In the spirit of all things Kuhkoó, let’s talk about cocooning (kuh-koo-ning): the comforting self-care practice of staying in and spending time at home. When the world outside becomes uncomfortable (such as is the case now), it’s a common practice to retreat inside the safety and refuge of our homes – just like a caterpillar would inside its cocoon. Let’s take a step back to where this all started, whether we wanted to or not – we had no choice, as the Covid-19 pandemic and the relentless restrictions and regulations forced us to stay home, more. More time spent in solitude, more time spent with our loved ones (though at times, they drove us bonkers) – and more time to build our nest.
In German, the concept of gemütlichkeit (coziness) refers to the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness and happiness. Add ‘home’ to the gemütlichkeit-mix, and you have the feeling of a beautifully furnished, stress-free, inviting space – a cozy home, so to say. Perhaps the warm glow of a fireplace, a great book, and a fancy scented candle gently filling the room with a rich, luxurious scent. Oh, and cookies fresh out of the oven. You get my drift? So very, very cozy.
Gemütlichkeit is an important component of cocooning – because, if you feel recharged afterwards, you’re doing it right. So what does that really mean? In order to feel recharged, you’ll need to have the whole shebang? Mountain retreat, splurging on bespoke candles or perfecting your inner Martha Stewart? No, not at all. The art of cocooning means to take solace in your surroundings, while practicing the subtle art of being cozy – a sort of hyper-nesting.
To do cocooning properly, you will need a big dose of gemütlichkeit. And where does one get the coziest? Hands down, in the bedroom. Shut the door and the craziness of the outside world becomes distant and forgotten. It’s the room that you spend the most time in and is the most personal space to you. Your bedroom should be the place where you feel the most relaxed and peaceful – and of course, comfort is paramount, and orderliness is crucial.
How to make your bedroom cocoon-worthy? The good news is, it’s not as hard as you might think!
- Invest in a down-filled mattress cover and high-quality bed linens. Enough said.
- Want to take thing up a notch? Tweak your decor. To create a calm and relaxing room – decorate with a harmonious, muted natural colour palette. Colour psychology suggests that different colours can evoke psychological reactions. For example, the colour green is restful, soothing, cheerful, and health-giving – perfect for your bedroom. How can you incorporate a little green into your space? To make a bold statement, paint one wall sage green (preferably behind your headboard) – and accentuate with neutral ‘cloudy sky’ grey-blue pillows and a plush ‘stone’ grey throw. To tie the space together – add a fun patterned pillow to compliment the colour scheme of the room. Et voilà, instant calmness.
- What’s better than plush slippers? A rug. Warm up your space by placing a layer between you and the floor, you will be guaranteed to feel instantly more cozy.
- Don’t forget the power of scent. By choosing rich-scented candles, such as the seriously mood-boosting ‘Feu de Bois’ by Diptyque – your space will be the perfect place to unwind and bring your gemütlichkeit to another level.
- And my favourite: declutter. Get into the habit of remove everything that doesn’t belong in your bedroom – and the biggest rule of thumb for any cocoon-seeker, clear the clutter under the bed. Clear space, clear mind = great sleep.
- Take time for yourself. With the current world chaos, nap when you can and do try to sleep in a little longer. Because you know what happens next – that wondrous process by which the caterpillar [eventually] morphs into a beautiful butterfly.
Happy cocooning and stay safe!
Cher x
