Hygge in the bathroom: how to make it cosy

Cold tiles, harsh ceiling light, three half empty bottles on the edge of the bath and a bar of soap sitting in its own puddle: not exactly cosy. If you are searching for hygge, that is probably what you want to change. Here is what the word really means and how to give your bathroom a calm, Scandinavian feel that makes you want to linger on a dark November evening. In a rented flat too, without drilling.

What does hygge mean?

Hygge (roughly pronounced "hoo-guh") is a Danish word that originally comes from Norwegian. It describes a feeling of comfort and contentment: warm light, a blanket, a cup of tea, people you do not need to impress. In everyday Norwegian you are more likely to hear "koselig", which means something very similar. So hygge is not a style you can buy in a furniture shop. It is a mood, and furniture and decor simply help it happen.

There is a simple reason why Danes and Norwegians care so much about it: in winter it gets dark very early. If you spend long hours indoors, you make them pleasant. That fits a British or German November rather well.

Hygge in the bathroom: 7 ideas

1. Warm light instead of spotlights

The bright light by the mirror is for shaving or make up, not for unwinding. In the evening, a second warm light source is enough: a small lamp with a warm white bulb (around 2,700 kelvin), a rechargeable lamp or a few candles in glass holders. Never leave candles burning unattended, and keep them away from towels.

2. Wood and warm materials

Tiles and ceramics feel cool. A wooden stool beside the bath, a slatted wooden bath mat or a small wooden tray instantly warm the room up. Choose wood that copes with moisture, such as oiled teak or acacia, and let it dry out now and then.

3. Soft textiles

Thick towels, a dressing gown on a hook, a washable cotton rug. Keep the colours muted: sand, grey, sage, off white. And the free hygge trick: hang your towel over the radiator before you shower. Once you have stepped into a warm towel, a cold one feels like a punishment.

4. Clear surfaces

What makes a Scandinavian bathroom recognisable is how little is lying around. Put away anything you do not use every day and gather the rest in a basket. Many people swap the row of bottles on the bath for one bar of soap and one shampoo bar. Fewer labels in sight, more calm for the eye.

5. Soap on the wall, not in a puddle

Solid soap has one catch: in a dish it goes soggy, and on the edge of the bath it leaves a slimy mark. With Soapi it hangs on the wall instead. You press a bottle cap halfway into the soap, the magnet in the Soapi holds it, and the soap dries all round. The shelf and the edge of the bath stay clear and clean.

Soapi sticks to tiles, glass or mirrors with a waterproof adhesive pad, no drilling needed. It is not meant for painted or wallpapered walls. You can hang the soap straight away. To be honest, Soapi is not Scandinavian but made in Berlin. The housing is injection-moulded from recycled plastic, around 90 % of which comes from discarded fishing nets and ropes. It still suits the calm look, for example in cream white, grey or mint, for €12.95.

6. Something green

Plants that like humid air feel at home in the bathroom: ferns, pothos or spider plants. No window? Hang a bunch of eucalyptus or pine sprigs from the shower rail. It looks lovely and gives off a light scent when you shower.

7. One scent and a small ritual

One scent is plenty, five compete with each other. A lavender soap, a candle, the phone stays outside. If you want to turn that into a whole evening, read our home spa ideas.

Making a rented bathroom cosy

Most hygge ideas need no tradesperson: rechargeable lamps, hooks and holders with adhesive pads, baskets instead of new cabinets, textiles instead of new tiles. Stick things to smooth surfaces such as tiles or glass, and moving out will not be a problem. If you are shopping for a friend who has just moved in, there are more ideas in our housewarming gifts.

Mix & Match: your small hygge set

If you want to refresh your own bathroom or someone else's: with Mix & Match you choose 5 products and pay €50, with free shipping within Germany. For example two Soapis in cream white, a bar of soap, the Skargard birch shampoo bar and a children's soap. That works out at €10 per item.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between hygge and lagom?

Hygge is about cosiness and comfort. Lagom is a Swedish word meaning roughly "just right", not too much and not too little. In a bathroom the two work well together: make it warm, but do not fill it up.

Does Soapi hold in the shower?

Yes, the adhesive pad is waterproof and holds securely on smooth tiles, glass and ceramics. The holder itself cannot rust, because the magnet is fully enclosed in plastic.

In short

Hygge in the bathroom does not need a renovation: warm light, a bit of wood, a warmed towel and clear surfaces, with the soap on the wall rather than in a puddle. Put your set together with Mix & Match, and if you are still looking for a present with a Nordic feel, have a look at our Scandinavian gift ideas.