"Lagom" is the Latest Home Trend For People Who Enjoy the Simple Things in Life
By now you've probably already heard of hygge-the Danish lifestyle trend that supposedly will cure your winter blues by attempting to reach peak coziness. But some people are already sick of this obsession with throw blankets and candles, not to mention the constant chatter about "hoo-gah" since all those books and articles were published in the last few months.
Among the many good reasons to be in Norway just now: avoiding all the British people who want to talk about #hygge.
- dull thud (@dullthud) December 30, 2016
If you're totally over hygge, we've found another Scandinavian concept might be more your style. Lagom is a Swedish word that roughly translates to "just the right amount" in English. Pronounced 'lar-gohm,' this term is more about frugality and striking a balance in your daily life between work and relaxation.
The idea behind lagom is "not too much of one-or-the-other, but more a Goldilocks 'just right'," Kathleen Bryson, a PhD candidate in evolutionary anthropology at University College London, told the BBC.
While this might sound a lot less fun than hygge, keep in mind that hygge and lagom don't have to be mutually exclusive. Look at it this way: lagom is about how you live your life on a daily basis, while hygge is more about creating individual moments. So you can have your minimalist apartment and drink your hot chocolate too (sometimes).
However, if the over-marketing of hygge is what bothered you, it looks like people are already trying to capitalize on the idea. There's even a Korean skincare brand named after it already and it shares the ethos of "not too little, not too much."
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