Most of us see our home as a place to retreat to at the end of the working day or week. One of the purposes it serves is as a sanctuary, a place where we can unwind and escape the pressures and demands of the outside world.
With that in mind we wanted to share with you Three Ways To Bring Nature Into Our Home.
Biophilic Design is a term that was introduced by Edward Osborne Wilson as 'an innate and genetically determined affinity of a human being with the outside world.' Biophilic design principles create a home which captures the essence of the natural world. These principles in turn serve to reduce stress and improve physical and mental well being by enabling us to feel more connected to nature.
Anthony Ashworth, a holistic architect and interior designer wrote 'bringing nature into our home can promote a greater sense of belonging and connection to our spirituality'. Our homes are where we can create space to heal our body, mind and soul.
Below are three wonderful ways in which we can bring nature and its many nurturing benefits into our home
1. Introduce Indoor Plants
Not only have plants been shown to reduce stress and anxiety but they also absorb airborne pollutants. A study by Melbourne University found that one medium sized indoor plant per 2.2 square metres can remove most indoor pollution. Plants can literally serve as a breath of fresh air in our home.
From simple easily affordable steps like growing small pots of herbs on a windowsill to bold more costly acts like creating a living wall of plants we can easily find ways to add some welcome greenery to all the rooms we occupy.
The owners of this home have tastefully created an amazing and original indoor biophilic plant installation with this eye-catching plant chandelier.
2. Use Natural Materials
Another effective way of creating a biophilic effect is by adding furnishings, flooring and home accessories made from natural environmentally friendly materials. They also have an added benefit in that they don't give off gas toxic chemicals.
Products including bamboo, rattan, stone, cork, granite and marble are some examples of materials which are being used in all aspects of chic and stylish interior design projects.
How naturally beautiful is this simple combination of a stone bathroom sink on top of an oak plinth!
Examples of less costly but equally effective use of natural materials in the home are seen in the addition of cotton or linen throws, seagrass rugs, wicker baskets, wooden chopping and bread boards.
3. Incorporate Organic Shapes
Furniture, lighting and home accessories designed with curves and irregular and imperfect shapes that mimic and reflect those found in the natural world are yet another way to bring the natural world indoors.
The wooden dining table below with its living edge and natural legs is a stunning example of one way to add softness and contrast to the more angular and clean cut lines of other home furnishings in the same room.
As well as the three suggestions above there are many other ways in which we can start to increase the introduction of nature and naturally inspired interior design and products indoors including the use of colour and texture.
One thing that is is certain is that as our lives become more and more hectic our desire to be able to find time and space to become more connected to nature in whatever ways we can is something which can only prove to be beneficial to our quality of life.
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