Light

 The word for spoilsport in Danish is lyseslukker, which literally means 'the one who put out the candles'. While candles are loved by the Danes 4% don't, so it's not a strict hygge rule or anything. Light however, and the atmosphere it creates is an important part of hygge. With short summers and 179 days of rain per year, Danes have little light from October to March. Inside lighting becomes very important when the natural world offers so little light.

Candles

  When Danes are asked what they most associate with hygge, 85% will mention candles. Now, not everyone likes candles. Some dislike how they smell when you blow them out, some don't like the kind of light they cast and some associate them with unpleasant memories. While it is not a necessity to use candles to achieve hygge it is one of the ways the Danes prefer to do it. Feel free to skip this section and scroll down to lamps.

   The Danes hold the European record for the most candle wax burned a year. The Danes burned around 6 kilos of candle wax a year, the second highest consumption in Europe is 3.16 kilos in Austria, almost 50% less. However, scented candles are considered artificial so scented candles are not considered hygge. I personally find some scented candles quite soothing myself so I don't think I'm being too outlandish to use a scented candle while achieving hygge.

  Of course caution should be used when lighting candles. especially, if you are lighting more than one. Candles shouldn't be left unattended, they should be on a fireproof surface, ideally in a candle holder and they should be kept away from flammable surfaces. Also the room should be well ventilated, breathing in too much smoke from a candle can be detrimental to health. Of course I doubt we light candles with as much frequency or quantity as the Danes but it pays to be cautious.

  

Danish Candle Use

How often:

• Everyday 28%
• 4-6 Days per Week 23%
• 1-3 Days per Week 23%
• 1-3 Days per Month 8%
• Never 4%
• Don't Know 14%

How many at once:

• One 5%
• Two 16%
• Three 13%
• Four 16%
• Five 8%
• More 31%
• Don't Know 11%

Lamps

  Lighting is practically an art form with the Danes. The rule of thumb is the lower the temperature of the light, the more hygge it is. Candles, wood and sunsets is about 1,800 Kelvin, that is you hygge sweet spot. Warm LED lights are usually about right. Usually, several small lamps around a room create a more hyggelit light that one big lamp in the ceiling. Small caves and/or pools of light around the room.

   While it does sound like a small thing, lighting is a big part of hygge. Though it loses some important associations when we equate hygge as 'cosiness' it helps when you think about lighting. A big bright room isn't cosy, a dimly lit room, especially a small one like a snug, is considered cosy. Of course when it is summer, using the sunlight is considered hygge too, don't think you have to sit in the dark to enjoy hygge, just remember not to blind yourself, you can see by the light of a small, warm lamp after all. Enjoy the we time in a cosy setting.