Cozy Up with Cwtch, the Warm-Hug Welsh Design Aesthetic

By Andrea Bennett If you liked hygge , the Danish decor trend evoking cozy well-being at home, you’ll love cwtch —the latest look to elevate warmth and comfort in interior design. Cwtch (which rhymes with “butch”) is a Welsh word and concept that translates as a “cuddle” or a “cubby” where one can store things safely. The aesthetic translates much the same way: decor that makes you feel snug and secure. Antique glass bottles reflect the warm glow of candles, mimicking the effect of a fire in the hearth. Farmhouse pottery cocoon lamp. $750. Replica “By The Fireplace” candle. $65. Louise Hall porcelain platter collection. £200. Swedish sheepskin rocking chair, one of a kind, c. 1940s. $13,118. Laugharne Pottery Welsh studio pottery decanter and stopper, 20th c. $378. “Welsh people have a warmth and welcoming character exemplified by their natural tendency to want to ‘ cwtch ,’ or wrap their arms around you,” explains Annie Golledge, principal of Cardiff-based design studio Hygge and Cwtch . “Uniquely Welsh, cwtch is the warmest and most affectionate of hugs. It brings huge comfort and a real sense of being in a safe place.” One of the hallmarks of the newly trendy style—and by new we mean new to us, since cwtch is, in fact, centuries old—is warm lighting. (Think cozying up to a crackling fireplace or approximating one with plenty of candles.) Rooms personalized with family heirlooms and unique decorative objects with sentimental value is another. Luxuriously soft accents, such as faux fur pillows and cashmere throws, complete the picture. Evoking a sense of tranquility is key, so to keep cozy from straying into cluttered, accents should be carefully curated, and color palettes are often neutral, with striking textures replacing bold hues. Lulu and Georgia Forsyth tray. $323. Welsh Otter Lambswool Caernarfon blanket in “tywod” (sand). £149. Set of decorative antique books. Similar available rebound or with original bindings, $120–$400. Kosas Home Simo handwoven 14” x 26” pillow in Antique Orange. $114. Ultimately, however, cwtch is about creating a setting that makes you feel snug and content—and with that kind of freedom, it’s hard to go wrong.