Hygge Paint Colors
​Get The Look

From the heart of Denmark—quite literally—beats Hygge, a feeling or atmosphere that exudes warmth, relaxation, and connection.

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is any place cozy, comfortable, and welcoming. Sit surrounded by candlelight or a blazing fire with friends. Enjoy a cup of tea, blissfully solo, in an overstuffed chair. Hygge is where your personal sense of harmony lives.
The Benjamin Moore Hygge Color Palette
​Our hygge-inspired color palette reflects the hygge ethos, while also nodding to beloved Scandinavian interior paint colors.
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Cotton Balls OC-122
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Fog Mist OC-31
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Thundercloud Gray 2124-40
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Angelica AF-665
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Silver Fox 2108-50
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Silhouette AF-655


Balance Light with the Right Shade of White
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"Warmer whites align with hygge, and are always a favorite for Scandinavian homeowners," says Egill Thorkelsson, Managing Director of BM-Island Iceland. "White, earthy off-whites, and greige colors are very popular given the minimal light of the northern regions."

On the walls and trim of this living room, Cotton Balls OC-122—an ever-popular white paint color—creates a blank canvas for meaningful, easy-to-update home decor. Combined with cushy chairs, a roaring fireplace, and slippers at the ready, the scene is set for a satisfying respite.
Gray Cashmere 2138-60 breathes tranquility into any space.


​Hygge: The Color of Contentment​

An integral hue to the balanced and beautiful Color Trends 2021 palette, Gray Cashmere 2138-60 conjures rumpled sheets and handknit blankets. Pair this subtle blue-gray with a deep hue like Silhouette AF-655. If you are opting for a more monochromatic palette, consider Thundercloud Gray 2124-40.

Conjure Cloudy Blue Scandinavian Skies

​There is no universal color palette. Color is personal.

However, if we were to dream about the classic Scandinavian paint color scheme, we think Nimbus Gray 2131-50—a steely blue—would always be in the mix.

Hands-on meets hygge when you repaint your furniture. Try a fresh coat of Winter Snow OC-63, from our Off-White collection, finished in a silky satin as seen in this well-worn stool.



​Instant Hygge—Add Candles

Classic warm neutrals like Balboa Mist OC-27 (shown here), Fog Mist OC-31, and White Sand OC-10 are endlessly versatile, creating a lovely backdrop for peaceful environments, especially when illuminated by a fire or candlelight.

"At home, hygge can be seen and felt as a warm atmosphere," says Gisele Virkkunen, Managing Director of Matizes Oy, a Benjamin Moore distributor in Finland. "This includes pleasant lighting, textiles, natural materials and, of course, candles."
What's Next?

Peruse the most popular paint colors homeowners love for a hygge-inspired vibe: whites, grays, neutrals, greiges, taupes and blues—and test them using Benjamin Moore color samples. For a more immediate trial of any new color palette, use the video and photo visualizers found in the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio™ app.
Pro Tip Spotlight:  Looking for an easier answer?

Our color and design experts regularly recommend the following three paint colors for their versatile undertones and flexibility in a range of exposures:
​As always, it is important to use Benjamin Moore Color Samples to observe paint colors in your actual space and see how your unique lighting conditions affect them.


​North-Facing Rooms: Increase Color Confidence

If you have a north-facing space and the paint colors on this page caught your eye, you still have some testing to do.

First, buy a paint color sample from your locally owned Benjamin Moore store or our online store. You can opt for oversized color swatches, peel & stick samples or brush-on paint color samples. If using a brush-on paint sample, we recommend painting a foam poster board so you can easily move it around and observe the colors in different lighting.

Next, see how your selected paint colors look under your home's unique lighting conditions throughout the day and evening, in both artificial and natural light.