The UK is getting Happier – New JYSK FEEL THE HAPPINESS Survey
Happiness at Home Top 20: it’s all about People, Pets, Place and Pyjamas
We are getting happier – and it’s down to the Scandi practice of Hygge.
The UK is happiest cuddling pets on the sofa in a clean and tidy home with all of their favourite people and things in one place – according to a new survey by Scandinavian furniture retail group JYSK – and if we’re wearing pyjamas while we’re cuddling, then the happiness is complete. We are also a nation of regular cat and dog snugglers – and yes, they are allowed on the sofa.
Playing with the kids also hits the top of the happiness at home table just above a love of our own beds, clean sheets and rare moments of ‘me time’ – once the kids have gone to bed.
We are, says JYSK’s ‘Feel the Happiness’ Report, utterly devoted pyjama-wearers. Our homes may be our castles but we are at our happiest at home after donning fleecy night attire, comfy slippers and wrapping ourselves in a cuddly throw.
JYSK, the Danish-owned global brand selling everything for your home, devised the survey to celebrate the opening of its 2,500th store internationally – and the Scandinavians know a thing or two about happiness.
Year on year Scandinavian countries dominate the top of the table for the world’s happiest nations. They put it down to a combination of things; one of them is Hygge.
Hygge – the Scandinavian practice of making calming, peaceful, comfortable and beautiful spaces at home – is, says the JYSK report, having a positive effect in the UK. Hygge has gathered a huge following in British homes and we’re definitely feeling happier for it.
2017 World Happiness League Table 2013-15 World Happiness League Table
1. Norway 1. Denmark
2. Denmark 2. Switzerland
3. Iceland 3. Iceland
4. Switzerland 4. Norway
5. Finland 5. Finland
19. UK 23. UK
The new JYSK survey, which asked 30,000 followers of popular home and family bloggers about what makes them feel the happiness at home found that fairy lights, candles, softer accent lighting and real fires are important contributors to creating a relaxing environment. Just like our Scandinavian cousins, we are looking at lighting; greater use of natural and softer materials and appreciating time spent interacting with loved ones.
Other Hygge happiness triggers include someone else – usually a partner – preparing a home-c0oked dinner and sharing a glass of wine or a warming hot drink on a squishy sofa under a cuddly throw. These are some of the biggest contentment generators according to the survey.
Family film nights, reading, cuddling pets on the sofa during box-set TV-series marathons (in pyjamas) were also highlighted as activities that see people happiest at home.
Soft furnishings, throws, cushions and slippers were also important but having a clean and tidy home with plenty of well-thought out storage and was the number one contentment generator – as it set the perfect environment to relax.
The British top 20: what makes us happiest at home.
1. Clean and tidy house – everything in its place
2. Favourite people and things all in one place
3. Pets – snuggling with cat/dog on the sofa
4. Playing with the kids
5. Our own bed with clean sheets and particularly when it’s raining outside
6. ‘Me time’ after kids’ bedtime
7. Fairy lights and candles/soft lighting/natural lighting
8. Darker nights making it cosier inside, snuggling on sofa with throws & cushions
9. A real fire
10. Grandchildren over for games & cuddles
11. Partner cooking dinner
12. Pyjamas/bedtime
13. Night in DVD, family , chocolate
14. Home cooking/smell of
15. Sofa, throws, cushions, family
16. Reading in a comfortable armchair
17. Cuddling on sofa
18. Family and friends meals/relaxing
19. Pyjama TV box set ‘binge’
20. Time with pets and kids
Other Hygge happiness hits included long bubble baths in a clean and tidy bathroom, uninterrupted time, hanging out the washing, baking and sofa naps.
Also popular were cotton sheets, lavender scented pillows, old Christmas movies, crocheting and cuddling pet guinea pigs at dusk.
Family photos and children’s artwork generate smiles and happy memories, Scandi style is growing in popularity thanks to its calming neutrals and natural materials and there is a marked trend in people including unique furniture pieces that draw the eye. All of these things make our homes our own and contribute to our wellbeing.
Some of the simplest things make people happy at home – when the baby is finally asleep, enjoying a crumpet (in pyjamas), creating a reading corner in the sitting room, the teenagers being out of the house and no technology interruptions for example.
Others are at their happiest and most relaxed in front of the computer, having a ticked off ‘to do’ list, watching garden birds from a cosy chair or finally achieving possession of the remote control.
Watching fish in the aquarium, finding a rare space on the sofa ‘in a house full of hounds’ and home-birds that are happy as soon as they get through the front door also featured.
Wardrobes and storage generally were seen as significant mood lifters, particularly for struggling born minimalists sharing their home with a hectic young family.
Playing the ukulele and ‘the three teddies that live on my bed’ also got a mention from individuals describing their ultimate happy time at home.
The 2017 world happiness report showed Norway, Denmark and Iceland in the first, second and third places. Finland and the Netherlands were in fifth and sixth (after Switzerland in fourth). The UK is at number 19, rising from number 23 – JYSK, which now has 15 stores here, was interested to note that the rise of happiness at home is mostly attributed to the Hygge elements beloved and enjoyed in Scandinavia. To find out more about Hygge and Scandi style visit www.JYSK.co.uk.