There’s nothing quite like the rewarding feeling of raising a beautiful backyard garden, or creating an outdoor oasis where you can enjoy your days surrounded by greenery and that distinct feeling of peace it brings. But sadly, you can’t live in your backyard, although you can work there. At one point or another, you will need to leave this idyllic setting and head back inside to tend to your daily chores.
So why not bring the outdoors with you? Luckily, there are plenty of amazing ways you can bridge the gap between your indoor and outdoor space, and infuse your living environment with that oasis vibe. Provided that you know which houseplants and herbs are safe for your home, let’s explore the best ways to bring nature into your interior.
Break the barrier between the interior and exterior
First things first, consider how you can eliminate the barrier between the two worlds. Before we start talking about houseplants, flowers, and the finer natural décor elements, let’s fuse the two living spaces together and make them complement each other. This is perfect for those of you who are up for some remodeling and renovation.
The easiest way to break this barrier is to simply extend your kitchen, living room, or the bathroom into the garden. Depending on which room actually faces your outdoor living space, you can tear down the wall, install glass walls and sliding glass doors, and create a breathtaking view of your flower garden. Keep in mind though, you will need some privacy if you’re extending the bathroom, so choose pixelated glass and high-rise greenery.
Bring some of your flower garden inside
You’ve worked so hard to raise a beautiful and colorful flower garden in your backyard, so why leave it there? Instead, make the most of it by bringing it inside and mixing it up with the interior design. There are two ways you can do this: by transporting flowers and floral arrangements indoors, or by raising new floral arrangements by raising indoor flower beds.
If you’re up to the challenge, you can dedicate an entire wall to a vertical indoor garden where you can grow indoor-friendly plant species that can thrive in limited sunlight and a more controlled climate. If, on the other hand, you only want to fill your vases with colorful flowers, then simply nurture your outdoor garden and then pick the flowers you want to bring inside on a regular basis.
Use nature for the finest of details
A nature-inspired interior design is not just about taking care of potted plants or enjoying the beauty of colorful floral arrangements, it’s also about decorating your living space with natural materials. But the beauty, as always, lies in the finer details. Start by upgrading the old hardware to bring back the old aesthetic appeal with high quality door handles and other complementary hardware around the interior, but make sure that the materials have been procured through sustainable means and that they are natural – ensuring their eco-friendliness.
Next, choose other sustainable décor and materials such as organic linens, natural rugs, wood and marble, organic clothes, rattan furniture, and more. These materials are durable and long-lasting, and most importantly, they help create a healthier living environment. What’s more, they’ll help you create that beautiful nature-inspired interior you’re after.
Use greenery to frame the design
Flowers are beautiful, and they can make the design in every room come to life, but that doesn’t mean that you should forget about potted greenery. Potted plants are every interior designer’s first choice nowadays, as they allow them to complete the design, break any monotony in the room, and create that nature-inspired interior oasis that will make you feel like you’re always connected to Mother Nature.
With that in mind, choose houseplants that will help you create a healthier living environment, and improve the look and feel of the setting. This is an excellent choice if your interior is leaning more towards a modern design, but it can also work wonders for a more rustic approach. Be sure to tend to your plants on a daily basis to maintain their luster and vibrant appeal, and your home will become a serene natural oasis.
Let natural light permeate the interior
And finally, consider how you can let more natural light into your home. There is nothing quite like the feeling of pure bliss and happiness as the gentle warmth of sunlight touches the hardwood floors and extends into your living space, so open up the blinds and pull back those curtains! You can also install skylights in every room, and hang mirrors in hallways and darker spaces to let the light bounce off the reflective surface. Consider replacing all interior doors with French doors to let even more light travel through your home.
Final thoughts
Nature has an important role to play in your life. Don’t restrict it to your outdoor living space, but instead, invite it inside with these décor tips and let it transform your interior into a healthful and restorative living space.
About the author: Mike Johnston is an avid freelance writer and blogger from Sydney, Australia. He is a regular contributor to numerous lifestyle blogs and online magazines, where he writes about interior design (his specialty!), travel, family, sustainable living and other related and unrelated topics. Mike’s goal is to create insightful and compelling content that will help readers navigate through these vast and ever-changing fields.