How to Hygge in an R.V.

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Guest Post “How to Hygge in an R.V.” by: Makayla of the blog Little Me and Family

Before you get confused about how to pronounce hygge and what it is, like I did, here’s a little background. It’s pronounced “Hue-gah” and it’s a Danish term that basically represents all things cozy, community, intentionality, and peace. Pretty great, right? To hygge in an R.V. is easier than you think, and it might just make you even more grateful for your own home.

I am all about intentional living and coziness (I live in my yoga pants). Community is the one thing I really try to include in my daily life because it’s something I can go months without if I’m not careful.

My husband, daughter, and I live in our 240 sq. ft. RV/camper trailer and travel around to different job sites for work. This means that we are away from all family and friends and continually have to make new connections and be intentional about creating community for ourselves in each new place we visit. 

After the description I just gave you of hygge, you’re probably wondering how that’s even possible in an RV. I am the queen of comfort and intentionality, so you better believe that I can show you how to hygge in an RV. 

How to Hygge in an RV

Step 1: Have cozy clothes at the ready 24/7 

I like to have my coziest clothes right next to the bed. It gets chilly in the mornings in our camper (even in late summer) and I am not someone who enjoys being cold when I wake up. If you want to have hygge without having to climb on top of your bed and dig through cabinets first thing in the morning, you’ll have a sweatshirt, leggings or sweatpants, and some men’s tall knit socks. 

Trust me on this one, ladies. If you buy “winter fuzzy” socks in the lady’s section, they will be short and thin. Don’t ask me why. I really don’t know. Save yourself the cold toes first thing in the morning and shop in the men’s section for your wooly feet warmers. I got mine from American Eagle. Softest socks ever and they give you that “I’ve-been-stuck-in-a-cabin-in-a-snow-storm-in-Maine-and-somehow-I’m-still-warm” kind of vibe. 

Step 2: Drink tea first thing in the morning

You don’t have many luxuries in an RV, but one thing you can have is tea. My favorite kind of tea, especially as Fall and Winter approach is Natural Medicinals Throat Coat tea. It’s not fruity (hate fruity tea) and it coats your throat with the smooth flavor of licorice. It’s perfect for those dry, cool mornings and helps immensely when you’ve caught a cold and have a sore throat. Steep it for 2-4 minutes and you’re good to go. I leave my tea bag in the mug and continue steeping it while I drink. It gets better with each sip and will surely help you hygge in an R.V. or small home.

Step 3: Make time for Community

Making time for the people around you is so important to practicing hygge and living intentionally in an RV. We are currently parked at a campground where 90% of the people are here for work and they’ll be here for months. It’s been a blessed situation for us in that the people here really understand what we’re going through: no connections, feeling constantly uprooted, and spending weekends like weekdays because most everyone works 24/7. 

It’s been good to put myself out there, introduce myself, and ask for people’s numbers. Just that little bit of courage has made my husband and I two acquaintances, and a play date for our child. That’s something we haven’t had in a while! Community and social connection are so important to living fully and intentionally. Community is essential to hygge effectively in an R.V. or small space.

Step 3: Turn off the Screens

I know that Fall is when Hallmark starts rolling out the Christmas movies and every commercial on TV is about what you can buy on Black Friday, but hear me out. Sitting on a screen all day, no matter how good the sale or Hallmark movie is, will suck the life out of you. Just from being in this campground, we’ve eliminated our screen usage so much. 

We don’t have good WiFi, so we can’t watch Netflix (that was our main distraction) and you can only watch movies so many times before they get old. My husband, Leland, also made an agreement with me that when he gets home from work, we put away our phones. He has a long commute and we don’t get much time together. Just eliminating Netflix and 2 hours of designated “no phone” time has made a dramatic impact in our communication and relationship. We’re less stressed, more in touch with each other, and present with the people in front of us.

Step 4: Diffuse Essential Oils

If I wasn’t in an RV and I had a fireplace, I would say “turn on your fireplace.” But I don’t have one and in a “house” this small it would be a serious fire hazard. So, in place of that, a diffuser can be a wonderful way to make your home smell seasonal and inviting. It also helps with the dry air that plagues Fall and Winter and can be a great immune booster, depending on oils you use. I personally like the Christmas smelling blends. Ones with cinnamon are my favorite. 

If you don’t have a diffuser, you can always do a simmer pot. Just fill a pot with water, toss in whole cloves, whole nutmeg, whole cinnamon sticks, and a few orange slices into boiling water. Then, turn the heat down and let it simmer uncovered all day. It benefits you just as much as a diffuser. Plus, it’s pretty and makes a great Instagram photo.

Step 5: Display all the Blankets

Blankets are my friend. I always get so cold (midsummer even) that I need a blanket nearby. Especially during Fall and Winter, blankets are essential. Not only do they warm up a space by bringing soft texture, but they also are useful for people like me who have poor circulation. Blankets are also a great way to invite people into your space. It says, “we like being cozy around here and don’t want you to freeze.” 

I personally love having blankets draped over our couch or spilling out of baskets. Sometimes it’s impractical to have a queen-sized blanket comfortably placed in your living room (especially when your living room is also the kitchen and the dining room), so I like to have generously sized lap blankets. Not the skimpy ones that only cover your legs. I like the ones that are large enough to snuggle under, but not so large that you get lost. 

Pro blanket tip: Stay away from Sherpa. It sounds great and it’s fluffy, but everything sticks to it. If you’re anyone who isn’t spotless, you’ll have a dirty blanket before too long and there’s nothing more anti-hygge than a dirt-covered Sherpa blanket. You’re welcome.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never tried hygge, now is the time to do it. Make this colder season one of coziness, connection, and intentional living. If I can do it in an RV, you can do it in your home, too. 

You might also enjoy these posts on how to create a happier home, how to live the hygge life, and ways to make your community happier.

Join the Discussion

What routines or places do you have in your home that you could make cozier this Fall?

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