Last updated on August 24th, 2022

The Danish know cozy. They have their own term, hygge (pronounced “HoOO-guh”), a craze that swept across the ocean, adopted by those looking to add a touch of cozy-homey-contented atmosphere to their own home. This concept can be described as a quintessential experience of sitting next to a roaring fire while curled up under a warm blanket with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a favorite book in hand. It is a general sense of well-being that stems from a quality lifestyle and appreciative perspective.

Here are a few ways that you can stylize your indoor and outdoor living spaces by using your fireplace as the centerpiece to amplify your hygge experience.  

Select and position your fireplace

Choosing the location and style of your fireplace is the first step to transforming your indoor-outdoor space into a relaxed hygge environment. Experts from Minneapolis-based Fiddlehead Design Group, Andrea Dixon Kurtz, and Jen Ziemer discuss three different ways to incorporate fireplace settings into your indoor-outdoor spaces, featuring our friends at Heat & Glo.

1. Create a focal point in a transitionally-styled space, perhaps right off the kitchen, or on a patio or deck. Incorporate innovative indoor-outdoor see-through fireplaces from Heat & Glo to connect adjoining rooms and spread warmth and pleasant ambiance throughout your luxury home.
2. Designate an area just for the fireplace. Include sophisticated elements or accented pieces such as a pergola in the background to act as a backdrop to your outdoor retreat. In a stand-alone space, the oversized outdoor fireplaces like Heat & Glo’s Castlewood can create a focal point around which to build your outdoor living room.
3. Enhance the zen-like mood of your favorite water-side spot or backyard retreat with modern linear shapes from Heat & Glo’s  Longmire or Lanai. Blend elements of fire and water to create an atmosphere of escape and tranquility.

Toll Brothers at Bent Creek, SC

Build from the floor up

Grounding your space is a must. Both Kurtz and Ziemer rave about the selection of indoor-outdoor rugs on the market, so finding one that’ll anchor your space and complement your fireplace is a solid second step after selecting your fireplace. When it comes to a poolside entertainment space, the ladies suggest embracing cement tile, which creates a grounding rug-like effect, adding warmth with beautiful patterning and is having a “huge moment” right now.

Mix-and-match furniture

“Gone are the days of the iron patio set,” says Kurtz, which is good news for hygge lovers. Access to custom-styled mixed-and-matched sets, once solely the domain of interior designers, is now available at mainstream retailers in weatherproof materials. And some furniture can work just as easily inside and outside, making it ideal for a transitional space. These pieces tend to be more modular, too, which allows for a setup that facilitates conversation and connection—important elements of feeling contented and cared for. Learn more about how to design your backyard retreat with our article featuring Restoration Hardware’s luxury outdoor decor.

Layer in lighting elements

Outdoor lighting, too, has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception. “It’s become really high fashion,” Ziemer says, jumping from twinkle lights to all kinds of strung lights, Edison–style bulbs, LED rope lights, chandeliers and more. Any of these can create an intimate, relaxed atmosphere, especially in concert with a fire. Read about how to set the scene for outdoor entertaining with our article featuring Progress Lighting.

Palomar at Pacific Highlands, CA

Layer with accessories

“What’s fun about outdoor spaces is that you can have fun with layering, and get cozy at night with blankets — and layer patterns, which we really love to do,” Ziemer says. Blankets, floor cushions and throw pillows make for easy seating options and create a nesting atmosphere, especially in front of the fire. “With that element of fire, it’s so cozy, and that brings it all together,” Ziemer says.

Bring indoor elements to an outdoor space

Pergolas, another big trend in outdoor rooms, offer a shot at opulence in the backyard and help define the space clearly; consider bluestone, pebble or rug flooring to anchor the look. Another option is to add indoor elements to the outdoor space, such as outdoor draperies or ornate mirrors over the fireplace. When you share a meal with friends and family, surrounded by comfortable furnishings, you create a special, fashionable hideaway perfect for shared memories.

Add greenery

Remember that even when you’re outside, adding a touch of greenery can breathe life and re-energize any space. Use plants to foster a connection to the environment and brighten up the area. Most importantly, enjoy the relaxing outdoor retreat that you have created. Visit Toll Landscape to learn more about how our award-winning team can help you design your backyard retreat to match your luxury Toll Brothers home.

Reserve at Colleyville, TX

For more information on how to create, or enhance your outdoor living areas check out our Outdoor Living and Technology in the Home Pinterest boards.

This article is based on Heat & Glo‘s  original story on “How to Hygge Your Outdoor Space.”