With the first day of fall just right around the corner, we’re looking forward to all the best things about this season: cooler temperatures, pumpkin patches, and walks around the neighborhood to admire any changing leaves. The arrival of fall always inspires a renewed appreciation of nature – cool enough to enjoy, not yet cold enough to require the fussiness of a coat! In the spirit of the season, today’s June Journal entry is all about how to bring the outdoors, indoors!

making waves

Doesn’t this gorgeous stone feature make you feel as if you’re swept up in ocean waves? This design’s earthy tones, natural wood finishes, and potted plant all work together to create a lush retreat.

Design by: @andandandstudio
Photo by: @chrismottalini

nature’s medicine

Have you noticed how many nature-inspired interior designer trends have circulated throughout history? It’s no coincidence – researchers have found that we all have an innate drive to connect with nature. Doing so lowers our stress levels and delivers a variety of benefits!

Incorporating natural materials into interior design brings an organic, calming energy to any space! It’s so easy to spend much of our time in harsh, artificial environments like offices and grocery stores that are bathed in fluorescent light. Escaping to a forest regularly isn’t exactly easy with our busy modern lives, but by taking notes from Mother Nature, you can create a comforting, nature-inspired retreat within your own home!

natural beauty

This living room’s design creates a nature-inspired feel with a straw roman shade and a warm, cozy color palette that mimics woods tones!

Designed by: @rhigginsinteriors
Photo by: @emilyfollowillphotographer

material matters

When it comes to natural materials, there’s no shortage of options! Sisal’s durability is unmatched in areas with high traffic, while versatile wool shines in rugs, throws, and window treatments. Linen offers a hypoallergenic option for upholstery and bedding while sneaking in some visual texture. There’s a variety of woods to choose from for furniture, as well as wicker and rattan – and opting for natural stains over painted finishes is guaranteed to deliver a dose of nature to any space!

Nature-inspired materials are plentiful, too! You’d be surprised at how a wallpaper featuring florals, foliage, or a pastoral scene transports the viewer to a wilder place. By selecting a rug whose pattern mimics leaves or vines, you can create a forest underfoot! Accessories modeled after eaves, animals, or organic shapes lean away from artificiality.

Finally, you can truly bring the outdoors into your home with plants! From large, leggy fig trees to dainty ferns, the perfect plant for you exists. Peppering shelving, surfaces, and corners with plants is an easy way to make a space truly come alive! Stop by a local nursery for tips on which plants will grow well indoors, as well as which plants require a little more love. Hint: a favorite indoor plant of mine is the peperomia! Eye-catching leaves and low-maintenance needs make a great combo!

bring the green

The ferns on this bookshelf really draw in your eye with their pops of color and volume. Adding live plants to a space truly adds a layer of visual interest that’s hard to replicate!

Designed by: @emilyjunedesigns
Photo by: @kerrykirkphoto

let there be light!

Aside from design materials, another way to invite the outdoors into your home is through natural light! Blue light from our screens and harsh light from our ceilings creates a bath of non-stop, artificial light. Our fix? Enter windows, lamps, and candles!

If you’re feeling bold, consider installing skylights in tall ceilings to chase away any dark, cavernous effects, or adding windows to long stretches of wall! Looking for a solution that doesn’t involve hardhats? Swap heavy curtains for window treatments that filter, rather than block, sunlight. Try draperies made with gauzy fabrics or roman shades that can be adjusted throughout the day.

Beyond windows, lamps are excellent ways to usher in more natural-looking light! Rather than flipping the switch when it’s time to socialize or gather for a meal, try using lamps instead of an overhead fixture for a more diffused light source. Ensure that you’re channeling sunshine rather than “screen time” by checking for soft white or warm white LED lightbulbs, which are preferable over cooler-toned options! Candles are also a lovely way to create a softly-lit, intimate feel to a dinner party or a hangout with friends.

bring the outdoors, indoors!

nature’s medicine

material matters

let there be light!

ready to return to nature? check out the links below for fun ways to bring the outdoors, indoors!