5 clever ways to bring nature into your home (that don’t all involve plants)

2022-08-20 03:05:53 By : Mr. KK JUN

Harness the healing power of the great outdoors

Spending time in green spaces has been shown to lower stress levels and ease mental fatigue, so it’s no surprise that people are increasingly favouring the natural look in their interiors, particularly over the past two years.

It’s especially vital for those who live in built-up areas and crave the sense of calm that the great outdoors offers.

And it continues to be one of the biggest interior trends of 2022 — so here’s how to bring the outside in to create your own peaceful sanctuary. The best part? This look is evergreen.

Having plenty of daylight streaming into your spaces will help you feel more connected to the outdoors and boost mood. Natural light is actually said to be the number one feature people look for when buying a home. So, avoid fussy window furniture and choose lightweight or sheer blind and curtain fabrics instead to allow light to flow into the room.

Another trick is to use mirrors, mirrored cabinets and polished flooring to bounce light around the room. Hanging a mirror on the wall adjacent to or across from your window will help to make a space feel larger. And if it’s reflecting greenery from the garden outside, even better.

This look is typified by the use of natural materials such as wood, polished concrete, organic cotton, wool, rattan, bamboo and brick. One high impact way to invest in the trend is to choose furniture that heroes these organic fibres, such as the new DFS Platinum Extravagance sofa, which features a jute weave fabric, real wood lattice-work panelling on the arms, and a choice of oak or walnut feet.

With a generous, contemporary feel, the sofa is available in a range of natural shades, including stone, charcoal and forest green. It makes the perfect starting point for your back-to-nature scheme.

Create a sense of sanctuary with soothing textures taken from the outdoors. Polished stone flooring makes a real statement and is a wonderful contrast to the generous curves of your sofa — just add a rug if you want to soften the look. Similarly, sculptural ceramic vases and lamps mimic the organic shapes found in nature, and are also pleasing to the eye.

Another micro-trend popular right now with indoor nature lovers is brushed plaster-effect walls. They add instant warmth to minimal, modern design schemes, and can be achieved using chalk paint (usually in at least two shades of your chosen colour) and a sponge or rag to create the swirling ‘plaster’ pattern.

Take a look at the biggest colour trends for this year and they have one thing in common: they can all be found in the natural world. From the subtle warmth of taupe and cinnamon to calming, chalky greens, uplifting pastel blues and bursts of rich, golden ochre, these are grounding shades that bring a sense of wellbeing.

For the ultimate balance, pair shades of stone and earthy browns with accent hues such as sunburnt yellow or Dulux's colour of the year — an airy, optimistic blue called Bright Skies. Not sure where to start? Dulux and DFS have collaborated on the Java sofa range, which is available in a wide range of colours, including Bright Skies, to breathe fresh air into your interiors.

Bringing greenery into your home using houseplants in pretty pots placed on shelves and sideboards, and abundant bunches of freshly cut flowers in statement vases, is an obvious – and effective – way to recreate the sights and scents of the great outdoors. But if you aren’t blessed with green fingers, you can still get the look with the help of nature photography and artworks hung on your walls. Or you can give subtle nods to the outdoors with plant motifs on bedding and cushions. No watering necessary.

Shop the perfect sofa for your natural-look interiors at DFS