Sustainable Function & Beauty at Home
By Emma Peugh
Hygge is a quality of coziness that makes a person feel content and comfortable. This Danish word, pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah, became a buzz-word years ago when the trend of cozy minimalism and Scandi-style graced homes across the world. I fell for this look, and I fell hard. My own home combines warm decor with So-Cal details while staying effortlessly minimal (read more on that in my article 5 Interior Design Tips & Talking Space with Emma).
Always inspired by the hygge lifestyle, I’ve added touches of coziness in each area of my home. Think aesthetically pleasing yet perfectly functional hand-towels in the kitchen and bathrooms, and blankets placed just about everywhere for cozy nights in (which is...every night with our one year old). This is the true meaning of functionality and beauty in the home — when the pieces you own double as beautiful decor and useful accessories.
When my husband and I purchased our first home, where we currently live in Columbus, Ohio, we decided to curate every space with pieces that were 100% functional and beautiful. No excess “stuff” or unnecessary accessories creating clutter to the eye. Here are some examples:
Hanging in our entryway is a light oak shelf holding a thrifted bamboo basket to store keys and sunnies.
Sitting in our living room is a credenza holding our son’s toys and several blankets (which in total transparency, our blankets were purchased years ago and are made out of polyester. Moving forward, when we need a new blanket, we plan to purchase 100% organic cotton blankets. Read why that's important here. Don't feel like you need to go out and replace everything you own with a sustainable swap. Best practices include making sustainable purchases when the time is right and you really need something new.)
Storing our produce in the kitchen are large bowls made from seagrass, wood and ceramic that fit our warm aesthetic but provide storage for 90% of the food we eat (hello all plant-based friends)!
These organized elements create a feeling of contentment and comfortability in my naturally minimal self because “stuff” isn’t overflowing anywhere. Talk about hygge! Regardless of your personal aesthetic, there are countless ways to mix function and beauty in your space.
Here are 5 sustainable, functional & beautiful, hygge home pieces from our SISTAIN collections that do just that. And yes, these are all in my home as well!
Signature Scent
1. ESSENTIAL OIL DIFFUSER
Choose a custom blend scent or simply use one. I have a charcoal Stone diffuser in my bedroom and a white one in my home office because nothing sets the tone of the space quite like a signature scent.
I’m also loving our organic soy LIT Candle Co. collection. They are incredibly clean, non-toxic candles made locally in Columbus, Ohio.
Scent of choice for my bright kitchen: Ginger + Cedarwood in a cream vessel
Scent of choice for my moody powder bath: Palo Santo in a charcoal vessel
Texture on Texture
2. LINEN THROW BLANKET
Simple, timeless and warm. I always have a blanket draped over a chair at my dining room table, the couch in my living room, as well as the couch in my home office. Having this cozy throw available at an arm’s reach shows you and your guests that comfort is provided at any moment.
Visually Pleasing Storage
3. MIXTA PALM TABLE BASKET
Baskets — hiding away clutter like it's their job. Handwoven table and floor storage from the state of Oaxaca in Mexico, these baskets are the perfect addition to the living room, entry way, or just about any corner to bring texture, warmth and storage to the space. I use mine for my son’s toys!
Hygge Bath
4. ORGANIC COTTON TOWEL SET
Stepping out of the shower or bath and wrapping up in a thick organic cotton towel is true luxury. They’re also gorgeous to hang on a towel rack when not in use. Talk about comfort, beauty and sustainability.
More bath time items I love, to really set the scene:
Cozy Drinkware
5. SMOOTH BEIGE HANDMADE CERAMIC MUG
Handmade ceramics created by Columbus, Ohio local ceramicist, Joshua Schottenstein, bring an earthy, modern vibe to your coffee (or tea!) routine. I display these on my floating kitchen shelves as they add stunning decor to the space, while of course, being the most functional item we’ve listed.
Remember: small, everyday choices make an incredible difference in your purchase power over years of sustainable decision making. Progress over perfection! Simply purchasing a home good, clothing item or beauty product that is #SISTAINapproved rather than mass-produced lands us one step closer to protecting the environment we live in.
As for creating function out of beautiful pieces in my home, that’s a journey that will never end. We can always do better, one step at a time.
Emma Peugh is a formally trained graphic designer, and SISTAIN’s Creative Director, drawn towards holistic living, beautiful relationships, plant-based eating, and simple living. Creating a conscious life with her family is the ultimate goal, and she aims to make this world a better place, one thoughtful design at a time.
