In Denmark, they really know how to get cozy. The Danish word hygge (pronounced “hoo-guh”) means “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” Central to Danish culture, especially in the long winter, hygge is embodied by candlelight, sheepskin rugs, favorite slippers, cuddling up by a fire, warm conversation with dear friends — and tranquil, go-at-your-own-pace crafting.
This winter, add a bit of hygge to your life by taking time to create holiday ornaments for yourself and as gifts. Better yet, make a pot of hot chocolate, bake some cookies, and invite some loved ones to craft with you, maybe in your pajamas!
Here are 12 ideas for fun DIY decorations that will bring coziness to your heart and home. Just remember, you don’t have to do them all at once (that would be very un-hygge)! And if you get tired, take a very hygge nap under a flannel blanket by a fire (after you relax and floss).
12 Hygge Holiday Hang-Ups
1. Trim the Tree with Gelato
Turn the cute 2-Scoop box from our Gelato Shop — featuring an adorable pooch perched in a colorful gelato wonderland — into an ornament! Just open the box, loop a shiny thread (or even some fragrant Cocofloss!) through the top, close the box again, and voilà! You’ve got a sweet decoration that doubles as a reminder to take a well-deserved flossing break from the holiday festivities.
2. Game On, Santa
Use Scrabble tiles to spell out festive sayings such as “Let It Snow!” or “Merry and Bright!” Or delight a family member with a personalized gift. You don’t have to steal tiles for your beloved game — you can buy them online. Extra points if you manage to use “Q” or “Z” in a message with holiday spirit.
3. Sprinkle On Some Cheer
Repurpose leftover sprinkles from making sugar cookies to transform plain-jane clear ornaments into cheerful rainbow-colored globes (that will probably make you crave more cookies).
4. Clothespin the Red-Nosed Reindeer
OK, you may remember this oldie craft from preschool, but it’s still a goodie. Clothespins combine with a few well-chosen embellishments — a holly leaf, a garland “scarf,” some googly eyes, and a pom-pom — to create a mini reindeer that will make you shout out with glee! Yipee!
5. Invite Home a Cork Gnome
One reason to ❤️ this craft? It requires the corks from champagne bottles! So enlist the help of friends and sip some bubbly while you get creative with felt and a glue gun! After a glass or two, you might not care too much whether your cork gnome is on the crafting good list.
6. Origami Odyssey
Fold a map from a place you love into a flowery ornament that’s also an inspiration to travel.
7. Oh, Christmas Tree!
Kiddos could get in on this nature-inspired craft. Just choose a small stick, tie on some scraps of green ribbon in various lengths to emulate the branches of an evergreen, and attach twine on top as a hanger. Easy peasy on the tree-sy.
8. Size XXXXXXXXS
Make elf-sized mittens out of old sweaters — no knitting required. A string of pearly beads makes a pretty hanger for this extra hygge ornament (or leave the mittens out beside the cookies for Santa to take back for his tiny helpers!).
9. It’s Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas
Glue googly eyes and a red pom-pom to some cinnamon sticks and boom! You’ve got a reindeer ornament that will also make your house smell like Cinnabon. Even more, one study showed that the scent of cinnamon can improve attention and memory. So you definitely won’t forget to floss (or the name of your cousin's new girlfriend)!
10. Doughlightful to Dangle
If you’re a fan of decorating cookies, you’ll love making salt-dough ornaments. Children will, too — without the sugar-fueled mood swings that can make wee ones act like possessed elves.
11. Charming Charmin
It’s hard to believe that empty toilet paper rolls can be turned into a classy snowflake-shaped ornaments, but it’s true! Glitter adds an essential glamorous touch.
12. Festive on the Fly
Got 30 seconds? Take a pine cone. Hot-glue some twine to the top. Tie a big bow around it. You’ve got yourself an ornament. If you have another minute, glue some glitter on the scales. Now it’s festive and fancy!
Order by 12/16 to receive perfect gifts for pearly whites just in time for Christmas!
