Bringing the outdoors inside can really help improve your life. It can connect you with the outside world, regardless of how much space you have outside. It can boost your mental health, and it can even help your physical health. I’m a big fan of bringing the natural world into the home, without having to spend big or make massive lifestyle changes. I’m going to share with you four different ways you can make your home more natural.
Increase the Natural Light
If you love spending time outdoors and basking in the sun, then why not do all you can to bring more natural light into the home? This can help brighten up your living space and also improve your health and happiness, which is always something you should look out for. It can be tricky to do this, though, and you may need to consider rearranging furniture or even installing a skylight (which could be pricey), but it could be worth it if you want to bring the inside of your home closer to nature. One of the best improvements I did to my living room was removing our rear windows and replacing with triple bifold doors, which both increase the light and make the house feel like an extension of the rear garden.
You can also consider your window framing – if you have dark curtains, consider replacing with lighter curtains, or even with a window blind instead – something that will really open up the space and let you maximize the light that comes in from your windows. If your home has all the natural light you can make without serious adjustments, consider your artificial lighting. Have warm overhead lights, not glaring unnatural white ones, and make the best use of light and shade with lamps for a soft evening light to read by.
Embrace the beauty of House Plants
House plants can be so rewarding. House plants not only brighten up the room and make you feel like you’re connecting with nature, but it can improve both mental and physical health. House plants are natural air filters, they increase the oxygen levels in the air and can remove pollutants – literally helping you with every breath you take. House plants can be used in every room of the house, from the kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedrooms and even the hallways. Have a think about each location and what type of plant will do best there – is there a lot of natural light, or do you want a shade dwelling plant? Do you want to be watering it a lot, or is it low maintenance that you’re looking for? Big and bushy, or small and subtle? There is absolutely a plant for every location.
Make the most of Colours, Decor and Furniture
Part of nature’s magic is that there are millions of colours wherever we go, even if our eye can only spot a select hundred or so. You can continue the natural theme by embracing colour, whether through painting the walls, bringing in house plants, or sending birthday flowers (even if it’s just to yourself) to brighten up your space. Consider making the most of your natural light as we’ve discussed above with light and airy colours; think whites, creams and pastels on the walls, with then pops of colour in your decor.
Reconsider Your Furniture
Furniture needn’t be expensive to replace, and with second-hand items or upcycling, there is an array of possibilities for you to make your home more natural. Rather than rely on cold steel frames or brushed brass, think about wooden items, especially in the rooms where you’ll spend the most time. Usually, this is your living room and dining room, but you can also think about bedroom furniture. Ideally, solid wood is the best type, as this feels more genuine compared to MDF alternatives, but as everyone’s budget is different, go for what you can afford, as long as it maintains a sustainable approach.
Use Eco-Friendly Household Items
From cleaning products to bin bags, some of the most impactful approaches are looking for eco-friendly household items. These are biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable items that will be reused once you are finished with them, continuing the cycle. Likewise, you want items that don’t use harmful chemicals while still giving you the exceptional results you get from harsher but ultimately damaging formulas. Eco-friendly household care is a big thing right now, so you needn’t far before you come across something that puts the environment first.
Our homes say a lot about us, and the more you dissolve the separation between inside and outside (without tearing down the walls), the more your home will reflect what you care about. As you can see, there is a range of possibilities, and whether you choose to embrace them all or just one is entirely up to you. Whatever approach you take, you can trust that it will be worth it.
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