How to Bring Hygge and the Holy Spirit to Your Home Office

Working from home this year meant I needed a home office. Let’s be honest, it’s hard to focus when you are working on the couch or at the kitchen table. Luckily we had the extra space, so I took to making the space bedroom as soothing and Hygge as possible. My work space still needs a few final touches, but for now I am pleased with how it looks and feels as a work space. Please enjoy my tips below on How to Bring Hygge and the Holy Spirit to Your Home Office!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you decide to purchase any of these resources, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Many items photographed will be linked below.

First, before I begin allow me to define the idea of Hygge and the Holy Spirit.

Hygge (hoo-gah) is a Danish word that encompasses a feeling of coziness, contentment and well-being by enjoying the simple things in life. Ultimately, Hygge is meant to be felt. After these past few years (really my life thus far to be honest) I needed a little Hygge in my life. Hygge and the Holy Spirit, because like Abraham in Exodus 33 I cannot and will not go anywhere without the presence of Jesus.

Basically, just like the title of this site says, I needed to Be Still and Write.

1. Use Natural Materials

In Scandinavian countries where the practice of Hygge originated, winter is dark and gloomy. Scandinavians make the best of those dreary days by infusing nature into their homes.

Studies show that adding nature to your work space can greatly improve not only your productivity, but your overall health and mental well-being. So, with that in mind I utilized an oak office chair that has been with me since college. It’s over-sized and very comfortable. I also added a couple vine plants and a tiny succulent. As for the window I chose to have a sheer curtain in order to allow the most natural light possible.

Read more about nature in regards to productivity HERE.

2. Reflect What You Love

Hygge is a comforting sense of togetherness and surrounding yourself with the people and things you love most. Whatever fills your cup, that’s hygge. I have various photos of my family sprinkled throughout my office, as well as stacks of my favorite books on the shelf. There are also inspirational quotes on the walls and in the drawer of my desk.

3. Prayer

The most important thing you can do in your home office is to invite the Holy Spirit into the room. Ephesians 6:18 says “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” There is power in prayer. Pray over your office, your projects, and anyone with whom you work. Give all your anxiety and worry over to God in prayer and allow your office to be home to the Holy Spirit.

4. Nostalgia

Speaking of surrounding yourself with what you love, add a touch of nostalgia for a hygge-saturated home office. Nostalgia has been shown to counteract loneliness, boredom and anxiety. Hygge living is about comfort, and looking back on happy memories gives us just that. Sharing our past helps build stronger bonds. Just think about some of the deepest and most profound conversations you have had with those you love most. I guarantee nostalgia was involved.

To add a touch of the past to my office, my husband gave me Winnie the Pooh and Piglet stuffed animals. A.A. Milne is one of my favorite authors and my mother would read stories of Winnie and his friends to me before bed. Whenever I look up to those stuffed animals, I am reminded of that happy memory.

I also added a teapot to my decor in honor of Alice in Wonderland, another favorite story of mine. The teapot reminds me to dream impossible things.

My final touch of nostalgia for the office was a wooden ampersand or “and” sign. Though I can’t remember when or where, I once heard a story about a coach who selects players based on the end of their recruitment report. Once all their accolades had been mentioned, are they an “and” or a “but” For example: He has terrific speed, but he isn’t a team player. OR He has terrific speed and he supports his teammates on and off the field.

I desire to be of the ands and not the buts, and looking at the wooden ampersand reminds me of that decision.

5. Surround Yourself With Scripture

On the wall behind my desk is a metal sign that says Psalm 4:7 “you have filled my heart with greater joy.” I came across this verse at church one day and the words echoed through my mind over and over. For the rest of the day it was all I could think about.

The full scripture reads: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” In other words, no matter how amazing my life may be, only Jesus is enough. He alone can fill my cup. This passage of scripture is important to me, because with every year that passes I know one thing for sure. Jesus is better.

I also placed various other verses around my office and in my desk drawer to look at when I feel lost, frustrated or in need of a fresh start.

6. Be Organized

According to The Hygge Life by Gunnar Karl Gislason & Jody Eddy, “a hygge workspace is organized and inviting, free from distractions but rich in inviting atmosphere.” I’m a clean freak, highly organized individual and I used to think of this as a hindrance to creativity, but it doesn’t have to be. Ridding my work space of clutter satisfies the left side of my brain while freeing my right brain. I’m glad the practice of hygge includes organization.

7. Less is More

At first, the lack of furniture in my office or stuff in my office space made me think something was lacking, but in the invitation of coziness less is more. With less distraction, I am able to focus on my work and truly relax. Too much color affects productivity. For example, I made a conscious effort to choose pastel and white tones in my home office, because the color white reflects the idea of a clean slate, freshness, safety and clarity. For more on the psychology of colors, check out The Very Well Mind.

It’s also important not to pack every nook and cranny in your office space with stuff. Remember, less is more. If you aren’t using it or don’t need it, get it out of your way. Clear your space to clear your mind.

Where to find items pictured above:
White Desk
Bookshelf
Wooden ‘&’ (similar)
Winnie the Pooh
Piglet
Large Dry Erase Calendar (similar)
Floor Lamp
Blue Sheer Curtain (similar)
Small Square Dry Erase
Small Square Cork board
Large Blue Jar

I hope you enjoyed these tips on How to Bring Hygge and the Holy Spirit into Your Home Office. Work can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. If we practice Hygge and allow the Holy Spirit to saturate our entire lives, our work can be both productive and peaceful. Check out related content below:

The Most Productive Tips for Working From Home
14 Day Beginners Guide to Hygge Living
10 Practices That Will Revolutionize 2020
28 Things I Have Learned in 28 Years

As always, if you have any questions feel free to send me an email or message me on Instagram. Follow @bestillandhygge on Pinterest for more travel tips and tricks and subscribe below for new content every week.

Love Always,