Out with the carpet, in with the rug
The one thing you’ll never see in a Swedish home is wall-to-wall carpet. ‘But they’re cosy,’ I lament. ‘They’re so unhygienic!’ Swedes grimace. And they do have a point.
Your best shot at keeping a carpet clean is a good vacuum cleaner or a specialist deep-cleaning agent. Rugs, on the other hand, can be beaten outside, put through the washing machine or taken to the dry-cleaner. Plus, they’re easy to move around and exchange at will – win-win!
The humble rag rug
Look around a Swedish home (particularly a rural dwelling) and you’re more than likely to come across a trasmatta, or rag rug. This traditional rug is usually handmade on a loom from scraps of worn-out clothes and old rags. You can easily find a trasmatta in the shops, but why not give your old textiles a new lease of life and create your own? They’re great fun to make, and if you don’t happen to have an old loom knocking about, you can use a crochet stitch – there are plenty of YouTube videos showing you how.
A treat for your feet
If you like having something soft underfoot but also like a clean and dust-free home, how about layering rugs to create a complete floor covering? Stick to similar tones but with different patterns to create your very own floor art.
plainpicture/Johner/Ulf Huett Nilsson
The lagom guide to soothing the soul
Sleep is nature’s way of helping us to de-clutter the mind and restore our body and soul. Without enough of it we function less effectively, damaging our health and well-being in the long run. But it’s not just a great night’s sleep that creates a balanced state of mind. While I’ve lived in Sweden, I’ve grown to appreciate that slowing down and enjoying humble activities – like relaxing in a sauna and being outdoors – allows you to to switch off, live in the moment and enjoy the small things in life. I’ve also learnt that a back-to-basics holiday, requiring little planning or budget, can be the antidote to a world that’s constantly stressful.
SLEEP
There’s a lot to be said for a great night’s sleep. You know, those mornings when you wake up rested and raring to go? I’m told there are several key factors involved in creating a calming pre-bedtime ritual, and in my mind the Swedes do a whole lot right in the bedroom department (after all, they’re the ones who start the day eye-wateringly early).
So, what’s their secret? Helena Kubicek Boye, Swedish psychologist and author of The Art of Sleep and The Three Balloons (a sleep story for children), says you need to prepare yourself both physically and mentally before going to bed.
‘A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.’
Charlotte Brontë
© Niki Brantmark
Giulia Bertelli/Unsplash
Preparing the mind
What you do mentally before you go to bed is key to a restful slumber. ‘On the whole, your bed should be used for sex and sleep,’ advises Kubicek Boye. It’s advised that everything else should stay out of the bedroom.
So stalking ex-boyfriends on Facebook isn’t OK? It seems not. Not only will a scroll through your favourite social-media feed before bed likely lead to a serious case of FOMO, but it will also hinder your beauty sleep. A recent study7 in Norway found that screen light affects your ability to fall asleep and reduces the quality of your slumber. Experts recommend you avoid using any screen for up to an hour before bedtime.
So now that binge-watching the latest series on Netflix is out of the question, what should we be doing before bed?
Pre-bedtime activities
When it comes to sleep-inducing activities, Kubicek Boye lists plenty of the usual things, and a few good old-fashioned analogue activities, too:
+ reading a book
+ taking a warm bath
+ listening to calm music
+ knitting
+ embroidery
+ painting (or mindful colouring)
+ cuddling up with family and pets
Keep a diary
Often when the lights go out, thoughts and worries from the day creep in. Keeping a journal is a great way to reflect on the events of the day, offload niggling worries and clear your mind before sleep.
The kvällspromenad
mångata (n.): The glimmering, roadlike reflection the moon creates on water.
It’s not uncommon to take a kvällspromenad, or evening walk, in Sweden – even if you don’t have a dog. It usually takes place sometime after supper and involves an amble around the neighbourhood. It’s a great way to relax and, depending on the weather, cools down your body temperature, naturally preparing you for sleep. Plus, if you live near water, it also gives you the opportunity to gaze at the mångata, a Swedish term for the beautiful trail of moonlight reflected on water.
plainpicture/harry + lidy
Five ways to sleep like a Swede
Go au naturel Swedes commonly shun traditional nightwear in favour of underwear – or simply nothing at all. Not only are Swedish homes incredibly well insulated but sleeping in less also helps keep you cool. And this improves the quality of your sleep.
Divide and conquer Book yourself into a Swedish hotel and you’ll be surprised to find two single duvets instead of a double – and I’ve found this to be universal across all Swedish marital beds. Friends tell me that this allows you to choose a duvet cover with a thickness that’s lagom for you and means you can stick out naked limbs at whim.
Keep it clean Ensure your bedroom is clutter-free, and avoid busy patterns in the decor.
Keep it calm The Swedish bedroom, with its soft, muted colour palette, minimalist furnishings and airy feel, is the epitome of calm. Think white and light grey walls, pure linen bedding (great for keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter) and layers of natural texture for cooler evenings. It’s a simple space and a calming oasis in which to switch off from the stresses and strains of daily life.
Create darkness The sleep-inducing hormone melatonin is connected to the stimulation around us. By darkening your room, you’re telling your body it’s time to go to sleep. Use blackout blinds and cover any LED lights.
THE MORNING DIP
Blessed with 11,500km (over 7,000 miles) of coastline (not including the islands) and around 100,000 lakes, it’s little wonder the Swedes love to bathe. But one type of al fresco bathing stands out: the morgondopp, or morning dip. Most commonly enjoyed between May and