I have mixed feelings about the month of January. Some years, I can see it as an opportunity to really lean into being cozy, looking for what’s enjoyable within winter’s depths. (In the New York Times, Steven Kurutz recently suggested that “January is the best month.”) Early sundowns mean the opportunity to put my pajamas on before dinner. My reading habits change, as I immerse myself in tales tinged with a bit of darkness. I tuck myself and my cats inside a massive faux-fur blanket and drink copious amounts of tea.
But of course, January can also feel unendingly grim. The gallop of December festivities is over, my house looks woefully bare since the Christmas decorations have come down, and adding insult to injury, most of the U.S. has been gripped by Arctic temperatures in recent weeks.
This year, to ward off January’s potential for glumness, I decided to host a hygge party. (The concept of hygge, a Danish word that conveys a charming coziness, has gained increasing popularity in the U.S. in recent years.) Yes, it was barely two weeks after Christmas, but my guests nevertheless were excited for a reason to congregate. As my invitation said, “Let’s take this moment to gather together against winter’s dark and celebrate the warmth of friendship.”
Because the theme was comfort, I tried not to worry about making everything perfect. Mostly, I wanted to arrange things to help my friends feel warm and welcome in my home. Here’s everything I did to prepare, so you can do it too.
Keep the Circle Small
You don’t want to invite everyone you know to a hygge party. This is meant to be an intimate gathering, not a giant throw-down, where guests can cluster together and chat without needing to shout to be heard. For my event, I decided to limit my invitations to some of my closest female friends—a mix of people who knew each other well and a few friends outside this main group whom I wanted everyone else to meet.
Comfort Food
As I considered my party menu, I knew I wanted it to be easy for me to prepare and chock-full of deliciousness. Trader Joe’s is well-known for having a breadth of party-appropriate appetizers that only need heating in the oven before they’re served—I chose their mini quiches and pastry pups (a Parmesan puffed-pastry version of pigs in blankets). I also went old-school with a festive pecan and cranberry cheese ball, a classic Southern appetizer that can be easily customized according to the occasion. Some veggies with dip provided freshness, and for dessert, I paired lemon bars—another easy classic—with a molasses buttercream-frosted gingerbread cake, for that perfect contrast of citrus and warming spices.
Warming Drinks
Liquid refreshments at a hygge party can enhance the coziness as much as, if not more than, the food. I made a big batch of mulled wine—Ina Garten’s recipe is my go-to—in the slow-cooker and stacked mugs on the counter next to it so everyone could help themselves. Don’t forget about the people who may be doing Dry January: Mulled apple cider or a nonalcoholic hot toddy are good options for nondrinkers.
Candles, Candles Everywhere
A fire burning in the hearth or a woodstove can almost single-handedly create a hygge feeling. If you have a strictly decorative fireplace, consider using pillar candles—LED or real—inside to mimic the effect. (If your fireplace has a flammable flue stopper, remember to remove it before lighting real candles.) At this time of year, a few candles scented with fir and pine or even tobacco and woodsmoke pertinently evoke the outdoors. Elsewhere in the house, I like to put candles on any surface that will safely hold them; this includes setting out small vintage plates filled with unscented tealights, which I buy in bulk from IKEA.
Aim to make your party’s lighting feel understated without being dim. That means layering in levels of lighting using table lamps, wall sconces or even portrait lights—but definitely keep the harsh overhead lights off! Nothing kills the mood faster.
Other Elements to Create a Hygge Ambience
- Music: If your gathering is not too far removed from the holidays, a Spotify playlist like Cozy Winter Jazz could work well. I always like a good Classical Focus playlist. Kaleigh Tanner, a U.K.-based journalist who blogs frequently about hygge topics, has created Hello Hygge, a nearly 24-hour-long soundtrack. Essentially, you want your music to be low, pleasant and gently fill in the spaces around your guests.
- Conversation: To get everyone chatting—especially if the attendees, as at my party, do not all already know one another—conversation starters can be helpful. The Hygge Game offers 300 thoughtful, party-appropriate questions for people to consider and discuss. Another idea: a moderately complicated puzzle that can be completed before your party ends.
- Attire: Sometimes it’s fun to host a fancy party and ask your guests to deck themselves in cocktail attire. A hygge party is the opposite of this—you want everyone to arrive predisposed to feeling comfortable, especially if you’re really going in on the snacks. Let them know they’re welcome to wear their chunkiest, coziest sweaters, “soft pants” and thickest socks.
- Additional cozy considerations: On that note, you can prep a basket of comfy socks (clean, of course!) and slippers for your friends to borrow upon their arrival. You can also pile blankets into a basket for people to wrap themselves in as they get settled for the cozy evening ahead.
These suggestions are what worked for my party, but as you plan, it’s important to consider what feels restful and inviting to you. Again, the goal of a hygge gathering is not to drive yourself crazy making everything just-so (which I had to keep reminding myself). Rather, you are appealing to all the senses, creating a space in which people you love will feel warm and cared for—and this includes you as well.