourself with things that bring you comfort, tell a story or simply make you smile. A favourite blanket, a beautiful bowl or a cosy slouchy knit. These intentional pieces bring comfort and create peace, not clutter.
Inspired to have a clear out? Check out our guide to an organised and clutter-free bedroom.
Hygge Room by Room: Practical Tips for Every Space
Your Hygge Living Room: The Heart of Cosiness
It’s all about crafting a space that feels inviting. Somewhere people want to gather, unwind and enjoy each other’s company. Start with a warm foundational piece like a shag pile rug, add comfortable seating (think floor cushions, a deep sofa or armchair), switch on a floor lamp and layer in plush cushions and throw blankets that beckon you to get comfy and stay a while. Bonus points for a stack of well-loved books and games on the coffee table.
Creating a Hygge Bedroom Sanctuary
For the ultimate spot to rest and recharge, start with soft, premium, breathable bedding (our cotton and linen quilt covers are perfect). Next, layer tactile and decorative cushions and a cosy throw or bedcover to enhance the artful and relaxed look. Keep the bedside lighting soft, the clutter minimal and add a few personal trinkets to make the space feel unmistakably yours.
Kitchen & Dining: Hygge Through Food & Connection
There’s something inherently hygge about gathering around a table with good food and your favourite people. Whether it’s a slow brunch, a shared pot of tea or a hearty home-cooked meal, it’s all about savouring life’s simple pleasures. Amp up the cosiness and comfort with beautiful table linens (think tablecloths, napkins, placemats and coasters), colourful resin tableware and decorative touches like plants or fresh flowers.
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Bring the Outdoors In: Hygge with Nature
Hygge and nature go hand in hand. Bring the outdoors in with lush potted plants, fresh or dried blooms and lots of natural textures like wool, jute, timber and stone. Set up inviting outdoor nooks with bean bags, floor cushions and jute rugs to enhance that easy indoor-outdoor connection.
Beyond Decor: Cultivating a Hygge Mindset
Hygge is more than just a design style—it’s a way of life. Here are a few simple ways to embrace the hygge mindset:
- Start your day with a few minutes of mindful meditation.
- Keep a gratitude journal to reflect on the little things.
- Host a relaxed dinner with your favourite people, where everyone brings their go-to comfort dish.
- Swap screen time for a cosy night in with a board game or a good book.
However you choose to embrace it, hygge invites us to be present, connected and content. It’s not about having more. It’s about loving what you already have, and creating a life that feels calm, cosy and deeply meaningful.
Shop the Hygge Edit: Sage x Clare's Essentials for a Cosy Home
Ready to bring more warmth, comfort and soul into your space? We’ve gathered our cosiest favourites to help you create a home that feels as good as it looks.
- Wrap yourself in warmth with our cosy throws and blankets.
- Create your dream sleep sanctuary with our luxurious bedding.
- Ground your space with our inviting and totally touchable floor rugs.
- Sink into our plush and oh-so-dreamy cushions.
Ready to Hygge? Start Your Journey Today
Hygge isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. At its heart, it’s all about comfort, connection and contentment—a way of living that turns everyday moments into something special.
The best bit? You don’t need to overhaul your entire home to begin. Start small: add a plush cushion to your favourite easy chair, light a candle at dinner or place a soft rug where your feet first hit the floor in the morning. Every little choice builds a space that feels warmer, calmer and more you.
We create pieces designed to bring hygge to life, layered textures, mood-boosting colour and thoughtful details that add a whole lotta love into the everyday. Explore our latest collection.