How to Bring Nature into the Home

At this time of year, there’s nothing nicer than being out in nature. Whether it’s your local beach, a nearby woodland, or just a stroll in the local park, there’s something refreshing about being outside on a sunny day.

Of course, the weather can sometimes put a dampener on things. With that in mind, here’s how to bring the restorative power of nature into the home (without transforming your house into a jungle!).

A naturally beautiful home…

Embrace natural décor. If you’re decorating, now is the ideal time to introduce some natural elements. For example, wooden floors immediately make the room feel more ‘outdoorsy’, as does a colour palette of gentle greens, warm browns and soft blues.
Make your furniture natural too. Again, wood is the way to go here. Wooden-framed sofas and armchairs bring the outdoors inside, or alternatively, rattan furniture also works really well. If you want to capture a sense of relaxing, beach-inspired indolence, consider having a swing-seat installed in the corner of the living room.
Get tropical! Nature doesn’t have to be inspired by a classic British landscape. If you’re in love with the Caribbean islands, introduce a tropical twist. There are some fabulous palm-tree motif wallpapers out there, for example; or you could even incorporate a few small palms into your living space. A brighter, more vibrant palette is needed for this look.
Create indoor-outdoor flow. If you’re lucky enough to have patio doors leading out to the garden, think about how you can blend your outdoor/indoor space. For example, adding a rustic porch or even an awning will enable you to sit outside, even if it’s raining. Creating an eating or relaxation area here will encourage the family to view it as another room in the house.
Get green-fingered. Bringing lots of plants into the house is the easiest way to make your home feel more naturally beautiful. Don’t panic if you’re not a gardener at heart; there are plenty of plants that are easy to care for, while still creating plenty of visual impacts. If you’re really anti-greenery in the home, some artificial plants are amazingly convincing – you could even use fake ivy or creepers to create a ‘green wall’ in one of your rooms!
Don’t forget the scent. We, humans, are hardwired to respond to scent, and it has the power to take us to different locations (albeit in our memories!). Light some scented candles to recreate the smell of fresh rainfall or pine forests, or spray bergamot perfume or lime fragrance to capture the essence of a warm afternoon in the Mediterranean.
Make it about work and play. Nature doesn’t just have to be relaxing. It can also enliven and invigorate you too – which is ideal when you’re trying to work. If you’ve got a home office, make sure you flood it with as much natural light as possible (even better, throw the windows open), and bring lots of plants into the room. They’ll produce oxygen, which improves the air quality, not to mention your health.