How to Hygge in Summer: Simple Ways to Slow Down and Savor the Season
I think the summer months are the perfect time of year to embrace Hygge, the Danish concept of being cozy. The Danes use the term Hygge, which roughly translates to happiness or coziness.
Hygge in summer is all about comfort, enjoying a picnic at sunset, with a basket full of yummy food (and desserts!) and a few soft pillows.
Sounds a little awkward when you say out loud right? Hygge (hoo-gah). That’s right, you’ve got it! Essentially, what I want to do is demonstrate how Hygge is a great way to improve your daily life.
What Does Hygge Mean in Summer
Hygge isn’t only about candles, blankets and long dark winters. In summer it’s all about the simple joys, a vase of wildflowers on the kitchen table, the warmth of the afternoon sun in the backyard or a balcony (like me! )
How to Hygge in Summer Without Making It Complicated
Summer Hygge is all about enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Perhaps it going to your child’s baseball game and cheering them on. Planning a backyard BBQ over the long weekend.
Having the neighbours over for dessert in the early evening to enjoy the summer scents and cool breezes. Our granddaughters love outdoor movie night. That’s very Hygge to me.
Create a Cozy Summer Morning Routine
One of my favourite rituals during summer is my morning routine. This includes getting cozy in my comfy chair, writing in my gratitude journal often in the outdoor reading nook I’ve created on our balcony.
You can easily create an inviting atmosphere with any small space.
Other ideas for you to create summer Hygge experiences include:
- Seeing the joy on your child’s face when he hits the baseball with his bat.
- Camping under the stars and watching the amazing beauty of the night sky.
- Biting into a big juicy slice of watermelon at your weekend BBQ party.
- Spending time in the garden, enjoying the fresh air, and perhaps even reading a good book.
So what does summertime cozy-ness mean to you?
How to Enjoy Hygge in the Summer
Here’s a checklist of fun things that will help you get some Hygge moments into your summer plans. We’ve put these together just for you, to enjoy during the warmer months.
Hygge Summer Vacations
That’s on top of everyone’s list I’m sure. A summer cottage, visiting Grandma, driving across the country in search of the best summer festivals. Camping is always jam packed with adventures for young and old alike.
We love camping so much we decided to live in our RV full time! And full time RV life has its perks! Campfires, toasting marshmallows, and making s’mores are regular events at our trailer site.
There is a sign in the park that’s been hand written on an old board that says:
Kind of says it all doesn’t it?
Potlucks & BBQs
Summer hygge includes getting together with friends and family for Potlucks and BBQs to celebrate milestones and national holidays like the Fourth of July or Canada Day.
Host a BBQ party in your backyard. to share food, laughter and friendship. Check out our complete Long Weekend BBQ Party Planner guide. Take a juicy cherry pie to your next potluck and make new friends.
Take a Nap
Not the most imaginative summer Hygge idea, but every summer afternoon deserves a good nap. And I can’t think of a better place than a hammock underneath a huge shade tree, for some ZzzzzZzzzz… a big hammock means there is room for two. Such a simple pleasure.
Want a Gentler Start to Your Week?
Want a simple way to carry this cozy summer feeling into the week ahead? The Cozy Sunday Reset Guide helps you plan gently, tidy lightly, and make room for slower moments — without overcomplicating your Sunday.
Exercise your Green Thumb
For some, an afternoon of gardening brings its own special joy and happiness. There’s something about getting your hands dirty, digging into the soil, and tending to plants that just makes you feel good.
And on a hot summer day, nothing quite beats the feeling of coziness that comes from being surrounded by the greenery and blooms of your garden.
From fresh herbs and vegetables to beautiful wild flowers, there’s so much joy in experiencing something you’ve nurtured and cared for grow and flourish.
Summer Reading List
After working all afternoon doing yard work, a refreshing dip in the pool or lake nearby, and once you’ve cooled off, grab that bestseller off the top of your book list and tuck in, perhaps even with a glass of wine or a hot chocolate. Think about your self care and how good it will make you feel!
Reading should definitely be a big part of your new Hygge lifestyle. It’s the perfect way to relax.
Be a Kid Again
If the kids are cranky, gather them up and find the neighborhood ice cream truck! Remember that sound? Ice cream cones in the summer heat are the absolute best, when the ice cream melts so fast you can’t keep up!
And when it comes to Hygge activities, have you tried making your own ice cream? Nothing beats the creamy goodness of homemade ice cream, and it’s a great relaxing activity during those long days.
Summer Festivals & Tours
We all know that festivals can be super fun and high-energy with their outdoor concerts, but did you know they can also be a chance to chill out and unwind?
Some festivals even focus on wellness and spirituality, offering things like yoga or meditation sessions to help you find your inner zen.
There’s also food festivals and tours, which are delicious ways to explore different cuisines, try new delicious food, and indulge in all your favorite treats.
Have you ever taken a Butter Tart Tour? Yes there really is such a thing. Butter tarts that have ooey gooey syrupy centers, running up your arm after the first bite. I do make a mean butter tart, I must say. It’s a tradition in our family.
Be a Sports Fan
Pack some snacks and drinks and head out to the neighborhood baseball field to watch your kids (or grandkids) play ball. It just makes you feel so darn good inside! So much cheaper than a major league game, and oh so satisfying… think of all those pics for sharing!
Give Back to Someone Special
Taking the time to visit one of your elders, and if possible, getting them outside to enjoy a lovely garden, or breezes by the lake. Many retirement homes and hospitals have volunteer programs for this. Time well spent.
And remember, it’s always a good time to get in touch with a close friend.
Make Time for You
Waking up really, really early in the morning, making a cup of iced coffee, grab your journal and a blanket and head outside to write your morning pages.
Maybe even catch the sunrise, as it’s peeking over the lake, or wherever your special place is. Getting some natural light in the mornings brings me the most joy. It’s the little things that matter in life.
Watch the World Go By…
Spend an afternoon at your local library or favorite book store and stock up on your summer reads. Summer is the perfect season to dawdle for hours, maybe sit down and check out the best sellers, or just people watch.
Summer Nights are Special
Catch fireflies at night with the kids and put them in jars. We don’t often see fireflies in our neck of the woods, but sometimes, on a hot, sultry evening, they appear.
As I’ve said before, that is why I love the South so much, especially the Carolinas. There’s just so much opportunity for quality time during the good weather on those longer days.
Be a Storm Watcher
My first memory of watching thunderstorms was as a young girl, sitting with my cousins on their front porch.
Seeing the lightning zigzag across the sky, followed by the big boom that would make us squeal with delight. They’re a great bit of excitement during the summer season.
I’ll never lose my enjoyment of watching them – from a safe distance of course.
More Cozy Living Ideas
Final Thoughts: Make Summer Feel a Little Softer
Summer doesn’t have to be packed full of plans to feel special.
Sometimes the best parts of the season are the quiet ones — a cold drink on the porch, supper outside, fresh sheets on the bed, a walk after dinner, or a little time with the people you love.
That’s really what summer hygge is all about. It’s not about doing more. It’s about noticing what’s already here and making room to enjoy it.
Choose one or two ideas from this list and try them this week. Light the candle. Put the lemonade in the pretty glass. Take your book outside. Make an easy dessert. Let summer feel slower, sweeter, and a little more cozy.
Grandma Judy
Want a simple way to carry this cozy summer feeling into the week ahead? The Cozy Sunday Reset Guide helps you plan gently, tidy lightly, and make room for slower moments — without overcomplicating your Sunday.
Judy Kahansky
Judy Kahansky is an experienced writer and baker, creating delicious desserts (including pie!) for over 40 years. She loves to take classic and vintage recipes and update them to fit the busy lives of her readers. When not baking, Judy and her husband Mark are passionate golfers, enjoy the simple life, and are travelers and dog lovers, spending as much time as they can with their sweet pup Ruby.
