How To Decorate With Nature In Your Home
Bringing the outdoors inside is a great way to add personality and distinct detail to your home. Nature is a timeless source of inspiration for interior design, whether decorating with dried flowers, houseplants, or natural materials like wood. According to Zoco Home, filling your home with natural beauty has many positive benefits. For example, decorative objects from nature add texture, warmth, and rustic charm to any living space. If you're a city dweller, decorating with natural elements can help you get in touch with Mother Nature.
The best part of decorating with this theme is choosing how much nature to bring indoors. Go bold with large furnishings crafted from natural wood or a statement jute rug in the living room. Alternatively, incorporate small natural details like decorative branches above your bed or shells around a mirror. While you can always source natural decorations from websites like Etsy, you can also find inspiration and objects from nature on beach walks, forest adventures, and even your local park. The next time you go out for a walk around your neighborhood, keep your eyes peeled for the natural beauty that's all around. Here are the best ways to decorate with nature inside your home.
Bring branches into your home
Branches are one of the easiest ways to incorporate Mother Nature into your living space. If you walk around a neighborhood park or local forest, odds are you will spot some branches or other parts of a tree that have fallen to the ground. If a branch happens to catch your eye, why not collect it and bring it home? If you're feeling creative, there are plenty of ways to use branches in your interior decorations.
According to Shelterness, you can spray paint the branches white and use them as coat hangers in the entryway to store bags, clothes, and other accessories. Another creative idea is to design wall shelves with branches in your bedroom or living room. You can display books, knickknacks, and photos on the branches or hang string lights around them for a magical look. For a cute and practical option, secure a long branch to a wall and hang your jewelry on it.
Embrace beachcombing
Few things are as relaxing as a walk along the beach. Plus, there are plenty of natural treasures awaiting the observant beachcomber. According to Smithsonian, beaches are filled with magnificent finds like sea shells, sea glass, and driftwood. Of course, you should always ensure there aren't living creatures inside your treasure before taking it home. It's also a good idea to double-check that your location permits beachcombing and allows you to pocket objects from the shore. Some top spots for finding beach treasures include Glass Beach in Hawaii, Calvert Cliffs State Park in Maryland, Lincoln City in Oregon, and Padre Island National Seashore in Texas.
The fun continues after you've taken your treasures home. You can display your beach finds anywhere in the home. To get your inspiration flowing, consider decorating a coffee table with driftwood, attaching shells around a bathroom mirror, or layering a bookshelf with vibrant sea glass.
Get creative with crystals
According to Healthline, healing crystals have been around since ancient times, with cultures around the world believing in the power of these attractive stones. Simply holding a crystal in your hand or sleeping with one under your pillow is thought to promote emotional, spiritual, and physical healing. While no scientific evidence supports crystal healing, its popularity and beauty are undeniable. Whether you believe in their power or not, you can still fill your home with these beautiful rocks for a one-of-a-kind style. There is no such thing as too much positive energy, right?
After you've picked out your favorite crystals, either online or in person, start displaying them around your home in creative ways. For example, you can make a photo display with an odd number of stones, needle-nose pliers, and wire (via A Beautiful Mess). Simply use the pliers to bend the wire into loops to hold your photos on top and wrap the bottom of the wire around the crystals as a base.
Start a fossil collection
For a unique statement, decorate with fossils in your home. Fossils are beautiful natural objects with a long history and timeless charm. Whether you pick some specimens up at a natural history auction, flea market, or local fair, they will add rich texture and elaborate detail to any part of the home. According to Fossilicious, the trick to compiling a meaningful fossil collection is figuring out your favorite fossil type and collecting specimens from different time periods and geographic locations. For example, if you love stromatolite fossils, you can source unique pieces from South America, Africa, and elsewhere.
Once you have a blossoming fossil collection, consider how you want to display them in your home. You can design a tablescape with different fossils under glass for the living room, frame your favorite specimen for a bathroom wall, or keep your collection tidy and organized in dedicated drawers in a home office (via Homes & Antiques).
Go wild with (ethical) taxidermy
Taxidermy isn't for everyone, but this natural element can make a splash in your home and provide an instant conversation starter for guests. Plus, the right pieces will add rustic sophistication and charm to your decor. According to The Guardian, a new generation of taxidermists are reviving this controversial art form and showing that it can be an ethical practice, despite its bloody reputation. Ethical taxidermy involves sourcing animals humanely without killing any wildlife. The practice stems from a love of animals and wanting to preserve their beauty.
If you want to decorate your home with taxidermy, you can source ethical pieces from websites like Etsy. Alternatively, you can make your own faux taxidermy using paper, textiles, ceramics, and more (via Creative Bloq). As for displaying your pieces, avoid high-humidity rooms like the bathroom since moisture can cause damage to taxidermy. Mount a cow head securely above your head for a statement look, or install a small piece under a glass dome to cut down on dusting.
Make dried flower arrangements
While a fresh bouquet of flowers offers vibrant color and lush petals, dried flowers are just as beautiful. When your bouquet starts wilting, there's no need to throw it in the bin. Instead, take it out of the water and hang it upside down to preserve the blossoms and stems, as per MasterClass. It will typically take around three to four weeks for the flowers to fully dry. Once the process is complete, you can use the bouquet as a decorative statement throughout your home. Place them in a chic vase on an entryway table or hang the bouquet from a wood shelf for an extra dose of natural beauty.
In addition to drying your own bouquets, you can also decorate the home with pampas grass. This graceful grass is popping up all over Instagram and home decor blogs due to its soft texture and whimsical look (via Curated Interior). Pampas grass will add an element of visual interest to any room, whether set on a coffee table or next to a bathtub.
Select houseplants that complement your natural surroundings
If you feel like something is missing in a room, you probably need to head to the plant store and find some houseplants. According to House & Garden, plant life has the power to liven up any living space, big or small. When shopping for plants, consider the layout, existing furnishings, and the amount of natural light your room receives. Sleek and modern spaces pair well with tropical plants like Bird of Paradise, Fishtail Palm, and Dragon Trees.
Another tip is to consider your location and pick plants that complement your natural surroundings. For example, if you live in a city, decorate with sculptural and structured houseplants. On the other hand, if you live in a rural setting, seek out soft and colorful plants like hellebores. Decorating with houseplants native to your area will make your interiors feel at one with their natural surroundings and seamlessly connect your home with the great outdoors.
Display dried insects
From butterflies to beetles, the insect world is alive with eye-catching species. Decorating with dried insects in your home is a great way to honor these creatures and fill your interiors with unique and natural shapes. According to The Butterfly Babe, insects are typically dried and preserved on pins and will remain intact for generations if properly maintained. However, before you can pin and display insects around the home, you will first need to relax them. Place the specimens in an airtight container for a couple of days. Ensure a moist paper towel is inside the container and a few drops of alcohol or Lysol to combat mold. Set the insect inside and gently cover it with another wet paper towel. Alternatively, you can also find dried butterflies on Etsy.
After your insect is ready for pinning, consider where and how you want to display these creatures in your home. Let your creativity flow, and design insect collages for the walls as artwork. You can pin the insects inside glass frames and bottles for a decorative statement.
Fill your home with natural materials
Building a foundation of natural materials within your home will help you feel connected to Mother Nature at all times. Start from the ground up by layering rugs made with materials like jute, sisal, wool, seagrass, and other natural fibers. According to The Eco Hub, jute is one of the best rug materials available since it is durable, eco-friendly, versatile, and effortlessly chic. It can withstand wear and tear, making it ideal for heavy-traffic areas in the home. The soft golden fiber comes from the jute plant and is a popular material for rugs, bags, baskets, and more.
Placing a jute rug in your living room will provide an organic and natural element underfoot. To complement your rug, seek out wood coffee tables, ceramic lamps, rattan chairs, and stylish woven baskets for storing throw pillows and blankets (via Modsy). These natural materials will make any living space feel earthy and laid-back, perfect for relaxing in style.
Incorporate natural stone
Another material to incorporate into your interiors is natural stone. According to Endeavor Homes, the options for including this element in your home are endless. You can design a decorative feature wall, a luxurious fireplace, the bathroom sink, and floor tiling from natural stone. If you have outdoor space, put nature on full display by installing a stone bench for meditation or relaxed conversations, or building a garden path from rough stone slabs.
Curious about how much stone fireplaces cost? The average price tag is between $3,000 and $5,000, depending on the type of stone you use, the location, and the design type (via Brick + Ember). While real stone tends to cost more than manufactured alternatives, it offers a natural appearance that can't be replicated. The fuel type of your fireplace will also affect the final cost, depending on whether it's gas or wood burning. Wood burning fireplaces often come with higher maintenance costs since they need to be cleaned more frequently.
Decorate with acorns and other seeds
Decorating with acorns, leaves, and seeds from trees creates a homey and comforting atmosphere in the home, especially during the autumn months. According to Life at Cloverhill, you can save a significant amount of money by decorating with acorns you find in nature instead of buying them from a store. However, you will want to carefully inspect each acorn for dirt, insects, and rot before bringing them indoors. Use water and an old cloth to clean each one, sorting out any with little holes. Afterward, heat the acorns in the oven for two to three hours at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. When the acorn collection is cooled off, spray them with clear acrylic for a shiny finish.
Feel free to decorate with your acorns any way you like. Use them as a festive vase filler with leaves, pinecones, and small seeds, or transform them into acorn pumpkin decorations by painting the bottom parts orange. Scatter them over a coffee table or create an acorn wreath for your front door.
Create a fruit basket for the kitchen
Keeping a well-stocked fruit basket in your kitchen is the perfect way to greet guests and make them feel at home. According to Foter, this decorative element instantly adds a vibrant pop of color to a kitchen island or dining room table. Fill a wire or woven basket with juicy apples, oranges, bananas, and your favorite fruit for a warm and welcoming touch. A healthy snack will always be at your fingertips!
There are tons of different basket styles available, depending on your personal taste. Opt for a silver fruit bowl with a banana hook for a glamorous centerpiece or a round natural wood bowl for an organic look. Tiered bowls offer extra room for your fruits and veggies, while hanging baskets keep your countertops clear for cooking and preparing meals. No matter which style you select, ensure that it has proper functionality. You don't want your fruits to go bad quickly.
Repurpose glass bottles as vases
According to Corning Museum of Glass, while many consider glass a man-made material, different forms appear throughout nature, including volcanic and desert glass. Glass is created whenever rocks or sand are exposed to extremely hot temperatures and then cooled quickly. For example, glass forms when lightning hits sand or when molten rock from a volcano cools down rapidly. There are even sea creatures like sea sponges with natural glass skeletons.
While you might not be able to fill your home with sea sponges, odds are you have some glass bottles lying around. From milk bottles to perfume bottles, you have plenty of options. You can repurpose these beauties as vases for dried flowers or branches, or use them as creative candle holders. Alternatively, fill them with sand, string lights, and other decorative trinkets for a chic display. To spice up old bottles, paint the outside with fun polka dots or colorful stripes.
Go on a nature walk in your neighborhood
If you love the idea of decorating with nature in your home, go on a forest walk to inspire your interiors. According to Premeditated Leftovers, there are plenty of unique sights and scents to observe on a wooded path, including fallen leaves, mushrooms, natural springs, berries on bushes, spider webs, bird nests, and more. You never know what you might find in your natural surroundings.
One of the best parts about styling a living space with natural treasures is that you don't have to spend a fortune to create something beautiful that reflects your personality. It can be as simple as walking down a trail and spotting a delicate fallen branch or dried moss. While you are on the hunt for natural objects for your home, watch out for any trash or litter in the area. You can pick up trash and throw it away after your walk.