The Danish tradition of Hygge has become a lot more popular in the states this past winter and I’m really excited about it. Having just attended the Swedish Midsummer celebration here, it really reminded me that the concept of hygge and cosiness can also be applied to summertime festivities as well. Today I’m taking some time to share with you how you can relate hygge to indoor outdoor living, and how you can bring some indoor cosiness to your outdoor space for summer parties, entertaining, or just enjoying some time in the outdoors.
Living in California means that our spend-time-outdoors season is quite long. Where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, the climate is typically moderate year-round and we love nothing more than to take advantage of our outdoor space. From living it up at our cabana club during hot days, to hanging out in our own yard dining out, roasting s’mores, or growing our garden, being outdoors is something we are big fans of.
1. Choose your furniture wisely.
When choosing your furniture for your space, choose pieces that will last and also bring people together. Have a small space? Opt for a lounge area with a coffee table instead of a full dining set. If you need to go even smaller, try just a couple of lounge chairs with a side table. Your goal should be to have furniture that is both functional, and welcoming. We have several folding lounge chairs that we picked up from Ikea that are so comfortable they make it hard to want to get up from them.
2. Bring the indoors out!
Temporarily, of course. I love to drag items from inside out in order to make our space more cosy. Our summer nights tend to get chilly, so bringing a blanket and some pillows out to help us keep warm is just par for the course. Our outdoor furniture stays rather clean, but if something were to happen I can always just pop them into the wash and they’re good as new to bring back indoors.
3. Add warmth with plants.
Plants add such a warm touch to a space, and why not add many for outside? The inside of my house slightly resembles a jungle, so I like my outside to do the same. I aim to decorate with plants that are both functional, and beautiful. My favorite plants that serve a purpose are: citronella, orange, lemon, lime, herbs, and strawberries. While other plants are my favorites because they are low maintenance like: succulents, passionflower vines (attract butterflies), and ground cover.
4. Entertain, and do it often!
Don’t wait for a special holiday to invite friends over. Part of hygge and the indoor outdoor living concept is that it should be celebrated with friends. Life is a celebration, and sometimes just getting together for some snacks and good wine is all it takes to revamp a summer slump. Invest in a proper tray to easily carry items from inside out. I use mine even for when we decide to enjoy dinner outdoors.
5. Invest in proper storage and care.
The worst thing that could happen is for you to do work hard putting all of this together and have it ruined by inclement weather. The coffee table in the photo above opens up for storage. We like to keep our furniture covers inside when we’re not using them, along with anything else that may be too fragile to be in the elements. Be sure to keep waterproof covers on everything and always pay attention to the finish. Your outdoor goods might need some cleaning and preservation from time-to-time.
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Indoor outdoor living design doesn’t have to be as complicated as you make it out to be. Hopefully with the tips above you will be able to master your outdoor space and have guests over in no time.
Do you have an outdoor area you use regularly? Any tips for indoor outdoor living?
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