Emma on Sustainable Function & Beauty at Home
AND EMBRACING A HYGGE LIFESTYLE
By Emma Peugh
Image: Unsplash
According to Merriam-Webster, 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 recent article 5 Interior Design Tips & Talking Space with Emma).
Lately, 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). 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 room and nook with pieces that were 100% functional and beautiful. No excess “stuff” or unnecessary accessories taking up space. Here are some examples: Hanging in our entryway is a light oak shelf holding a sustainable bamboo basket to store keys and sunnies. Sitting in our living room is a credenza hiding our small book collection 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 is a large wooden bowl that fits our warm aesthetic but provides 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 that do just that:
1. WEST ELM BAMBOO NESTING BASKETS
Four sizes, perfect for storing tiny odds and ends around the house. We use all four baskets in various locations in our own space, each of which truly elevates storage and aesthetic.
2. PARACHUTE FOUTA STRIPE HAND TOWEL
Simple, timeless, absorbent and durable. Hanging this hand towel in the bathroom or kitchen is sure to impress because of its effortless cool, cozy feel.
3. CITIZENRY MERCADO STORAGE BASKETS
Hiding away clutter like it's their job. Handcrafted & hand-braided out of palm leaves by a fair-trade cooperative 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.
4. PARACHUTE WASHED LINEN NAPKIN
Reduce waste at the dinner table while upping your elegance with ease. These linen napkins are endlessly reusable — just toss them in the washer after each meal. Talk about comfort, beauty and sustainability.
5. CITIZENRY HALSTON MUGS
Hand-thrown ceramics created in a fair-trade environment bringing an earthy, modern vibe to your coffee (or tea!) routine. I would display these on floating kitchen shelves as they add stunning decor to the space, while of course, being the most functional item we’ve listed.
While I don’t own all these pieces quite yet, they’re sure on my list of sustainable swaps. Remember, progress over perfection. Small, everyday choices make an incredible difference in your purchase power over years of sustainable decision making. 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 Fall and Winter approach, I’ll likely continue adding cozy, hygge-inspired elements to my space. 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 visual designer, forever drawn towards holistic living, beautiful relationships, vegan activism, and simple, daily pleasures. Creating a conscious life with her love is the ultimate goal, and she aims to make this world a better place, one thoughtful design at a time.
