In today’s fast-paced, connected world, many of us lack the time to enjoy the outdoors. This is regrettable because studies indicate that nature plays a significant role in our health and wellbeing.
Fortunately, you can bring the outdoors inside if you’re craving the sounds, textures, and moods of nature! Plants, unprocessed natural materials, and even art can help you incorporate elements of the natural world into your home.
Here’s how to “bring the outside in” for your home…and sanity!
1. Use natural, neutral tones
Use natural colors such as beige, white, ivory, taupe, and brownish-gray. You can find these colors in nature (consider spending a day at the beach or going on a hike through a breathtaking forest), and by bringing them into your home, you’ll feel more rooted, at ease, and focused.
To create an intriguing and layered neutral aesthetic, experiment with these colors in various fabrics, materials, paints, and decor.
2. Opt for organic materials
Incorporate more organic materials into your interior design, playing right into the natural theme. Look for wicker, rattan, stone, or ceramic furniture and accessories with natural finishes, as well as rugs made of wool, cotton, or jute.
By using wall art, such as mirrors, you can create a calming and cozy atmosphere, which can help counteract the stress levels seen in recent years. As we all strive to live simpler, less chaotic lives, designers fully anticipate this to be a long-term trend in design. The fact that these materials are eco-friendly and simple to repurpose is a fantastic side benefit.
3. Think green
For furniture and decor, minimalism is the way to go, but designers advise bringing in as many plants as you can! Indoor plants can improve mood by lowering stress, enhancing focus, increasing productivity, and more. Not to mention that they produce clean oxygen from carbon dioxide, which is ideal if you spend a lot of time indoors.
4. Succulent art
Low-maintenance options include terrariums and succulents because they require little care to flourish. A succulent wall or picture can add a significant impact to any project. Collections of succulents that fit into picture frames and are secured by hardwire cloth are called living pictures. If you decide to tackle this project yourself, you can pick complementary colors and arrange them however you like.
5. Nature walk treasures
Perhaps you have a box of unusual rocks you’ve picked up on your travels or a Ziploc bag full of seashells. A walk in your yard might reveal beautifully symmetrical pine cones or interestingly twisted branches.
Each of these things offers a chance to bring the outdoors inside. Place seashells, twigs, and branches among books and picture frames to add texture. Fill vases with stones, rocks, and sand, then add a recently picked wildflower.
6. Photographs as art
Create a cohesive design for your room by hanging nature prints and art. For example, your forest-inspired accents will catch the eye if you use a print of endless redwoods. A large image of the ocean or the view from a mountaintop will open up a small space and make it feel more welcoming. Hang your own enlarged photographs from special trips and locations around the house.
7. Sound therapy
Sounds in your home are rarely generated naturally. Your laptop, coffee maker, microwave, and refrigerator all make audible noises. Your children’s laughter and the sound of running water in the shower may be the only sounds you hear throughout the day that are naturally occurring. The sound of running water can be soothing and even reduce stress. Find a way to incorporate a small waterfall or fountain into your house, especially in the areas where you need it most.
For example, you can concentrate and better control your anxiety by having a fountain nearby your desk, where you pay your bills and browse through your emails. You can incorporate as much or as little of nature into your decor as you like. If you want your home office to feel exactly like a beach, you might only want one tall, elegant houseplant in the corner of your living room.
Whatever your preference, adding these natural elements to your home can make it the peaceful retreat you need after a long day at work.
