Characteristics of Nature-Inspired Design
Full of stunning colors, tons of texture and classic beauty, the outdoors have been inspiring interiors from the beginning. Since time in nature tends to be mood-boosting, why not bring some of that same energy to the rooms in your home. Here are nature-inspired design characteristics that feel fresh but have some serious staying power too.
Go For Green Paint
Turns out it’s easy using green paint. Surprisingly versatile, green is almost neutral thanks to how well it plays with other colors. Take a minute and think what color a shade of green doesn’t look good with — amazing right? Right now, sage, forest and citron greens are popping up everywhere. From wall colors to home accessories and accents, it’s easy to find ways to bring the color into your home. If you’re hesitant about adding color to your space, start small before going for a dramatic statement like painting an entire room green.
Include Botanical Prints and Motifs
Leaves, flowers, grasses and more. There’s something classic about using botanical prints in your interiors. Hang artwork in your living room, choose a palm-leaf-pattern removeable wallpaper for a powder room or look for nature-inspired detail work on metal accessories and furniture. If you choose a large-scale print in bright colors, it feels graphic and modern, while a more muted, smaller scale print in an antiqued finish feels vintage. Don’t be afraid to play with these patterns, there’s a reason that botanical prints from the 50s still feel on trend today.
Incorporate Woven and Natural Finishes
Wicker, rattan, cane, fluting—everywhere you look these days textural details are taking over. Now we’re seeing a different take on these surfaces that we did in the 80s. Instead of overly ornate, painted or polished, these woven and textured finishes exist in a more striped down and natural state. A fluted bathroom vanity, a rattan chandelier or a sideboard with caned doors are all excellent ways to try this trend in your home.
Use Warm Metals
Talk about a trend that’s not going anywhere. It’s safe to say that warm metallics are here to stay. Like the glow of sunshine through the trees, finishes like brass, copper, bronze and gold add warmth to any room in your home from your bedroom to your kitchen. Brushed versions offer a more muted and organic look than their bright gold predecessors. The power of hardware is considerable, try warm metal draw pulls, curtain rods, and hardware to add a subtle but luxe shine to a room.
Try More Organic Shapes
Unlike modern design, the beauty of nature-inspired décor is all in the curves. Instead of neat geometric shapes and hard-lined furniture, it’s all about unique silhouettes that feel found instead of manufactured. To add these shapes to your own home, try a couch with a curved back and rounded arms or a coffee table made from a polished slice of wood. Imperfect and organic shapes give a laid-back and comfortable feel that’s ideal in a bedroom or living room. The best way to create balance is with a mix of straight and curved furniture, finding that sweet spot lets you slowly incorporate pieces you love over time.
Up the Texture with Stone
Cool to the touch, always in style and classically beautiful, there’s something to be said for stone. Whether you’re adding touches of marble through accent tables or splurging on vast expanses of it in a backsplash, it adds sophistication to a space that can’t be beat. There’s also a look for every budget with man-made and more natural versions of the material. With nature-inspired design, take it beyond the expected marble look and don’t be afraid to add a pebbled or stone surface as a shower floor or wall.