Life, Styled
Design is more than just creating a layout that is functional and beautiful; it is about turning a house into a home that has an atmosphere just right for you. A functional home is good, but a home where you feel at home is best, which is the end goal for every designer. One way to have a welcoming environment is to draw inspiration from nature, which is a trend that is gaining momentum in the design world. Biophilia is a holistic approach to design that focuses on health, safety, and welfare, a consideration of utmost importance for interior designers. Let’s take a deeper look into this topic and how you can create a home environment that not only works for you but also gives your family exactly what it needs to be and stay well.
Why Do We Crave Nature?
Often, our mood and behavior are influenced by the surrounding environment. Have you ever noticed that a walk on the beach or even spending some time in your backyard calms and refreshes you? Unfortunately, we tend to spend more and more time indoors due to work or even many of our recreational activities, such as watching television. Nature has a positive impact on us, and when we incorporate some of its elements into our home, we can bring those positive vibes to our family, which aids in our overall health and well-being. It is a part of us, something we crave without fully realizing it, so we should make it a priority to weave it back into our homes. Read more about Biophilia here.
Nature’s Elements
Water, light, plants, and more are all elements from nature that can be interspersed throughout the home through careful design planning. Here are some ways to include them in your next remodel or construction project.
- Water: This is a soothing element with its gentle sounds and calming movement. Consider including a small aquarium in the design, such as a part of the living room or even on one of the kitchen walls. A small indoor water fountain also brings added health benefits by producing negative ions and reducing air pollution. But the benefits of water can also be achieved in a beautiful art piece or even an LED screen that has moving water sounds.
- Light: We talk often about the use of natural light, especially when you spend multiple hours inside, like those of us who work from home more than we ever have before. Working with natural light to conserve energy and maximize comfort is called daylighting. Artificial lighting has negative effects on your health, which is why it is essential to take advantage of natural light whenever possible. Skylights, additional windows, and planning a layout to best utilize the light that comes inside our homes are just a few ways to make the most of it.
- Wood: A natural element that is not only beautiful but also beneficial. Integrating wood into your interior design can, like water, clean the air as well as reduce stress and blood pressure while increasing creativity and cognitive abilities. Flooring, exposed beams, accent walls made from reclaimed wood, and even shelving are great ways to bring wood into the home.
- Plants: While this may seem like an obvious one, placing plants inside the home can help reduce stress and anxiety, filter the air, and promote a better night’s sleep. Adding large potted plants is a great way to fill space in larger rooms, while small ones do well in window sills and kitchen tables. Don’t forget that they make great additions to bedrooms, too.
Talk to your designer about including some of these elements in your design plans. Your family matters, and choosing to add some of nature’s elements can lead to overall better well-being.
Benefits Of Connecting With Nature
With most of us spending nearly two-thirds of our lives indoors, it is no wonder we feel worn down and stressed. Exposure to the sun helps us get our dose of vitamin D, and enjoying the colors of nature gives us a mental boost. A home office with a large window that lets in lots of natural light and having several potted plants can help increase productivity while minimizing stress. Adding a sunroom where the kids can do their schoolwork creates a healthy environment for them to learn and be creative. Choosing to include wood flooring in your project means a cleaner environment for your loved ones. When you are inside for too long, it can create restlessness and lead to irritability. Nature is more than just a beautiful backdrop; it is meant to be enjoyed in person, and bringing it indoors will yield many benefits for you and your family.
There are many elements that contribute to creating a welcoming home, including color, patterns, decorative pieces, and furniture. All of this comes together to paint an inviting space where guests leave feeling like family. Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start or what pieces work best together to create the perfect look. Let’s talk about five ways to create a welcoming atmosphere in your home.
Walker Woodworking Does your home need some renovations to bring it back up to speed for your specific lifestyle? Are you ready to transform certain areas into a more functional and purposeful space? Our experienced design team has assisted hundreds of clients in creating new areas that function exactly as they need. How can we help you prioritize your needs through design? Let us help you find the areas of priority in your home!
Greenbrook DesignAt the heart of any design work is the chance to tell a story—the story of those who live there. Our home is at the core of who we are. It is our grounding, the place we can truly let our hair down and be ourselves. It’s where memories are not just made, but remembered and passed down to the next generation. Homes are meant to be special—a symbol to all who enter of what truly matters to us. That’s why the design choices we make should be influenced by who we are, where we came from, and how our unique experiences shape us. Across the world, people’s design choices are deeply rooted in culture. But in today’s ever-connected world, we’re also seeing a beautiful blending of cultures—where traditional elements mix with modern influences, and regional styles merge to reflect global inspirations.
Since the invention of the light bulb, we have been able to brighten up our homes at any time of day. It has been great to eliminate shadows in areas where there are limited windows or even none at all, and allowed us to achieve more in a 24-hour period. Light fixtures have also developed from being just a practical tool into works of art, giving homeowners the chance to express themselves and add a touch of elegance to any room. Changing out a light fixture can completely alter or transform a room, and with so many sizes and styles, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. As we approach the close of another year, new home lighting trends for 2022 could provide helpful information for selecting your next light fixture that will perfectly illuminate your home.
Greenbrook DesignEvery area of the home has a purpose, a specific role to play in running a house smoothly, whether that is the living room where we relax or the bathroom where we get ready for the day. The kitchen is a place of preparation, the space where we go to cook for our family, but it is the dining room where it is served and enjoyed. This is the space within the home that gives families a designated area to gather around and dine together, as well as for activities like homework, bills, and fun things like family game night. It is a multifunctional space, which means it deserves some extra attention when selecting decor pieces. Let’s talk about the many elements you can use to give the dining room the love and beauty it deserves.
Walker Woodworking 