One of the most sought-after and Instagram-worth interior décor styles right now is hygge.

So what is Hygge? It’s a Danish concept focused on quiet comfort with neutral and warm color palettes, plush textures, natural greenery, and a general sense of coziness. If you’re wondering how it’s pronounced, it’s hoo-gah, and it doesn’t actually have a literal translation. It’s more of a feeling.

The use of the word dates back to the 1800s as it started to appear in Danish writing, stemming from a Norwegian word that meant well-being. It was originally a noun hundreds of years ago, but a few years ago, it became more of a lifestyle concept.

Hygge can actually include many elements of your life, but the most common association is home design and décor. This is because we spend much of our time at home, and the things that tend to make us happiest and most comfortable are usually found there.

One is the use of comfortable textiles and fabrics. Since you want to be comfortable, this means you layer blankets and have rugs that feel good under bare feet. With layering, you get the visual benefit of depth, but you also have the ability to adjust the environment to whatever feels comfortable to you at the moment.

A beautifully made bed, for example, can be a great example of hygge in action.

The scent of your home can be a key player in evoking a sense of hygge. Things like warm, burning candles feel instantly homey and inviting, and it’s also giving you a chance to thoroughly enjoy life’s simple pleasures. A fireplace during the wintertime is similar.

Gentle, soothing lighting that’s adjustable can be well-suited to hygge interior design, and other tips and inspiration include:

• Your environment should include elements of nature, like earth tones, to avoid feeling cold or sterile. Earth tones create a sense of tranquility and warmth.
• Combining old and new furniture pieces is central in Danish culture and often to hygge. Hygge style emphasizes the idea of less being more, so quality craftsmanship is a priority rather than having a lot of more cheaply made pieces.
• Also, in line with the concept of less is more, it gives your spaces some breathing room. You don’t have to fill every wall or floor space with something. You want ample space because the idea is that it creates more free space within your mind.
• Well-placed textures can give more depth to a hygge space without making it feel cluttered or overly dramatic. Fabrics and materials that the Danish often use to warm up their signature minimalist styles include linen, wool, cotton, wood, and leather.
• If you’re accessorizing a space, consider bringing in elements that feel special to you and make you feel good. Maybe this is an important piece of art to you, a family travel photo, or the occasional family heirloom.
• Think more about harmony than anything else. You don’t necessarily have to be laser-focused on one particular style if you’re creating something that feels pleasant and harmonious.

Finally, we tend to associate hygge with those cold-weather Danish winter months, but you can continue to appreciate this style in the warmer months. You might use greenery to bring the outside in rather than using your fireplace as an example.