As humans, we want to be connected with nature and other living things such as people, animals, and plants because it makes us feel good. This longing for “connection” is called “biophilia”.
There are numerous ways that we could use Interior Design to get that connection for a happier, healthier home including using natural materials, plants, animals, color, art, scents, and lighting.
Some tips include”
- Bringing the outdoors “in” through the use of design, strategic window placement, and use of colors that harmonize with the outdoor environment. Use your outdoor windows as indoor “art”.
- Using the colors of nature in your home such as blues, greens, browns, off whites and grays since they are prominent in trees, shrubs, the sky and water.
- Using color from your outdoor landscaping visible from your windows in your color scheme.
- Using art that shows landscapes, plants, animals, or other natural elements.
- Designing to make it easy to live with pets such as pet-friendly upholstery, washable rugs, etc.
- Creating exterior landscapes that are visible through your windows and are beautiful, colorful, smell great, and attract wildlife.
This Edesign for a global style living and dining room is a nice example of how to apply some of these ideas.
In this design, the windows and beautiful views of the forest provide the perfect indoor “art” and create a focal point and color scheme for the design.
- The color palette from this “art” or view includes greens, yellows, browns and blue from the sky which are incorporated in the furniture, pillows and wall color. Various shades of green are used to highlight the various shades outside. The area rug creates the illusion of flowing water.
- The art shows a natural mountain landscape showing yellow birch trees similar to what is in the outdoor landscape.
- The furnishings use pet friendly materials, and as you can see, makes it comfy cozy for pets such as the kitty on the chair.
- The décor includes plants and flowers.
- The furnishings and flooring are wood and include different wood types and colors for variety.
- The window treatments allow in natural light and are simple in color and pattern to keep the focus on the outdoor view.
- The lamps use the shape and pattern of a natural element (pineapple).
In the adjacent dining room, the forest theme continues.
In this room, the browns of the forest are highlighted in the wood of the chairs and table the area rug with various shades of brown on the wood floor and the art. The fractal art which I designed is part of my “Old Growth” series I developed because it reminds me of the colors and patterns of an old growth forest. Each frame is in a different wood tone.
The greens in the chair cushions add a pop of color and harmonize with the outdoor view and the living room colors. The décor includes plants.
The wall color here and window treatments are neutral to keep the focus on the outdoor views and the art.
Overall, this design is simple, affordable to create using color, natural elements such as wood and plants and art that highlights nature. The overall feeling is one of serenity with a focus on the amazing forest views. The look of this room will change as the seasons change and the yellow from the fall foliage changes to green, but it will still look great.
Ready to Bring the Outside in To Your Home?
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I LOVE the teal, Mary Ann, it is my favorite color and the one that “speaks” to me the loudest! And I LOVE the fractal art pieces – what an innovative twist to frame them in different wood tones in reference to the variety outdoors!
Thanks Janet! I love the colors in this living room and it is my favorite too! And thanks so much, I am so happy you like the fractal art. I thought it was fun to use different wood frames. The dining room is all about the wood and the “woods”.
I am so drawn to this Mary Ann! I’m a huge lover of blue and green so the teal rendering is one that I really love.
Your renderings are so helpful to get a sense of the space.
Thank you Sheri! Blues and greens are so fun to work with and teals are my favorite too. That makes me happy to know the renderings are helpful. I think they are great to help people visualize how things will fit but also how the space will “feel”.
Wow!!! Stunning renderings and love your drive towards wellness and living with nature in our interiors!!! Beautiful work and congratulations on exemplary service recognition!!! Love your work! xox
Thanks so much Laura! I am glad moving towards wellness is a current focus in Interior Design because it is so important to our health and happiness. I appreciate your support and thanks for reading!