Lagom, which loosely translates as ‘not too much and not too little’ or ‘just right,’ is a Swedish concept of moderation. It’s a concept that teaches us how to create a balance in every area of life, live with less and in harmony with the world, and focus on moments of joy.

The concept of Lagom can be applied to different areas of life, such as work, family and relationships, celebrations, leisure, holidays, and interior design. And regardless of what area of life you incorporate this concept into, the point is to learn how to live your life based on sustainability and moderation, as this is the key to a happy and balanced life. Living the Lagom lifestyle in the fast-paced society we live in is something that takes practice. It takes practice to learn to live with less and sustainably, focus on the collective well-being, accept life’s imperfections, and find joy in the simple things in life.

So, in what follows, we’ve presented 7 ways you can practice Lagom.

How Do You Live The Lagom Lifestyle?

1. Simplify Your Possessions

In its essence, Lagom favors minimalism over excess. However, the point is not to overly focus on how little you can live with but on having enough. For instance, at home, Lagom encourages you to declutter your home regularly by throwing away or donating things you no longer need, use, or want so that you can create more breathing space. It also encourages you to upcycle and recycle things in your home rather than constantly buying new stuff.

Lagom also encourages you to create a minimalist wardrobe. The point of this method is to simplify your closet by getting rid of unnecessary clothes, i.e., clothes that no longer fit or you no longer want, and only buying comfortable clothes that you know you’ll often wear and make you feel your best.

2.  Slow Down

The concept of Lagom emphasizes the importance of living life in the slow lane. Not always rushing around, appreciating nature and our sensory experiences, taking time to enjoy whatever we’re doing, and living in the present moment.

So, even when you have a busy day at work, or you are feeling down in the dumps, remember to slow down, breathe, do things at a leisurely pace, grasp the positive side of every situation, and enjoy the simple things in life. By doing this, you’ll be able to create a more balanced and happier life for yourself.

3. Take Breaks At Work

While in most countries, people have trouble taking a coffee or lunch break at work, in Sweden, these types of breaks are mandatory. (1)

Lagom is about finding a balance in every area of everyday life, including work, and Swedes are most likely the best when it comes to this. Swedes regularly take a 20-minute break in the morning known as fika. This break involves drinking coffee and eating something sweet. This practice enables Swedes to find a balance between all the tasks they have to fulfill at work and their personal space. It enables them to take time for themselves, reset, talk with their co-workers, and forget about all the demands that a typical office day involves. (2)

Science has shown that taking morning breaks regularly at work makes you feel more energized and more motivated. It also helps you be more able to focus on your tasks at work and decreases your likelihood of feeling symptoms such as back pain and headaches. So, if you didn’t know how taking regular morning breaks at work can benefit you, now you know it.

Additionally, Swedes have another one-hour break in the afternoon, during which they go out for lunch.

Moreover, Swedes are highly productive, but they tend to avoid working overtime. They start work at 9 a.m. and finish work at 5 p.m., and they stick to this work schedule.

4. Learn The Art Of Listening

Swedes are highly adept at having a proper conversation because they’re great listeners. If you talk with a Swede, you can’t help but notice that they seldom talk over or interrupt you while talking to them. They also speak in an even and calm tone and make pauses as this gives them time to think of something meaningful they can share with you. (3)

So, the next time you are talking with someone, don’t try to speed the conversation. Instead, let the discourse flow at a slow pace. Don’t talk over or interrupt the other person. Instead, allow them to finish their sentence and show interest in what they have to say. Then, reflect prior to giving them a response. In this way, you’ll make the other person feel heard and understood, and you’ll be able to have a meaningful conversation.

5. Focus On The Success Of The Community

Unfortunately, it seems like we’ve forgotten how we should behave to contribute to the life of those around us. And when it comes to contributing to the collective well-being, Sweden should serve as a role model.

When you let everyone get their fair share, you make others feel respected and appreciated. You make them feel part of something bigger. You give their lives a sense of purpose.

6. Perform Random Acts Of Kindness

To make someone happy, you don’t need to buy them a ludicrously expensive gift or do something extraordinary for them. Performing ordinary, small acts of kindness can put a smile on a person’s face even when they’re feeling down in the dumps. (4)

For instance, making your co-worker a cup of coffee when they’re up to their neck in work can instantly improve their mood and make them forget about all the deadlines, emails, and tasks they need to deal with, even just for a moment. Similarly, telling a friend how smart and capable they are on their first day at work can boost their self-confidence. Indeed, oftentimes, performing a simple and unexpected act of kindness for someone can make their day and make them feel the most respected and most cherished person.

In what follows, we’ve presented a few ordinary acts of kindness that you can do every day.

• Give a co-worker an unexpected compliment.
• Give someone your seat on a crowded bus.
• Write a handwritten letter or an email to a relative or friend you haven’t seen for years.
• Buy a homeless person a warm meal.
• Donate clothes and food to a charity.
• Collect a piece of garbage on the street and throw it out.
• Carry an extra umbrella and give it to a friend or a random stranger stuck in the rain.

7. Dare To Go Alone

Spending time alone in nature can be a truly rewarding and empowering experience. There’s simply something liberating and relaxing about watching the leaves rustle in the wind or listening to the beautiful sounds of a lark.

So, whether you are a nature-lover or not, try going on a day hike or camping on your own deep into the mountains or anywhere in nature. This will help you recharge your batteries, reset, and reconnect with yourself.

What Is The Philosophy Of Lagom?

Lagom, pronounced ‘lah-gum’, is a Swedish philosophy that translates to “just right” or “not too little, not too much.” The concept of Lagom is all about moderation, which is the key to living a happy and balanced life.

The Swedish lifestyle concept of Lagom has been present in Scandinavia for years, but it has recently gained popularity in many other countries around the world. This concept teaches us how to find a balance in every area of everyday life. It teaches us how to be more present at the moment and enjoy the simple things in life. It also teaches us how to learn to live with less rather than focus on abundance.

When it first appeared in the lifestyle scene, Lagom was perceived as the Swedish response to the Danish philosophy of Hygge, which is a concept of warmth, contentment, and harmony. However, now people are more aware of the differences between the two concepts. 

What’s characteristic about the philosophy of Lagom is that it can be incorporated into different spheres of life, such as family and relationships, work, celebrations, holidays, leisure, and interior design. However, living the Lagom lifestyle takes practice. We live in a fast-paced society, and amidst the everyday chaos of life, it takes a lot of practice to learn how to find a balance in every area of life and focus on the here and now and live with less.

To better explain the main principles of the Swedish lifestyle concept of Lagom, in what follows, we’ve presented 8 ways you can balance your life the Lagom way. (1)

How Do You Practice Lagom?

1. Take Regular Breaks At Work

The Swedish concept of Lagom can be applied to work, and here’s how Swedes do that: Swedes take regular 20-minute breaks during the day, in the morning, and in the afternoon. The morning break, known as fika, involves drinking coffee and eating something sweet. This practice enables Swedes to take time for themselves, relax, recharge, talk with their co-workers, and forget about all the emails, deadlines, tasks, and anything else that a typical office day involves.

While in most countries, people have a hard time taking a coffee break at work, in Sweden, this type of break is mandatory. And when it comes to lunch break, Swedes rarely eat lunch at their desk. They usually go out for lunch for an hour.

Additionally, Swedes tend to stick to their work schedule. They start work at 9 a.m. and finish work at 5 p.m. They rarely work overtime. Moreover, they perceive working overtime as a sign of poor time management. (2)

2. Live At Home In A Sustainable Way

Swedes put great emphasis on sustainable living. Not only are they highly adept at recycling and upcycling things, but they are also skilled at furnishing their homes in a simple and practical way.

The “not too little, not too much” principle of Lagom translates well in their homes. They tend to maintain a minimalist, clutter-free home. In a typical Swedish home, walls are usually light grey or white. The furniture is simple and functional. The décor is carefully thought out as well.

So, if you are looking to live the Lagom lifestyle, which means to live your life in a balanced and simple way, make sure you declutter your home. Go through your belongings and donate or throw away anything you no longer need, want, or use. By decluttering your home, you’ll create more space and a relaxing atmosphere in your home and feel more organized as well. 

Additionally, by maintaining a minimalist home, you can focus more on more meaningful things – things that are unique, simple, and sustainable and that last forever.

Another way you can live sustainably at home is by recycling, using sustainable materials, and upcycling whenever this is possible.

3. Be Kind And Considerate In Your Relationships

If you want to live a happy and meaningful life, be caring, compassionate, kind, and considerate in your relationships, both romantic and otherwise. 

Be aware of the people around you. Respect other people’s feelings, opinions, and needs. Live according to the principle that you’re no better than and superior to anyone else. Don’t compare yourself to others, and don’t brag about your social status, accomplishments, and successes. And treat everyone as equals.

4. Learn To Listen Attentively

While interrupting someone while talking with them is normal in most countries, in Sweden, this rarely happens. If you talk with a Swede, you can’t help but notice that they speak in an even tone and make pauses. They attentively listen to you and tend to slow down the conversation. They also let you finish your sentence and show interest in what you have to say.

So, next time you talk with someone, try slowing the conversation down. Don’t talk over or interrupt the other person. Instead, listen carefully to them and think about what you have to say prior to giving them a response.

5. Be Happy With Yourself

Instead of trying to be bigger and better than everyone else and striving for perfection, be happy with who you are and what you have and strive for moderation. Learn to be proud of your successes and everything you’ve done in your life. And most importantly, find your own level of inner peace, happiness, and contentment.

6. Go Hiking Or Camping Alone

Swedes love having adventures on their own. It’s not unusual for them to go camping or on a multiple-day hike by themselves deep into the mountains.

Undeniably, spending time in nature alone can be a truly liberating, rewarding, and empowering experience. Perhaps you can’t imagine yourself camping on your own in the wilderness or going on a hiking trip to a canyon, but you might want to consider the idea of spending a few hours alone in nature to breathe in the fresh air and appreciate the beauty of the sounds of the birds or those of the leaves that make when rustling in the wind.

Spending time alone in nature allows you to be more aware of the present moment, slow down, and reflect on your thoughts and feelings – something which rarely happens in our fast-paced society.

7. Create A Minimalist Wardrobe

Another way you can practice sustainable living is by creating a minimalist wardrobe. Once you begin creating a capsule wardrobe, you’ll see that you don’t need to buy clothes often and update your wardrobe for every occasion or season. 

The point of creating a minimalist wardrobe is to learn to spend less money on buying clothes, simplify your closet, and wear clothes that make you feel your best.

The easiest way to create a capsule wardrobe is to donate or throw away clothes that no longer fit or you no longer want and replace them with new or secondhand garments you know you will often wear or even together.

Those who have tried this method say it helps you choose an outfit more easily and spend less energy and time doing laundry and shopping. 

8. Enjoy The Morgondopp

There are about 100 000 lakes in Sweden, so it’s no wonder the people living there love to swim.

Morgondopp, or the morning dip, is a type of outdoor bath that Swedes take first thing in the morning. They usually take this type of bath between May and September. However, some prefer to enjoy it even in the winter months.

How long the bath will last mainly depends on the temperature. There is even a thermometer hung on the end of a string on the piers. Some people start their season once the temperature increases to 50°F. My Swedish friend Mikael describes the morgondopp as something serene. He says, “The moment I enter the water first thing in the morning, I feel fresh, energized, and ready to start the day.” 

So, if you live near a river, lake, or sea, now you know what’s the first thing you should do when you wake up in the morning to feel energized and relaxed. (3)

What Is Hygge?

Hygge, pronounced ‘hoo-ga,’ is a Danish lifestyle trend that focuses on contentment, harmony, warmth, joy, and conviviality. Explaining what exactly the concept of Hygge means can be a little tricky. It can’t be translated into a single word, but in essence, it means finding joy in the simple things in life, from reading a book while sipping hot cocoa to having a good conversation with a loved one.

Hygge is about spending time with the people we love. It’s about a feeling of warmth and coziness. A feeling of togetherness. A feeling that we’re protected from the world. Hygge is about finding joy in the seemingly unimportant things in life. It’s about being grateful. It’s the search for everyday happiness.

The concept of Hygge is so heavily ingrained in the Danish psyche that the word hygge comes in the form of an adjective and a verb. For instance, a room, a party, or a certain object can be hyggelig, which means hygge-like. You can even make some foods to be more hyggelig. For example, to make a cake more hyggelig, you need to add icing. (4)

How To Bring Lagom Into Your Home?

If you’re looking for a way to organize your home in a practical way and turn it into a more comfortable and warmer place to live in, incorporating the Swedish lifestyle concept of Lagom into it is the right choice for you. 

Lagom, which translates into English as ‘not too much and not too little,’ or ‘just right,’ can be incorporated into many spheres of life, including your home and interiors. The Lagom design style trend has been present in Scandinavia for years, but it has recently grown in popularity in different countries around the world. More and more people are incorporating this interior design into their homes, and there’s a good reason for that. The Lagom interior design trend encourages you to use a specific material, fabric and furnishing to organize and decorate your space without spending a lot of money and over-cluttering your home.

So, if you want to know more about how you can live the Lagom lifestyle, continue reading this article because, in what follows, we’ve presented 10 tips on how to incorporate the Lagom interior design trend into your home. (1)

1. Paint Your Walls White Or Light Grey

These natural and muted tones make the space look brighter and allow for other items to be more noticeable. In addition, these two colors can turn your home into a relaxing space where you can rest and recharge after a long day of work.

If you’re not a fan of white or grey walls, you can paint your walls with other colors, but make sure you avoid loud or brash colors and patterns.(2)

2. Introduce Nature To Your Home

A typical Swedish home is furnished with many natural materials, such as wood, wool, stone, leather, and felt. Putting cotton rugs on the floors or a wooden coffee table in your living room or draping sheepskin throws over your dining room chairs will add warmth to your home. 

In addition to furnishing your home with natural materials, you can collect plants, pine cones, sticks, shells, pebbles, or anything else that you can find on the pavement, in the woods, or on the beach and put them on a shelf or windowsill in your home. Bringing nature indoors will brighten up dark corners in your home and make it look cozy, and create a calm, serene feel.

In addition, keeping plants in your home can help purify the air, absorb toxins, and decrease stress levels. Plants that don’t require a lot of maintenance and can survive anything include the following:

• Spider plant
• Snake plant
• Rubber tree plant
• Aloe vera plant
• Madagascar dragon tree
• Fiddle-leaf fig tree

3. Declutter Your Home

Not only does a cluttered space contribute to stress and anxiety, but it also hinders creativity and makes it hard to relax.

What’s characteristic about Swedes when it comes to their homes is that having a lot of things and hoarding is a no-no.

The Lagom lifestyle is all about moderation, so if you want to achieve a simple lagom way of life, you need to declutter your home. In what follows, we’ve presented 4 signs that show you need to declutter your home.

• You have a lot of things you no longer use or need.
• You wish you had a spare room where you could store your clutter.
• The thought of friends and family visiting you makes you feel overwhelmed and stressed since you have a lot of clutter to clear away first.
• It takes you longer to find something you are looking for.

How To Declutter Your Home

• Make a declutter to-do list.
• Declutter one room at a time each day.
• Spend 15-20 minutes decluttering spaces in your home.
• Organize stuff into three boxes: throw away, keep, and donate.
• Fill a box or basket with things you no longer use or need.
• Throw away one thing for everything you buy.
• Get rid of clothes that no longer fit or you don’t want to wear.
• Limit the area where clutter can build up. For instance, once the folder you keep documents in gets full, go through your documents and throw away those you no longer need. (3)

4. Make Sustainable Choices

In addition to being adept at furnishing their homes in a practical, simple, and affordable way, Swedes are very skilled at upcycling and recycling.

All you need is a little bit of imagination and creativity to bring old or damaged items you’ve loved dearly back to life and appreciate their beauty again. For instance, you can transform old teapots into herb planters and store them in your kitchen. Or you can transform light bulbs into beautiful vases that you can fill with water and flowers and hang in the window. To do this, you’ll need to remove the metal tab at the bottom of the bulb, break the glass that surrounds the filament and inside the base of the light bulb, and cut the twine. And why not turn old mason jars into cool and unique toothbrush holders?

5. Set Single Items Apart

In a typical Swedish home, single items are set apart so that they can have breathing space and be easily noticed. Having space in between single items in your home also allows you to admire each item’s purpose or beauty. It also prevents you from over-cluttering your home.

6. Use Rugs Instead Of Carpets

Swedes tend to perceive carpets as unhygienic, which is why Trasmatta, which translates as rag rug, can be commonly found in most Swedish homes. Rag rugs are made from old clothes, bedsheets, or towels that are woven together using a loom.

7. Furnish Your Home In The Lagom Way

Swedes are highly adept at creating the ideal balance of vintage and modern. If you step inside a Swedish home, chances are you’ll find a few designer pieces, but you’ll also discover many secondhand and vintage items. Swedes simply love blending old pieces with new and modern ones. Doing this makes their homes way cozier and unique.

8. Create One Central Point

The most important thing you need to remember when furnishing your home the Lagom way is not to overcomplicate it. Instead of focusing on creating a few key elements, focus on creating one central point in a room. In this way, you’ll add simplicity to your home and make it look more modern.

Some items that you can choose to be a room’s focal point include a sofa, wall painting, coffee table, or even a rug.

9. Decorate The Space With Candles

Candles are an inseparable part of the décor in a typical Swedish home. Besides adding ambiance to a room, they make the space look warmer and cozy.

Decorate your home with candles by putting them on a shelf, in the center of a table, or in dark corners to brighten them up. However, make sure you don’t place too many candles on your shelves. You don’t want to have a pile of candles – remember, Lagom décor and lifestyle are all about balance and moderation. (4)

10. Focus On Practical Furniture

The Lagom design style trend encourages a practical and timeless interior. So, choose furniture that’s functional, appropriate to the size of the space, and suits your lifestyle. Choosing this type of furniture rather than one that’s impractical will make you embrace and adore this way of living.