The link between nature and improvement in mental health is well-established and well-documented. Nature can help to lower your blood pressure and reduce your stress levels. Ideally, this is also what your home should do for you. Your home should be your sanctuary. In recent years, interior design trends have shifted to embrace more of a natural approach; many homeowners are looking for more ways to include natural elements in their home design. In addition to creating feelings of zen and tranquillity, it is also better for the environment, so it’s a win-win. Let’s take a look.
Incorporate More Wood
When it comes to natural elements in interior design, one of the most popular materials is wood, which can be really effective. Wooden furniture creates a sense of warmth, making a room feel much cozier. Enhancing wooden features in your home gives a more rustic, timeless vibe.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the demand for custom woodwork, whether that is furniture or not. Obviously, if this is something that you want to explore, then you will need to look for local carpenters and perhaps even joiners, which you can do using MyBuilder.
From cabinetry to furniture to beams, dado rails, or farmhouse doors, many options exist for incorporating more wood into your home design. Consider adding wooden elements throughout the home so your interior design flows from room to room.
Plants: Real or Faux
Next is houseplants. These great decorative tools can be the perfect finishing touch to tie a room together. The greenery gives you a pop of color, making the space seem more peaceful and tranquil.
Houseplants can also help purify the air and remove allergens, which can be beneficial for allergy and asthma sufferers. In terms of plants, if you want to achieve the look but can’t really be bothered with the upkeep, then go for fake plants; many of them look super real, and no one can tell the difference anyway.
There are so many plants and so many ways to display them; get a bit creative. The options are endless, from tall plants on the floor to small succulents on windowsills to hanging plants or shelves, so why not play about a little to find a style you like? Remember to do a little research on the plants themselves, too, if you are opting for real houseplants so that you know what care requirements they have.
Furniture Design
The next thing to consider is the furniture itself. If you already have furniture you love, then there is no point in getting rid of it all to buy new pieces, firstly, it isn’t sustainable, and secondly, it means spending more money. Instead, you should consider how your new interior design efforts can complement your existing furniture.
However, if you are in the market for some new furniture, you might want to think about how this can add to the more natural feel you are going for in your home. Try to choose organic shapes that flow as opposed to harsh lines. The colors, materials, and fabrics all come into play here too, but more on later.
Indoor Water Features, Really?
Stick with me on this one; I know it sounds a little odd. Most people believe that water features are for the exterior of a property, just something nice to put in the garden, and they definitely can be. That being said, you can also include water features inside your home – if you want to. The trickling sound created by these features can help you to relax and feel more peaceful.
How you incorporate these water features is totally up to you. Some more affluent homeowners living in bigger homes might decide to really embrace this idea and go for a big, indoor water feature. However, most normal homeowners likely won’t have the space to spare for large, ornate indoor water features, but luckily you can get small, tabletop versions too.
Color Palettes
The colors you opt for in your interior design can help tie the entire vibe of your home together. To compliment your new approach to interior design, you should choose neutrals or other natural colors. There are a lot of pretty neutral colors that can reflect your newfound appreciation for nature.
If you want your home to feel more welcoming and warm, choose warm colors like browns, creams, deep reds, and oranges. If you wanted something a little bolder, you could opt for greens, blues, and even yellows, which are all still natural colors in their own right.
Natural Materials
In addition to wood, there are a few other natural materials that you might want to incorporate into your home design. This could be different wood products like rattan or bamboo, which are pretty trendy at the minute and seen in several pieces of furniture like headboards, tables, and chairs.
As well as other wood products, you could also choose to embrace stone. Again, there are a few different forms, like marble or granite, and they both tend to offer a simple elegance that can help make your home feel more luxurious. This could be in your kitchen design, living room via a stone fireplace, or in the bathroom with pebble tiles.
You could also choose to make a feature wall with some exposed brick. Finally, you can bring natural materials into your home design via fabrics like cotton or linen. Both of these feel pretty soft and fit into the current trend of ‘quiet luxury.’
More Sunlight
Lastly, and perhaps the easiest tip for you, is to try to bring in more light. Sunlight itself is as natural as possible, and light is integral to most home design efforts. Natural light can really breathe some life into a space, make it seem bigger, as well as illuminate the room, and make the different features pop a little.
If you can, try to make the most of your windows as they are and bring in more light. If your house is naturally quite dark, then you will need to work out how you can make the most of the light you do have; this can be done with cleverly placed reflective surfaces and embracing artificial light sources.
In Summary
Whether you own or rent, your home is vital to your physical and mental well-being. Your interior design efforts and aesthetic are actually really closely related to your mood and, therefore, your mental health too. Getting out into nature can be extremely beneficial for your mood, so bringing nature indoors should also have a similar effect. That being said, while the aesthetics and design of your home are important, you shouldn’t overlook other activities that can benefit your mental health. Remember to consider the structural integrity of your home, too, and prioritize those works first over decorating your property.
