Fun ways to get your summer hygge on

Nothing makes my heart sing more than when the kids embrace the values I so desperately try to instill in them. It’s now summer in the Pacific North West, which means everyone comes out of hibernation, dusts off the cobwebs and embraces nature. Yesterday one of our boys walked up to me and said with great concern in his voice: “Mom, how are we going to hygge now that fall and winter are over? I hope you have hygge ideas for summer.”

Oh, little one, do I ever! Hygge IS generally thought of as a cold-weather lifestyle, but nothing could be further from the truth. Hygge is a year-round celebration of togetherness, contentment and coziness. Pack up your heated blankets, fuzzy socks and wool sweaters and set them aside for another few months.

Right now it’s summer and we’ve got to get our hygge on – summer style!

 

This is the official hygge summer bucket list for anyone who wants to slow down and embrace the cozy! Here are 10 hygge ideas for the warmer summer months.

Take your meal outside

Picnics are a great way to get outside while still enjoying a nice meal! Instead of eating indoors when the sun is shining, shake things up by throwing a blanket on the ground, serve dinner on your best plasticware (which is our everyday ware, anyway) and eat among the clover and the ants. There’s also something about fresh air that makes the kids a bit more adventurous with their food choices.

Switch out your sheets

While “warm and fuzzy” is the goal during the cold winter months, staying cool and refreshed is the name of the game when the balmy summer evenings start. Having “seasonal” bedding is a fun way to redecorate your bedroom and also had comfort and hygge to your bedroom. I love lighter and brighter bedding colors and material during the spring and summer months.

*** Still wondering what this “hygge” talk is all about?! Check out our “Hygge Guide 101” for all your hygge related questions! ***

Get fresh flowers for your home

Pick colorful summer flowers and add them to your home for a nice home decor touch! Bring the outdoors inside after a long evening walk with your kids. Our kids LOVE picking wild flowers along the road and hiking trail as we talk about the day’s adventures. Once the flowers are proudly displayed on the dinner table, they serve as a reminder of our hygge-filled evening walks.

Get lost in nature

Go for a hike or take a long extended camping trip. Now that the days are longer, the evenings brighter, get outside and be one with nature. In my opinion, there’s no better place to reconnect with family and friends than in nature. Flashing digital notifications don’t matter much when the birds are chirping and the water is flowing down the river.

 

Lounge outside

Even if you can’t get out in the wilderness, step outside and soak up some vitamin D, but don’t forget to wear sunscreen. While sunburns are bad for your skin, a little unfiltered sunlight is great for your mental health and mood. There is nothing quite like sitting out in the summer sun! Relax and lay in the grass. Enjoy the summer breeze while you gaze at the sky. Sit on the patio and read a book if you don’t want to lay in the grass. (This is a list of my FAVORITE book-club-worthy books!) 

Enjoy your summer nights outdoors

It may be hot during the day, but at night, this is your time to shine! Head outside and catch lightning bugs or look at the stars. If it’s too hot where you live, take this time to spend outdoors so you don’t overheat during the day. A favorite childhood activity of mine, was to sleep in a tent in our backyard with a friend. I think our record was ten nights in a row in the tent – talk about “childhood hygge”!

Make homemade ice cream

Homemade ice cream will taste way better than anything you can find at the store! Indulge in a little bit of homemade ice cream on a hot summer day. There are a ton of great recipes out there that range from the simple flavors like chocolate or vanilla all the way to mango or banana pudding!

Host a bonfire

Invite friends and build a fire pit in your yard! If you don’t have one, consider finding a place where you can rent one instead. Hang out with friends and family and roast s’mores by the fire. If you want to make it a fun evening, consider having a potluck or grilling by the campfire! Our kids’ favorite summer memories with their grandparents are of them making s’mores by their fire pit as the sun set over the water behind them. The sticky fingers and chocolate covered chins are signs that hygge happened.

Go berry picking

This will be an experience you’ll be so glad you did! During the summer, most berries are in season! Take this time to go out and do some berry picking with your family. Enjoy the fruits of your labor by baking pies at the end of a long day.

Play backyard games

When was the last time you played a good game of badminton in the back yard, blew bubbles or had a water balloon fight? These activities aren’t just for kids. Run through a sprinkler, throw a football or dust off your jump rope skills. Summer is the perfect time to reconnect with your inner-child. Your kids will LOVE to hear your heartfelt laughter and experience backyard summer hygge.

Go to the beach or lake

Pack a towel, a few inflatables and sand toys and head to the water. Spending the day soaking in sun, floating in the water and playing in the sand is the perfect hygge activity for the entire family. Just remember to pack the sun screen and know you will end up with sand or small rocks in your car and someone will eventually complain that they are too hot and thirsty.

My personal secret to hygge, regardless of the time of year, is for you to “lower your expectations of what is considered perfection” and to go with the flow. Hygge happens at the exact time you embrace life’s imperfect moments.

*** Still wondering what this “hygge” talk is all about?! Check out our “Hygge Guide 101” for all your hygge related questions! ***

This summer, get outside, connect with friends and family over a badminton net, water balloon battle or a strawberry bush. Regardless of which activity you decide to do, be fully present and prepare to get your summer hygge on!