Hygge for Restaurants: Get Cosy With This Top Interiors Trend
Regularly listed amongst the world’s happiest countries, Denmark’s hygge approach to life has been adapted all over the world and if you’re an Instagram user, you’re sure to have spotted more than a handful of photographs in your feed bearing the #hygge hashtag – typically of snug-looking interiors, with big, chunky blankets, flickering candles, and big, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, artfully positioned beside an inviting-looking armchair or big, comfortable bed.
As the very essence of hygge is a sense of satisfaction, eating and drinking (with good friends of course) are very much part of the pathway to hygge, and so many restaurants, cafes and bars are setting out to make their interiors (and menus) more cosy and welcoming for customers. Hygge is certain to be one of the biggest restaurant design trends for 2017, and it’s incredibly easy to interpret in your own way – below we’ll share our tips on how to make your restaurant more hygge, from the lighting and décor, right down to the food itself.
Light up the room
Soft lighting is an easy way to achieve hygge, and candles often take the place of artificial lights in Danish homes after sundown. To make your restaurant glow, think large pillar candles in contemporary candle holders, such as this Living Nostalgia Wire Frame Glass Lantern by KitchenCraft that perfectly encapsulates the sleek Scandinavian style trend.
Dim the lights and add candles to each of your tables, as well as grouping them together around the room to create bursts of flickering lights. Or if you’d prefer to not have open flames in your restaurant, cafe or bar, battery-operated LED candles, strings of white fairy lights or low-hanging ceiling lights make the ideal alternative.
Be warm and welcoming
Especially in the winter months, restaurant and bar customers look to be warmed up. A stiff drink can do the trick, but in the name of hygge you should look to provide other cosy comforts such as touchable textured knitted blankets for customers that want to settle in for the evening, faux fur cushions or throws over the backs of chairs, and certainly a roaring log fire if you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace to make use of.
If you’d consider changing the colours of your establishment in pursuit of hygge, don’t be deceived by the thousands of Instagram images of grey and monochrome interiors with pure white walls. Neutral colour schemes are calming and especially favoured by Scandinavians, but pastels and other muted colours can be used, as well as splashes of colours that align with your branding – or make a statement with warm metallics such as copper, another big trend in interior design for 2017.
Share and share alike
Eating alone can be delightful, but dining and drinking together with much-loved friends is closely associated with hygge by the Danish – so if your restaurant already features a sharing menu or is configured to accommodate group dining, such as with large bench seats or tables, you’re already tapping into the hygge trend!
‘Happy moments’ are a principle of hygge, and comfort foods such as deep bowls of pasta, soups, stews or even nourishing oatmeal or smoothie bowls all fit the bill – read our post on the current ‘bowl food trend’ for some restaurant menu inspiration. Hot drinks, including tea, fresh coffee and indulgent hot chocolate are also thought to be ‘hyggelig’, so invest in some large mugs that feel good to hold in the hands, especially against cold fingers, such as our Artisan Coast Mug or Coast Cappuccino Cup. With its rustic, hand-thrown appearance, and five ranges to choose from, our exclusive Artisan collection of tableware is the perfect match for a hygge restaurant interior.
Are you feeling inspired by the hygge interiors trend, and how will you be incorporating it into your restaurant or bar décor? We’d love to hear your hygge tips, so leave us a comment below or send us a tweet @BunzlLockhart.
Leave a comment