Natural Home Décor Ideas - 6 Easy Styling Tips

 People are generally calmed by nature and greenery; this is a common human response. Of course, not all natural places affect us in the same way, but on some level, nature and the surrounding vegetation calm the ferocious beast. Have you ever heard of performers relaxing in the "green room" before a show to calm their nerves? It's the green room for a reason—not the red one. 

It only makes sense that we would want to incorporate the natural world into our indoor spaces as we spend more time indoors and in front of screens. 

Declutter your space

I'm going to start with minimising clutter before we get to the exciting part of bringing the outside inside. I don't want to seem pessimistic, but if a room is overflowing with objects, it will be quite difficult to make it feel in any way like an oasis. Using my own experience here I don't know about you, but when I step into my house and I'm surrounded by junk I've put off dealing with, my chest practically tightens up.

Both you and nature require breathing room. It's about beginning over from scratch.  

I'm going to start with minimising clutter before we get to the exciting part of bringing the outside inside. I don't want to seem pessimistic, but if a room is overflowing with objects, it will be quite difficult to make it feel in any way like an oasis. Using my own experience here I don't know about you, but when I step into my house and I'm surrounded by junk I've put off dealing with, my chest practically tightens up.

Both you and nature require breathing room. It's about beginning over from scratch.  

Consider tackling one small project at a time. Attempt to clean a table or countertop. Sort the items you want to keep and store them. Put the remainder in bags and sell or donate the rest. as soon as is practical. 

Only sell it if you're going to swiftly market it and if it's worthwhile to take the time and trouble. (There are a lot of Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace flakes out there, am I right?) Compare this to the gratification of having it done that day. Additionally, if that works for you, your donation is a tax write-off. A post on helpful decluttering mini-projects is available here.

When I move things out of my house and out the door, I actually experience a mini-high. So remove that band-aid immediately without waiting. Once it's finished, treat yourself to a cocktail or whatever else suits you. 

Plants & greenery, real and faux

People can relax by being around nature and plants. Indoor plants have gained enormous popularity over the past few years, notably last year. Nature and the outdoors naturally elicit a good response in us.

Plants are one of the simplest methods to create a peaceful and green sanctuary, but they don't necessarily need to be watered frequently. Let's look at our alternatives:

Live plants

Live plants come first, and unsurprisingly, they are my favourite. I urge you to try a live houseplant if you haven't already. You just run the risk of becoming addicted. 

Here are some pointers for using live plants to bring the outside in: 

Tall plants or trailing provide drama and vertical impact. When hanging off a ledge or shelf, a trailing plant looks spectacular. When plants are tied to a climbing trellis, many of them develop larger leaves. Combining vertical height and trailing length can be entertaining. Learn why some plants benefit from support and how to make your own by reading this article. 

Think about your containers in addition to the plants you bring inside. Choose natural-looking materials and colours for a muted, earthy effect. Consider cement, terra cotta, and ceramic planters in muted tones. 

Plastic pots should be avoided whenever possible. Neither the fabric nor the colour usually contributes to a feeling that is inspired by nature. There is a tonne of gorgeous and inventive containers made of materials and colours that are inspired by the environment. 

Cut foliage & flowers

Live plants require too much work. If so, think about utilising cut flowers and foliage as a transitional element between real and fake plants. Unlike plant parenting, cutting plants doesn't require a lifelong commitment. (And let's face it, not everyone is made out for parenthood!) 

Heck, it might even be dried—ideal!

It doesn't take much in the way of foliage to produce an environment that seems natural. A little greenery in a glass, a couple of uncomplicated branches, or a floral arrangement on a tabletop can do a lot to bring the outside in. 

Another benefit is that foliage frequently lasts for weeks or even months. In a vase, my fern fronds persist for a few months. 

Flowers that are in season or branches that are in bloom are both lovely. A vase filled with three stems from your neighbourhood florist can have a big impact. 

Visit the article on indoor flowering branches to add colour to your house during the gloomy winter. 

Faux plants & greenery

"Can't I have the look of nature without the actual nature?" some of you will ask. "Yes!" is the unmistakable response. I have you. Everyone may not enjoy living plants.

My sons gave me a few fake plants that seem quite lifelike that I have on display in my home. I defy anyone to distinguish between authentic and fake at a glance!

The majority of what gives us the desired indoor-outdoor experience is the greenery from plants, whether they are real or artificial. Go faux if you don't want to deal with dirt, watering, or your cat or toddler eating the foliage. 

Why do you want to consign a series of plants to gradual deaths from lack of light if your room is dark? Get a nice-looking piece of high-quality imitation foliage, place it on the dark bookcase, coffee table, or bedroom whatever you like, and call the job finished. I'll make sure it looks fantastic.

Natural objects & elements

In keeping with the artificial plant motif, you don't even need to use actual plants to bring the outside in. A fantastic method to bring the outside in is to use objects that either depict nature or are made directly and sustainably from nature.

Nature Represented

First, not even naturally occurring materials are required for products to portray nature. They only need to arouse emotion. Consider ornamental items, sculpture, photography, and art. Instead of being the precise truth, they must arouse emotion. 

Natural objects

In my opinion, styling using products found in nature is enjoyable. It has a significant impact on establishing a natural theme in an interior, ranking right up there with live plants. 

However, you should think about where you're getting your supplies from. For instance, as you can see above, I have a chambered Nautilus on my bookcase. I went to some bother to get a vintage one on eBay because I'd seen a lot of those being sold new at the time, which made me wonder if they were being harvested responsibly or not. (It was the real stuff, as evidenced by the accumulated filth inside its spiral chambers.) Just make sure it's legal before collecting anything in the wild. 

Check out my post on decorating with found and natural objects for plenty more inspiration and ideas.

Natural home décor materials

Materials made of nature are timeless. Returning to our ancestral roots, we use natural materials for our home décor as a response to the natural world. 

Natural materials literally create a warm and inviting environment. They frequently serve as effective insulators, keeping us warm and comfy, making them comfortable to live within our houses. Natural fibres are very breathable, making them pleasant to touch in warm weather. 

Natural components like wood, stone, rattan, and wicker all contribute to bringing the outside in. Even after being transformed into furniture, textiles, or other household items, they continue to be a manifestation of nature. 

By choosing natural materials, we can bring the great outdoors into our homes with everything from woven storage baskets to stone tabletops, and rattan seats to rough-hewn beams. And as a result, our lives are better. 

Nature-inspired colour palettes

Natural colour schemes go hand in hand with everything we've spoken about and might be assumed to be inevitable, but here are a few suggestions to get you started. 

It's crucial to follow your intuition when choosing colours for your indoor retreat. If you've read this far, I'm going to assume that you desire a place that truly inspires, calms, and makes you feel great. This entails picking hues that give you a positive feeling. Although you could exclaim, "Duh!" not everything is evident. 

So here's what I advise: create a Pinterest mood board. What aspects of nature inspire you the most, given that we're talking about nature-inspired colour schemes? neutral earth tones, blues, and greens? 

For instance, when you gaze at beige or white walls, do you feel cool and collected or do you feel like yawning? Looking at walls that are orange or lavender makes you feel energised, or does it make you want to leave the room? 

Gather around 50 photographs, step back, and observe any emerging colour tendencies. Your mood board is accurate. 

Seasonal decorating

By altering our settings by the seasons, we have an endless opportunities to bring the outdoors inside. 

But the lesson here is to keep things straightforward. We all want to decorate for the holidays without having to spend a lot of time or effort on it. Here are some quick suggestions:

Winter decorating ideas

Winter is a season of relaxation and inactivity. Because they were the only plant that survived the winter, early pagan cultures revered evergreens. Consider pinecones, evergreens, citrus fruits that ripen in the winter, narcissus bulbs, and other winter-blooming plants. 

Replace lighter-coloured textiles and pillows heavier-colouredavier-colored textiles, such as wool, instead of cotton or linen. 

Spring seasonal display

Think about branches that are in bloom in the spring. After the bleakness of winter, the garden, eggs, moss, tulips, daffodils, and other spring bulbs represent renewal and birth. 

The new season, leaving ehind winter is symbolised by lighter, frequently pastel hues and textiles (flower hues). 

Summer display

Seasonal fruits, vegetables, and flowers are in abundance during the summer. Use your favourite vase, dish, or plate to display your garden (or grocery store) haul.

Summer greenery replaces spring flowers in the landscape. Branches in a container can be used to make a statement. 

Fall decorating ideas

Now that summer is ended, berries and fruit have taken the place of flowers. Harvest time in the autumn is heralded by persimmons, pumpkins and other seasonal fruit and berries.  

Check out arranging a nature-inspired fall bookcase for more wonderful decorating ideas and general advice.

These are my suggestions for bringing the outside in and designing a house that is influenced by nature. Really, it doesn't take much to give your place a natural vibe (as in the picture above). What are your favourite techniques for giving your house a natural feel? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.