Hygge for Two: Creating a Warm Valentine’s Day Atmosphere

Discover how to bring hygge into your Valentine’s Day with simple Scandinavian-inspired touches that make your home feel cozy, calm, and inviting for you and that special someone.

Creating a Shared Home

Hygge is much more than an aesthetic—it’s a feeling of connection. Making your home more hygge can itself be a hygge activity if you do it together. There are few things more romantic than picking out flowers, shopping for sheets and cushions, or painting the walls. If you’re not yet living together, inviting your partner to help with decorating your home can make them feel more included in your life.

Even more hygge than shopping for shared items is making them yourself—and we’ve got plenty of ideas for you in our Scandi DIY blog post. Among these, the most romantic include making your own candles, painting pottery or canvases at a paint-and-sip class, or creating the pottery yourself. “Ghost” soundtrack optional!

Lean into Red Tones

Valentine's doesn't only have to be for February, it can be year-round! As we mentioned in our 2025 trends post, warm, deep reds and terracotta tones are in—and this remains true a year later. Pink is also newly trendy in 2026 but think grown-up “dusty pink” rather than loud or baby pinks. If these colors appeal to you, why not use the most romantic month of the year to finally lean into them? Painting and decorating—paired with a cozy soundtrack and lots of baked goods (see below)—can be a lovely hygge activity to do together. Our Fugle duvet cover set celebrates Danish birds, many of which feature vibrant red and pink feathers, perfect for bringing those warm, lively tones into your bedroom.

Tactile Textures for Snuggling

A variety of touchable natural textures is essential for that cozy hygge feeling, whether that be on blankets, rugs or cushions. Get creative and combine wool, leather, furs, linen, jute and more—by the time you’re done, you’ll want to spend all your date nights at home!

Our soft linen duvet covers are made from tactile European linen, which has a beautiful loose weave. As with all linen, it's perfect for the summer months—but it's also brilliant for winter too. Thanks to linen's natural thermoregulating properties, it adapts in cooler weather, trapping warm air next to your body to keep you cozy during cold winter nights.

Romantic Lighting—Scandi Style

We've got a whole post on Scandinavian-style lighting, but how do you make it romantic? The principles are similar: keep it warm (2700K; less is even better), and use opaque shades to shape the light into intimate "zones" around the room.

And don't forget the most hygge and romantic lighting of all: candles! In Denmark, you'll find all sorts of candles: plain containers, colorful pillars, and twisted and curved designs. Browse popular brands such as Hem for inspiration.

Danish Baking: Cakes and Connection

Just as with decorating together, baking together can be a fun, romantic, and hygge activity—not to mention all the delicious smells that will fill your home once you're done! Some options for romantic hygge bakes include:

• Kanelsnegle (cinnamon swirls)
• Fastelavnsboller (filled buns)
• Hindbærsnitter (raspberry slices)
• Drømmekage (coconut-caramel “dream cake”)

Hygge: Not Just for Indoors

Many people believe that hygge is only for indoors but it can be felt outside, too. Hygge is all about the feeling of safety in contrast: being cozy in bed while a storm rages outside, or huddling under a heat lamp on a cold winter day while cradling a hot chocolate.

If you’re lucky enough to have outdoor space, get that fire pit going! Bring lots of cushions and blankets plus treats for cooking over the fire, such as smores or plain marshmallows.

If you want to go full Danish, you can make snobrød—“bonfire bread”, which you twist around a stick. Though it’s usually eaten at Midsummer, there’s nothing stopping you from trying it out on a date night! Similarly, Christmas may be over, but if you really like gløgg… let the romantic festive spirit continue.

Danish Music for Hygge Nights

“If music be the food of love, play on,” said Shakespeare—and we couldn’t agree more. Hygge music is all about warmth and coziness, making it the perfect soundtrack to a romantic February.

Jazz is always an excellent choice for candlelit dinners. Try the classic, romantic vocals of Sinne Eeg, or the velvet tones of Cæcilie Norby. If instrumental jazz is more your thing, try the enigmatic bass/keys duo of Bremer/McCoy, or stream the sparse arrangements of Svaneborg Kardyb for a contemporary vibe.

On the folk and pop side of things, Agnes Obel is a perennial hygge favorite (recommended by the hygge expert himself, Meik Wiking), but stick to her first, piano-led album Philharmonics, as her later albums get more dark and electronic. For something more upbeat and pop-flavored, try the singer-songwriter Tina Dico. Katinka, with her Robyn-esque beats, would be a great choice for fun craft or board game evenings.

Keep it Simple

In today's busy world, people feel under more pressure than ever to make special occasions perfect and often end up being less present with their loved ones as a result. Remember, connection is the most important part of hygge—more important than baked goods, music, or even candles. Choose just one or two tips from our list to try and otherwise focus on being present and connected with your special person.

For cozy bedtimes, we have just the thing: Scandinavian-style, European linen bedding, woven by artisans in Guimarães, Portugal. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, our printed and solid color duvet covers bring a subtle, romantic charm to your bedroom without needing any extra throws or cushions.

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Will you be decorating your home for the occasion, or planning any hygge bakes? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter!