Cocooning: a living trend that is here to stay?
There’s no place like home – we’ve always known that, but in a society that wants to go higher and higher, saying “I’d rather stay home tonight and not go out with you” was an absolute no-go. The cocooning trend has changed all that, and the desire to retreat into one’s own four walls is experiencing a real boom – and not just in times of crisis. We found out what lies behind the cocooning phenomenon and how you can make yourself comfortable at home.
Cocooning - origin and meaning
If you translate the word cocooning into English, it means something like “to wrap oneself up” or “to pupate”. The word has its origins in biology, where it describes the process by which a larva spins itself into a cocoon. In the 1980s, trend researcher and bestselling author Faith Popcorn first used cocooning in a lifestyle context. At the time, the world was dominated by the Cold War, and people were increasingly withdrawing from society and looking to their homes as a safe haven. The Cold War is over, but the cocooning phenomenon can still be observed in times of crisis: financial, health or economic crises. People prefer to be at home, and because they spend so much time there, they want to make it as comfortable as possible.
Cocooning, homing, hygge - what's the difference?
Cocooning
Voluntary withdrawal into the private sphere and “settling into one’s own home” best describes the cocooning trend. The public sphere is perceived as threatening and uncontrollable, and people do not feel comfortable there. That’s why people make themselves comfortable at home and turn their own four walls into their own personal oasis of well-being – their own centre of life. Not to be underestimated in cocooning is the effect of being alone, which can be useful to a certain extent, but loneliness should be avoided as far as possible.
Homing/Social Cocooning
Similar to cocooning, homing is a retreat into the private sphere. The big difference, however, is that with homing or social cocooning, there is no desire to be alone, but social life is shifted to one’s own four walls. Instead of going to the cinema, a film night is organised at home, cooking together replaces a visit to a restaurant and a game night replaces a visit to a club or bar. There are many reasons for social cocooning: people who feel insecure in society organise their leisure time in this way, but financial savings also play a role.
Hygge
Hygge is central to the traditions and way of life in Denmark. It is not a lifestyle trend, but an attitude to life – it means creating a warm, cosy atmosphere where you can enjoy the good things in life together with your loved ones. Furnishings that make you feel good are just as much a part of hygge as friends and family or food and drink. The warm light of candles is the epitome of hygge.
Cocooning Living Trend
When you retire from public life, you automatically spend a lot of time at home, and this inevitably makes you want to make your home more homely. You want to make yourself comfortable so that you feel good all round and look forward to spending time in your own four walls. Cosiness is the key word that is often mentioned in connection with the cocooning trend. We present the cornerstones of this trend that will make you never want to leave your home.
Cocooning in the living room
Everyone knows the feeling – you come home after a long day and all you want to do is curl up on the sofa and read a good book or watch a film with friends or family. When it comes to cocooning, the living room is also the centre of the home. A big sofa is a must! Cover it with cosy cushions and blankets that invite you to linger. A fluffy high pile carpet is a good choice to complete the cosy feel, as are curtains to keep the outside world out. Decorative objects or side tables made from natural materials also add to the cosiness of your own living room.
Dining Room Cocooning
For many people, eating together in their own dining room has been the strongest effect of the cocooning trend. Instead of going out to eat, people are returning to cooking at home. As well as a well-equipped kitchen, a dining room with enough space for everyone to sit down and enjoy a good meal for a few hours is essential for cooking evenings with friends. A dining table with enough room for everyone is essential, as are comfortable chairs. Warm lighting, a few candles and subtle table decorations, such as small bouquets, create a cosy atmosphere. Hand-painted pictures on the walls also add to the overall look:
Colours & materials of the Cocooning style
The Cocooning style has no limits when it comes to colour choice. Whatever you like is allowed. If you are unsure, you can always look at the current trend colours, but ultimately you should go with your gut feeling. If you feel comfortable with a mix of bright colours, go for it. On the other hand, if you prefer the tranquillity of muted tones, stick to your existing colour scheme. Where soft colours are concerned, splashes of Pantone Trend Colour 2023 “Viva Magenta” work very well.
You feel most at home in rooms that are full of natural materials. Whether it’s wood furniture or soft textiles, you’ll hit the nail on the head if you want to decorate your rooms in a cocooning style. By bringing nature into your own four walls, you no longer have to go outside.
Perfect lighting for cocooning
Lighting is a crucial part of cocooning. You can make your home as cosy as you like – but if you don’t use the right lighting, you won’t create a cosy atmosphere. Ceiling lights alone are not enough. Combine floor lamps, table lamps, wall lamps and candles to bathe rooms in pleasant light. We have already thought about atmospheric lighting in living rooms for you.
Will cocooning survive the crisis?
Fortunately, the era of social isolation is over, but the feeling of security and comfort within one’s own four walls remains. The pleasure of a cosy atmosphere at home is not lost, but remains. In the long run, a balance will be struck between (social) cocooning and going out, with which most people feel comfortable. Making yourself comfortable in your own four walls will remain a vibrant trend, regardless of times of crisis or prosperity.