Who wouldn't love to have a touch of nature in their home?
How beautiful is this?
Photo by Collov Home Design on Unsplash
So refreshing and calming. You can feel the zen.
However, while there’s no doubt natural homes look amazing, they are also seriously good for your health!
That’s why in this article we’ll explore nine creative ways to bring nature into your home. Whether you want to add some plants or go all out with a water feature, we have the perfect ideas for you.
Enjoy this read with us while we show you just how easy it is to grow that natural feeling in your own home.
Before we get into it, let us introduce a concept known as biophilic design.
What is Biophilic Design?
It may sound technical, but it's pretty simple stuff and absolutely essential to understand when bringing nature into your home.
Biophilic design is the practice of designing buildings and spaces that connect people with nature. The goal is to create a more sustainable, healthy, and productive environment for both people and nature.
For example, you may see biophilic designs used in offices with lots of plants, a school with a green roof, or those walls where they have reused plastic bottles cut in half with plants growing out of them. There are tons of benefits that come with doing this, which is why so many properties are interested in it.
What are the benefits of biophilic design?
Biophilic design has countless benefits, but we've narrowed it down to our top four;
- Improve your health and wellbeing
Adding just one plant to a room can increase the oxygen levels in that room by as much as 2.4 liters per day. Plants also absorb harmful VOCs, the chemicals commonly found in sprays, household cleaning products, and carpets that can be dangerous when inhaled.
- Boost your productivity
Yes, if you're working from home or remote working, or you're just trying to get stuff done, adopting a biophilic design could be a great way to get focused. This is science-backed, as an Exeter University study found that adding just a few houseplants to a room can increase productivity, concentration, and overall well-being by as much as 47%.
- Reduce stress and live calmer
We're all looking for ways to reduce stress, and few ways are as effective as being around nature. One study found having plants at home can significantly lower stress levels by as much as 40%. This means everyone in your home can be calmer, more focused, happier, lighter, and overall healthier!.
- Create a more sustainable space
When you're taking on a natural approach to design and decoration, you're (pardon the pun) naturally going to create a more sustainable space.
This is because you'll use more natural, renewable, and biodegradable materials. You'll also reduce your use of harmful chemicals and your carbon footprint, which is excellent news for the environment and air quality inside your home.
And so, with all these benefits in mind, let's explore some of the best ways you can bring nature into your home and start enjoying the benefits of biophilic design.
9 creative ideas to bring nature into your home
Now you know all about biophilic design and the benefits it can bring, it's time to get creative and start bringing nature into your home. Here are our nine favourite ideas you can start enjoying today!
#1 - Add some plants
By far the easiest change you can make to your home and a great place to kick start this list. Adding plants to your home will instantly make it feel more natural, and you'll reap the benefits in no time. Start with one per room and go from there. Bring the outside inside to feel nature surround you.
Be warned, however. It's easy to become a little addicted to buying plants to feel up every space you have. #plantlovers
Photo by Liana Mikah on Unsplash
#2 – Use Organic Patterns and Pictures
You can easily feel a sense of nature surrounding you with the simple change of adding organic patterns or pictures to your space. A new rug or scatter cushions within a space will create a sense of calmness and color! There are beautiful artworks from simple to bold that are trending right now, that show organic elements and plant images.
Photo by Prudence Earl on Unsplash
#3 - Let the light in
Natural light is one of the most important elements of biophilic design, so make sure you let it into your home as much as possible! Opening the curtains and blinds during the day will help brighten your space and improve your mood. A great design tip for letting natural light in while still feeling privacy within your home would be to use a double track block out and sheer curtain or a sheer curtain with a block out blind combination. The sheer curtain provides that extra privacy during the day. For the best experience, get blinds that work on timers so natural light can wake you up at the beginning of the day and ensures your home is dark at night. This can be game-changing for the quality of your sleep.
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
#4 - Bring in some nature sounds
Another personal favorite, if you can't get outside as much as you'd like, say you're living in the city, then bring the outside in! Listening to natural sounds has been shown to reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost productivity. Just play your favorite soundscapes in the background, however, you're spending your day.
#5 - Add a water feature
Adding a water feature is a great way to incorporate the sound of moving water into your home, which can help to create a calming and relaxing environment. Yes, we know your mind tried to imagine somehow squeezing a large stone fountain into your apartment, but you don't have to be so extreme.
Instead, there are plenty of smaller-scale options out there available online or in most home décor stores!
#6 - Incorporate wood into your decor
Wood is a great way to bring a natural element into your home, and it can be used in all sorts of ways. You could add some wooden furniture, flooring, or even just some simple decorations.
Installing wall paneling is always a good shout. Just make sure you're prepared to feel like you're in a Pinterest post. It always looks stunning.
Photo by Minh Pham on Unsplash
#7 - Use natural materials
Whatever part of the home you're working on, whether you're decorating or buying new furniture, try to use as many natural materials as possible. This could include stone, wood, bamboo, natural fabrics, and again even plants.
Thanks to modern technologies, living walls are very popular right now, and it's never been easier to set up your own one.
Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash
#8 - Start a herb garden
Starting a herb garden can literally be as easy as buying a few pots of your favorite herbs and putting them on the window sill of your kitchen. You can go as big or as compact as you like with a herb garden, but there are few ways as simple or as tasty as this when it comes to creating a natural vibe at home.
Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
#9 - Break down the walls
One of the best ways to bring nature into your home is to simply spend more time outside. Try to get out into nature as much as possible, even if it's just for a short walk.
Personally, if you can, try installing large doors that open out into your garden, breaking down the barriers between the outside and the inside, giving you one large, connected space that allows you to breathe freely.
Photo by Collov Home Design on Unsplash
Biophilic design is all about bringing nature into your home to improve your health and wellbeing. With these few simple ways, you can do this, from adding plants to incorporating natural materials into your decor. You will be amazed at the difference it makes to your surroundings and your well-being.
It looks stunning in any space and creates a feeling of relaxation and serenity.
Photo by Kara Eads on Unsplash
Biophilic design is part of the Interior Design Trends for this year (2022).