Does Hygge Make for the Hottest Valentine’s Day? Here’s Why a Night in Might Be More Romantic

Hygge, the Danish craze that encourages making yourself and your home as cozy as possible, might just be the most romantic way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. The best part of indulging in this custom? All you need is a night in with your S.O. enjoying a little mood lighting, a good meal and a throw blanket or two.

“It’s all about creating that pleasurable cozy feeling with everyday moments,” lifestyle guru Anne Chertoff tells PEOPLE. “Think of it as that feeling of getting a hug without the actual hug.”

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Chertoff notes that spending a lot of money on Valentine’s Day is a dying trend, due in part to couples leaning toward an evening in as opposed to an elaborate date night out.

“Oddly, it’s not because people are worried about their financial stability,” she says. “It’s that the mindset is changing about what ‘I love you’ means. It doesn’t correlate to how much you spend anymore, but how much effort and time you’ve put into your time together.”

A hygge-fied Valentine’s Day might require your favorite candles, but it’s still on you to bring the flame.

“Instead of setting the usual table, lay out a tablecloth, use your best dishes — or at least avoid plastic,” Chertoff says. “Keep the lights low and put on some soft, romantic tunes. Instead of putting on your everyday PJs to sit in front of the TV, splurge on something super luxe and cozy.”

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Chertoff also points out that an integral part of any successful Valentine’s Day is sharing a delicious meal. She recommends kits like HelloFresh that can take the guesswork (and the hassle) out of recipe planning, while serving as a fun activity for you to do together.

“That extra effort really shows your partner that the best reservation in town is a reservation in your own kitchen,” Chertoff says.

Her best advice for setting the mood, though, requires no hygge experience whatsoever.

“Clean the place,” Chertoff says. “It won’t be romantic if your laundry is piled on the couch.”