My Hygge Rituals: Stylish Entrepreneurs Share their Cosy Autumnal Habits

One of my favourite hygge rituals at this time of year is to spruce my home – especially the walls – with little updates. Hanging new frames, switching around pictures, tweaking colour palettes – all help to refresh and bring cosiness to the home. For this reason, I think the autumn season and hygge sensations go hand-in-hand. It’s something you feel, that ebbs and flows and brings with it moments of great joy and belonging. I spoke to four stylish brands about the little traditions at this time of year that best evoke these feelings. 

LOWER THE LIGHTS

Donna Ford is an interior designer, photographer and blogger, currently shortlisted for Best Newcomer at the Amara Interior Blog Awards. 

PRECIOUS ALONE TIME

Valentina Ring of The Stars Inside is a wedding and events stylist with a totally dreamy aesthetic. She finds comfort in time spent alone with her thoughts and her pencils. 

“For me, the most soothing form of contentment comes from sketching: I find myself a cozy corner of sofa, where I can curl up under a blanket, paper pad gently rested on my knees, and pencils all around me. The sense of calm that it gives me comes from three things:

(1) it’s one of the only moments I take for myself which has no agenda or ulterior motive – which I find difficult these days, when even social media has become a business tool

(2) it’s one of the only skills I have from which I’ve never expected more than a hobby or a space for personal development

(3) it’s one of the only times when I allow myself not to multi-task. When drawing, time quietens down, my limbs relax in the warmth, and my mind focuses in a very grounding kind of way. I feel present, and immersed in the joy of an uncomplicated, carefree activity – alone but not lonely – purposeful, but not rushing towards a goal. To me, it represents the ritual of pressing pause on everything else, unapologetically, and intentionally single-tasking.” 

GET OUTDOORS

Kate Cullen is a Creative Director for many artisan brands, as well as maker of her own collection of exquisite luxurious ribbons and papers. She edits new lifestyle magazine NURTURE: For Soulful Creatives, for which I am a Contributing Writer and Illustrator.

Kate’s autumnal hygge ritual involves getting outdoors and sourcing the goodies that she will use as dyes for her products. “I adore Autumn, it’s my favourite season, the transition between Summer and Winter means you get the best of both in my opinion – sunny days still perfect for long walks through Autumn colour, but lower temperatures perfect for cozying up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and a film. This season is a time of gathering for me and my natural dyes – from elderberries and blackberries for the dye pot, to sloes and conkers for fun!”

SCENE-SETTING WITH SCENT

I’ve always be drawn to scent as an instant moodchanger, scene-setter and cosy-creator. My ultimate personal scent is Diptyque Philosykos. I drab a drop of the roll-on oil on each pulse point and let the heady richness do its thing. Naomi and Sarah, founders of luxury candle brand SevenSeventeen, agree. Their motto, “Mood-boosting Candles for the Burnt Out”, perfectly sums up how scent becomes part of a hygge ritual. “As the nights draw in and there’s a nip in the air, lighting a luxurious scented candle at the end of a long day becomes a nightly ritual. Unlike the more delicate florals or zestier fragrances synonymous with summer, autumn presents the opportunity to light some of the heavier, more decadent scents from our collection. We’ll go for smoky black oud, spicy black pomegranate or for glowing embers, our earthy fireside smell evocative of hot crackling fires.’ All Seven Seventeen candles are hand-poured, made in England, in recycled jars AND support incredible charities. Each purchase of my favourite – Be Still – offers £1 to CALM. 

So lower the lights, light a candle, make a crumble from foraged berries and get out your pencils. Autumn is here. I’d love to here about your personal hygge rituals and how you embrance the season. 

FURTHER LINKS

Find home inspiration and book Donna’s Room Service makeover package on Skirting Boards & Chandeliers

Dreamy floral-inspired event inspiration and Val’s styling service at The Stars Inside 

Find ribbon and paper heaven at Kate Cullen or more info about Nurture Magazine at Nurture & Bloom

Hand-poured, ethically produced and luxurious candles at SevenSeventeen 

There’s plenty of vintage light bulbs, lighting and hardware to savour at Dowsing & Reynolds

Modern rustic kitchens, furniture and accessories at Neptune 

Fantacise about spill-free living with The White Company 

Fine art photography by Georgina Harrison Photography