In 2016/17, the hottest trend in home décor was hygge, but get ready for the next big thing, as lagom is set to take over! Hygge centred itself around feelings of ultimate comfort and happiness, with soft, cosy blankets, fluffy cushions and warming cups of hot chocolate and tea. Lagom, on the other hand, is more of a lifestyle approach which is all about balance. Could lagom be the trend for you? Keep reading to find out more…
What is Lagom?
The Swedish word lagom means not too little and not too much; it’s all about finding a balance. It can be applied to pretty much anything, from sweets and treats to home décor and your work/life balance. It’s largely related to sustainability movements, encouraging those who embrace it to look at their everyday lives and see how they could make small changes for the better. Lagom is an ethos, a way of life, rather than simply a trend. This lifestyle has already peaked a great level of interest in 2017, with a 53% increase in searches for the term, and companies such as IKEA have already launched their own Lagom Live range!
Why Should You Embrace Lagom?
It is a well-known fact that the Swedish are one of the happiest nations in the world, and that is partly thanks to lagom. If you choose to embrace the latest trend, then you will be bettering yourself for the present and the future. You can start off small, introducing lagom into one section of your life, or one room at a time until you find ultimate balance overall. This lifestyle not only helps you to achieve happiness but also motivates you to think more about your choices and their effects on the environment.
How Can You Embrace Lagom at Home?
1. The first step to take is to de-clutter. Rid your home of all the unnecessary items that are stashed away and give them away to charity or recycle where possible. A good rule to adopt if that if you’ve not seen or used an item for more than six-months, it’s probably time to go.
2. You may find that a natural second step is to re-decorate, getting rid of or up cycling any out-dated or garish furniture, paint and wallpaper and replacing it with something more balanced! Opt for neutral tones that will work well with your furniture and pair them with a feature colour for soft furnishings or pops of vibrancy. Why not take a look at our printed wallpaper and design your own feature wall?
3. The final step that we’re suggesting is investment in quality items. When you next decide that you need a new piece of furniture, a new kitchen or new bathroom, keep these things in mind:
- How much can you afford to spend? Give yourself a reasonable budget.
- What does that item add to your home and to your life? Will it make your life easier? Bring you happiness?
- How long will the item(s) last? If it will only last for a few months, then you may want to consider saving up a little more money and buying something of a higher quality.
- Always buy sustainable when you can. From sustainably sourced items to those that will help you to help the environment, lagom encourages you to think about all the impacts these things will have.
- Adopt a ‘one-in-one-out’ methodology; you cannot buy something new until you have gotten rid of something you no longer need.
Will bringing a sense of lagom into your life be your resolutions for 2018? Let us know via our social media channels!