10 ways to embrace ‘hygge’ in NC this winter

Hygge is all about stopping to smell the roses, as the old saying goes. Read up on these 10 ways to make your winter life a touch softer and cozier.

You may have heard the Danish word “hygge” used in conversation and not known exactly what it meant, and that’s okay! That’s what we’re here for.

Hygge is a concept that’s rooted in Denmark’s culture—so much so that there’s even a page dedicated to it on the country’s official website. Pronounced like “hooga,” hygge is all about cozy energy and vibes. It’s about “taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about – or even by yourself – to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures,” per Denmark’s website.

Naturally, this is something we all need stateside. The U.S. prioritizes work above most other aspects of life, making burnout and exhaustion badges of pride rather than signs of an overworked populace. With a little hygge in your life, you can indulge in some guilt-free self-care that may just recharge your physical and social batteries.

It’s worth noting that hygge doesn’t have to mean the same thing for everyone, but it’s generally characterized by burning candles, warm socks, calming cups of tea or coffee, soothing baths, fluffy robes, watching a good movie—the list goes on. It could even be getting a coffee with a friend and walking around your local park. Still, while you can do something personal to you, there are some general ways to get in on the hygge that are specific to North Carolina. Here are our top recommendations.

1. Escape into a film at a local movie theater

Sure, there’s something amusing about going to AMC to see Nicole Kidman’s beloved pre-show ad, but there’s also magic in visiting your local movie theater. Sadly, local theaters are a dying breed, but they still exist—and could benefit greatly from your visit. It’s a win-win, really, so you can feel extra good as you sink back into your chair with fresh popcorn and a crisp drink. Some top-rated options in North Carolina include Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh, Marbles IMAX, and Carolina Theater.

2. Light a locally made candle

Lighting a good candle instantly sets a calming mood, whether you’re soaking in a bath, writing some poetry, baking cookies, or anything in between. This is especially true in the winter, when the sun sets so early. It’s even better when you support local makers, too. One example is BraveWorks, a hand-poured candle company based out of Charlotte. You can visit its physical shop Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm or order candles online. This way, a relaxing evening is never more than a click away. (We even noticed that the company offers 20% off of folks’ first orders after they sign up for its newsletter!)

3. Dopamine dressing and coziness go hand in hand

We all know that swaddling ourselves in a cozy robe and slipping on fuzzy socks is comforting, but you need to consider the colors you wear, too. Enter dopamine dressing, a concept that went viral on TikTok a couple of years ago and purports to help people feel happy through wearing brighter clothing. There are clear links between colors and moods, after all.

This isn’t to say you can’t feel cozy while wearing black or beige socks, but if that’s all you normally wear, you may want to try switching things up to see how it makes you feel. One great example of colorful, North Carolina-made socks is Solmate Socks. The company has been producing socks in Hickory for two-and-half decades, and its zany colors and patterns are bona-fide mood-boosters, if you ask us.

4. A warm drink makes the North Carolina winter a touch more bearable

Whether you prefer coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, a warm drink is all you need to warm you from the inside out in the winter. That warmness instantly raises your cozy factor and can help you feel like life doesn’t have to go a thousand miles an hour all the time. Luckily, North Carolina has some dedicated shops you can support when embracing hygge this winter.

First, there’s the Asheville Tea Company. There, you can purchase teas containing everything from lavender to cocoa nibs and pumpkin spice (at least seasonally). There’s also the Snow Day tea, which features mint and hot chocolate flavors and is about as perfect as a cold-weather sip can get. For those who prefer a pipin’ hot cup o’ joe, there’s Oak & Bond Coffee Co. in Charlotte. The world is your oyster there, as you can get your hands on cold brew, barrel-aged coffee, traditional beans, and more. Prepackaged hot chocolate may feel a little harder to find from specialty small businesses, but if you have a local grocery store in your area, purchasing your Swiss Miss there instead of, say, Walmart still benefits your local economy and community.

5. Holiday light displays unite many elements of hygge

By now, we’ve covered wearing cozy clothing, drinking warm beverages, and spending quality time with those you love. What’s the best way to do that in the winter? Going to a holiday light display in your cutest cozy outfit, café cup in hand!

Some of North Carolina’s best light displays begin as early as mid-November, so you can embrace hygge as early or late in the winter as you’d like. Some top contenders for the 2025 season include Mike’s Farm’s Festival of Lights, Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum, the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, and Winterlights at Elizabethan Gardens, though these are only scratching the surface of the state’s many displays. For a fuller list, click here.

6. Visit your local pet shelter

Many animals get brought to shelters in the winter, as people naturally worry that any animal they see on the street might be cold or a stray. One of the coziest things you can do, therefore, is visit your local pet shelter. Yes, you can wear cozy clothing and get a warm drink before or after, but more importantly, you can volunteer to help the shelter’s staff care for the animals, which will make you feel really good. Plus, getting to pet a lot of little cuties is always nice.

7. Set some time aside to try a new recipe

We’ve all saved a thousand recipes from Instagram and TikTok only to never make them. But in the winter, you can easily embrace hygge by actually committing to trying one of them. Start with a clean kitchen, light some candles, have a delicious drink prepared to sip on, turn on your favorite playlist, and you’re set to have a grand time.

To take this experience up a notch, why not try a beloved local dish? You could try frying homemade Calabash seafood, making your own East and West North Carolina-style BBQ for the ultimate taste test, or throwing together a sizzling cobbler that will pair perfectly with a scoop of ‘nilla ice cream.

8. Or try an old-faithful recipe

Don’t want to try something new? We get it—not everyone’s into experimenting in the kitchen. If that’s you, then you could simply fall back onto your favorite childhood recipe, or even one you’ve grown to rely on as an adult. If it brings you comfort, that’s all that matters. Better yet, you could make that batch of grandma’s cookies and then share them with her or other family members, reminiscing on all the good memories you all share. That’s about as heartwarming as it gets.

9. Scrapbooking and journaling are perfectly poignant winter activities

Picture this: Snow is gently falling outside your windows, steam is lifting off of a hot drink next to you, and a scrapbook is coming together piece by piece in front of you. If this were a warm-weather list, we might recommend going for a hike to clear your head, but for winter, we’re getting sentimental with journaling and scrapbooking. Plus, you can support local hobby and craft stores when you stock up on swanky pens, cute stationery, and more. Carrboro’s North Carolina Crafts Gallery and Fayetteville’s Crafts Frames & Things are two great local options.

10. Gather the family for a round of board games

Scrapbooking and journaling tend to be solo pastimes, and while video games can be quite independent (though they don’t have to be—we’re looking at you, “Mario Kart”), board games easily open the door to group fun. Bake some cookies, light some candles, pass the coffeepot around, and then roll the dice. The fun is endless.

In North Carolina, there are plenty of local businesses to support on this front, but you do have to know where to look. To buy your games locally, check out stores like The Gamer’s Armory in Cary, Your Local Game Store in Mint Hill, and Gaming Underground in Archdale.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Related: 12 things that belong on every North Carolinian’s winter bucket list