Nature in the Home: Bringing the Outdoors In

Modern living continues to change at such a rapid pace that sometimes ones connection to the natural world can become disrupted. Taking time out to unwind outside the man made boxes that clutter cities is one sure way to remember the bigger picture and soak up the life that nature produces in vast abundance.

Research indicates that one’s health is intricately connected to the timeless rhythms of the natural world and much architecture and interior design is beginning to focus on fusing these elements together in the home. The following suggestions have been gathered together to provide some easy methods for helping one’s home environment reflect natures perfect inspiration.

Use of plants

Plants are the obvious place to start when it comes to bringing the outdoors inside. It’s so easy to gather a collection of plants and scatter them around the home or even use them as a feature to highlight certain areas. Try trailing a creeper around a window frame and over a curtain rod or use funky terrariums filled with all kinds of green goodness to add a dash of life to a drab room or as a feature in your new loft conversions Essex. There are literally tens of thousands of species of plants that are able to adapt to indoor living, so there is surely something to suit every environment and taste.

Pots of herbs growing on the kitchen windowsill serve a practical culinary purpose as well as add colour and fragrance to a space that can be somewhat uninteresting.

Natural light

Floor to ceiling windows can be coupled with mirrors strategically placed to reflect more natural light. Panels of frosted glass that allow privacy but still allow light through can enclose spaces in a tasteful way, but still help with that ever-important daily dose of Vitamin D.

Having large glass doors and windows that open up into outside spaces can also blur the line between what constitutes inside and outside. A design theme that begins outdoors with paving, decking or walkways can easily extend into the house bringing a sense of continuity, connection and expansion. Using the same colour schemes, textures and lines can make borders even less distinguishable.

Themes, schemes and decor

When walking through ones favourite places in nature it’s impossible not to notice the richness of colour schemes, the natural flow of branches andthe way the light makes dappled patterns on the forest floor. Many of these effects can be replicated inside the home with soft lighting, natural fibres and muted colour schemes. There are also many lateral and creative uses for found objects such as branches, feathers, rocks, shells, sand and stone.

The brilliant architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”

Fireplaces

Everyone has experienced sitting around a fire in the great outdoors and being mesmerised and captivated by the dancing flames. Fire touches people on multiple levels and anything that appeals to many senses is a definite winner when it comes to recreating a sense of nature within the home.

Fire warms, it crackles, pops and glows and has a scent that can evoke the very best memories. Natural wood fires are making a comeback as nothing compares to the radiant heat that a roaring fire projects. If the space is limited or sourcing firewood is too inconvenient, there are gas log fires that simulate the real thing and look remarkably authentic.

Other suggestions

Other suggestions to bring the outdoors in include skylights, arboretums, salt lamps, driftwood, natural wood structures, water features, stone or wooden flooring, natural fibres, grass matting and aquariums.

With the progression of new design trends, there are more and more methods being found to invite the outdoors to come inside. Humans have been connected to the natural world since time began and we are capable of transforming our environment in beautiful and uplifting ways.