✨ Why You Won’t See Many Chairs in a Hygge-Inspired Early Years Space

Walk into a typical early years classroom and you might see rows of chairs tucked under tables, ready for the day’s activities.

But step into a Hygge-inspired space and you’ll notice something different… there aren’t many chairs at all.

And that’s no accident.

🌿 Freedom to Move, Freedom to Learn

In a Hygge setting, children aren’t confined to one seat. Instead, they have the freedom to move, curl up, kneel, or sprawl out as they follow their curiosity. This flexibility isn’t just about comfort — it’s about supporting how children naturally learn and interact with the world.

Fewer traditional chairs means:
🌿 More room for open-ended play — spaces can shift and adapt to children’s needs.
💛 Cosy, home-like corners where children feel safe and settled.
🧠 Movement that supports focus and wellbeing — little bodies learn best when they can change position often.

🪑 What You’ll Find Instead

Rather than neat rows of chairs, you’ll discover:

• Floor cushions and beanbags for lounging with a book or a friend

• Low benches and stools for shared workspaces

• Tree stumps and crates that double as seats, tables, or props in imaginative play

• Inviting reading nooks you can’t resist curling up in

   

• Our members Scallywags Nursery Chelmsford have kindly shared their Hygge setting below.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

💫 The Impact on Play and Wellbeing

When children have choice over where and how they sit, they feel more ownership of their learning environment. They can choose the spot that feels right for the moment — whether that’s snuggling into a cushion to listen to a story, kneeling at a low table to create art, or standing to build a tall block tower.

Comfort, connection, and choice are at the heart of a Hygge-inspired space — and when children feel comfortable, they play more deeply, interact more meaningfully, and learn more joyfully.

✨ Ready to bring more calm, connection, and joy into your early years practice?
Join the Hygge in the Early Years Training — a beautifully designed, self-paced programme that helps you slow down, create nurturing environments, and put children’s wellbeing at the heart of your practice.

You’ll discover how to:
🌿 Design cosy, nature-rich spaces
💛 Foster deep, sustained play
🌸 Weave mindfulness and connection into every day

📥 Enrol today and start transforming your practice into one that feels calmer for you and magical for the children.