When it comes to redecorating your home, to breathing new life into a room, trends come and go. Outdoor influences in interior design is one theme that does not go out of fashion. Bringing outside inside couldn’t be easier and it offers you a relaxing, calming and fun space to live in.
Having moved earlier this year we are thrilled with our new spaces. We waited until we’d lived in our new home a few months to get a feel for it and now we’re now ready to inject some colour and redecorate a little. Here are just some of the ways we plan to bring outdoor influences into our home.
Outdoor Influences & Interior Design: The Use Of Plants
It has long-since been a joke amongst my family and friends that the only growing things I’ve been able to keep alive are weeds and Sea Monkeys. Well, folks, it turns out that there are plants that I can keep alive (so there). I’ve opted for aloe vera plants, spider plants, some ferns and have my eye on some cacti. These all look great and help with oxygen in the house (seriously, plants in the house are really good for you).
I’m looking to expand my houseplant collection soon. I’ll also use the plant theme in some artwork around the home.
Outdoor Influences & Interior Design: Soft Furnishings and Windows
One of the quickest and easiest ways to breathe new life into a room and incorporate the outdoors theme is to use soft furnishings and window coverings that are inspired by the outdoors. We’ve been looking at Swift Direct Blinds for some curtains to pull together the plant-inspired prints, rugs, cushions and more that we have picked out. We’ve gone for soft, textured and with muted greens, creams and accent colours to create the look we want.
Outdoor Influences & Interior Design: Use Natural Materials
Scrap the MDF and flatpack. Look for real wood pieces to add to your home, from a rustic coffee table to driftwood on the mantle piece if the beach is your thing. You’d be surprised by how easy it is to add natural materials in a practical way to help build up the layers of your outdoor inspired home or room. Seagrass carpeting can be very practical and fits in perfectly with this theme. My favourite place for wooden creations is Nashwood Crafts – well worth a look.
Outdoor Influences & Interior Design: Natural Light
Light is important when creating a feel in a room. For areas inspired by nature, it makes sense to use natural light. Choose window coverings carefully so as to maximise the natural light coming in while maintaining privacy, arrange your room so as to make the best of the light, use mirrors to brighten darker corners and open the windows.
Yes, open the windows. You’d be surprised how some genuine natural fresh air changes the atmosphere in the home and it definitely has health benefits.
Outdoor Influences & Interior Design: What Top Tips Do You Have?
These are some of the things that I am doing or plan to do in order to bring outdoor influences into my home. I welcome any top tips that you have to offer on anything from paint colours to furnishings. If you’ve created an outdoor look indoors please feel free to comment and tell me what you feel worked best.
