A SWEDISH GUIDE TO A COZY WINTER

November 23, 2021

A SWEDISH GUIDE TO A COZY WINTER

Nobody does winter like the Swedes. When the sky is dark and the air is cold, there is no place better than being cozy at home. A word that I heard all the time when living in Sweden was how cozy, mys, everything was. Staying in for the night? Cozy! Meeting up with a friend for fika? Cozy! Reading a book? Cozy!

Swedes are all about the cozy, and though I’ve been away for almost a year (!), there are definitely some habits that I have taken with me to make sure this winter is the coziest of them all.

Curious about Sweden’s cozy winter tips? Keep scrolling!

1. Make your home feel cozy

There’s a reason Scandinavian design is all about clean and fresh simplicity – when the world outside is dark and cold, a lot of time is spent indoors. It’s important to feel comfortable and inspired by the interior of your home, and this can be done by keeping it tidy, rearranging, getting rid of/donating things that aren’t bringing you joy anymore. And of course, use this extra dark time to bring out alllll the cozy candles.

2. Cultivate a cozy wardrobe

Spending more time inside means that comfortable, cozy clothes are a must. So bring out the fuzzy sweaters and soft pants, and of course a pair of good quality slippers (remember, Swedes don’t wear shoes inside) for ultimate coziness.

3. Fika like a Swede

I’ve talked about fika a few times on this blog, and winter fika is the coziest of them all! Whether you choose to meet a friend at a cafe or host them in your home, taking time out of your day to connect with a friend over a coffee and pastry makes these cold, dark days just a little bit sweeter.

4. Lean into all the cozy activities

This is something I’m sure we’ve all become a bit more familiar with over the last year, but winter is the perfect time to lean into all those cozy activities that you might not feel like doing in summer. Finish that knitting project, curl up with a good book, fall asleep under a pile of blankets, watch a film, or try baking some new recipes – all while enjoying the light of those candles in your cozy home.

5. Embrace the Darkness

Swedes aren’t afraid of the dark in winter, it’s just another fact of life. A mantra I heard many times was, ‘There is no bad weather, just bad clothing’, so as long as you’re prepared with the appropriate outerwear, winter doesn’t have to be so bad.

Want to know more about my life in Sweden? Check out my Sweden section in the menu under “Travel”. Curious about Swedish life in general? Be sure to take a look at my friend Tess’ blog Sweden and Me!

Talk soon,