Keeping with the outdoor theme from my last post, today I invite you to bring the outdoors into your home as well. It’s common knowledge that being in nature has a lot of positive effects on our physical and mental well-being. In fact, just a short walk outside can make us feel calmer, boost our mood and spark creativity!

So today let’s look at ways to bring in elements from nature into our home so we can take advantage of these benefits.

1) Bring in greenery & fresh flowers

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This is the simplest, perhaps most obvious one but also the most effective. Not only does being surrounded by plants and flowers get you in a better mood but it also improves the indoor air quality. Apparently taking care of plants can even make you more compassionate!

For a fresh take you can use wall mounted planters like these ones from Umbra shown above. Style greenery in a variety of beautiful vases/vessels (see image below). Also consider hanging planters like the ones from World Market here.

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2) Use natural textures & materials

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There are so many beautiful textures and natural materials that can bring a sense of warmth to your space – jute, wicker, rattan, bamboo and clay to name a few. You can bring these materials in through furniture, flooring, lampshades, baskets or even vases like terracotta ones below.

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Rugs made of natural fibers like jute, sisal and seagrass are another great way to bring the outdoors in on an impressive scale (see image below)! Read more about natural fiber rugs and this room here).

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Other nature inspired decor elements can be shells, rocks, sand, straw, wood and pine cones. Create an arrangement of these in a beautiful bowl (like the image below) and you’re good to go! If you’re into seashells as decor you’ve got to check out this fun post over at Emily Henderson’s blog!

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3) Use natural light – it’s free!

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Take advantage of natural light where you can by using light sheer curtains instead of heavy ones, opening windows to bring fresh air in or avoiding window treatments all together so you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the outdoors. Skylights are also a great way to bring in much needed natural light.

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4) Inspire your senses

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Along with the visual don’t forget to indulge your olfactory and auditory senses as well. Potpourri, essential oils in diffusers and water features with sounds of flowing water/rain can create a spa-like relaxing atmosphere in your home. What’s not to love about that?!

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5) Don’t forget fruits and veggies!

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Having a beautiful bowl of fruit/veggies sitting on my kitchen counter is a great way to remind myself to eat them before they go bad as well as a great way to liven up the kitchen. Try it and I promise you’ll be eating more of those fruits than you do than if they were sitting in your refrigerator. It’ll keep you healthy and happy – its a win win :)!

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So here you go! Hope these tips are helpful in creating positive vibes and a calming atmosphere in your home. Let me know in the comments below if you’d be interested in seeing a future post with examples of rugs, planters and other decor items that you can purchase to bring the natural elements into your home?