In case it had escaped your attention, it’s pretty cold outside right now in the UK. We had a little smattering of snow today, and there are no signs of shaking off the winter chill anytime soon. These long dark winter nights make me want to hibernate in a cosy little nest, and it reminded me of a photo I took last winter, which I feel perfectly encapsulates hygge on a micro scale.

Creating a hygge space doesn’t mean a total revamp of your home. It’s very easy to start small. Little scented candles (I go for Yankee Candles in foodie scents, like Salted Caramel and Vanilla Cupcake) are ideal for this purpose. As well as smelling comforting and homely, they also cast a pretty, flickering glow. If, like me, you don’t have a working fireplace, just this tiny sliver of fire can give an extra hint of much-needed warmth – especially if you light lots at the same time.

There is also ivy climbing around the bird cage. I think foliage plays an important part in a room abundant with hygge. It takes the edge off the uniformity of modern home design, and I find it hugely reassuring having living things in my environment which rely on me. There is no room where plants don’t belong, and I may well write a post in the near future about bringing a bit of green hygge to your home.

The final thing to note about this image is the colour palette. The last thing I want to do when I come in from the cold is to sit in a stark white room (or, indeed, whenever I come inside in general – minimalism is not my thing). It doesn’t mean getting the paintbrushes out, but it’s very easy to introduce warm tones on a budget – a rug, a throw, a cushion, whatever. Start small. There’s no point in rushing your nest.