Bring The Outdoors In

How to achieve inner harmony

In an ever urbanising world, we are seeing less and less green parks and more and more concrete jungles. Below are some hints on how to bring some of the beautiful outdoors into your home and create a better connection with nature.

Make it Green

The colour that immediately springs to mind when thinking outdoors is green and it just so happens that the colour green can actually trigger feelings of serenity and relaxation according to colour therapy. A great simple way of getting green into your home is through art. Using art that references the great outdoors can make you feel like you are one with nature.\

Image: My Dear Art Shop

Image: My Dear Art Store | Plant: Cactus

Image: My Dear Art Shop | Plant: Split leaf philodendron

Indoor Plants

Indoor greenery is on trend so there is plenty of inspiration out there to get your creative juices flowing. For those that don’t have a green thumb never fear, there are plenty of low maintenance plant options like Zanzibar gem, palms and cactus varieties which actually thrive on neglect. If you are still feeling skeptical a great temporary solution is to fill your home with fresh flowers and inject some instant colour. Not only will it add colour but it will also make your home smell amazing.

Image: Henriette Amlie Kalbekken | Plant: Split leaf philodendron

Image: Henriette Amlie Kalbekken | Plant: Parlour Palm

Image: My Dear Art Shop | Plant: Rubber Plant

Natural Materials and Scents

There are also simpler ways to add a taste of the outdoors indoors by including more natural materials like raw timber, linen and rattan. Using natural materials will make you feel closer to the outdoors than ever. Even using art to reference the great outdoors can give your home a feeling of being one with nature.

Another great way to get a feeling of being outdoors is using natural scents to create ambiance. Try using floral candles or scents that are more akin to nature like wood burning fire scented candles and incense.

Image: Visse Vasse | Plant: Succulent

Image: Wild Poppy Goods

Image: Michelle Halford for TDC | Plant: Eucalyptus leaves

Plenty of Natural Light

Another way to create that connection to the outside is to get as much natural sunlight into the home as possible. If you are lucky enough to be building your own home opt for large windows and floor to ceiling glass doors that will allow plenty of natural sunlight in. If you are living the rental life try to make the most of the windows you have and take advantage of any and all natural light. Having lots of light will also help your indoor garden flourish.

Image: Justin Alexander for Inside Out

Image: Barnaby Lane | Plants: Parlour Palm, Pothos Vine, Maiden Hair Fern

Image: Inside Out Magazine

Having a connection to the outside can have a huge impact on the way we feel and the way we experience a home. There are many ways in which we can maximize this connection to make for happier and healthier homes.

Check out our Pinterest board for more outdoors/indoors inspo!

Cover Image: Ivy Muse
Plants: String of hearts, sedum succulent, cactus

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