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Writer's pictureMaple Creek

How to Bring the Outdoors Inside

Updated: Oct 15

Cut wildflowers, picked cotton, a wicker basket and the rock you brought home from a beach trip are all examples of outdoor elements that you can use in your home. In this article, How to Bring the Outdoors Inside, I discuss how my own style has evolved to include nature’s colors, textures and a few treasured artifacts.


Wood table with a display of succulents and pinecones

Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash

 

Décor trends are interesting. They repeat every ~20 years with a new twist that keeps them fresh and relevant. When we got married, homes were largely decorated in cream and brown with an accent color or two added for visual interest. My first real foray into decorating was the little duplex we lived in after we got married.

 

The majority of furniture and “décor” we owned were hand-me-downs from 90's with the previous style of navy, forest green and burgundy. It felt prudent as a newly wed to tone this down a bit by adding in more of the in-style brown tones. Really though, I needed to quiet the “noise” of the deeper colors to better determine my own style.

 

Fast forward, and it became apparent that cream and brown were a little too blah for me, and I slowly incorporated an earthy green into my decorating. And now, I’m realizing that hues of blue and yellow are very present as well. It took me forever to settle on a print to hang over the couch in our living room because I felt it needed to have some “sunshine” in it. I finally found one on Minted.com that makes me smile every time I look at it.

 

If you’re wondering how to bring the outdoors inside, I suggest using nature as inspiration for the colors, textures and artifacts. To an extent, I think most of us do this inherently. As seasons change, it feels almost natural to express the outdoors inside our homes. 


Books using rocks as bookends

Photo by Hans Isaacson on Unsplash

 

Colors

As mentioned above, I use plenty of greens, blues and yellows because it reminds me of leaves, the sky and sunshine. You might be inspired by the smoky mountains (blues, greys, greens); fall foliage (oranges, reds, yellows), the beach (blues, light browns, white), etc. If you have a piece of art you love, decorate around it. As my mom would say, it’s a lot easier to find a pair of shoes to match the dress than the other way around. It’s difficult to find the perfect piece of art – if you come across one that you love, let it inspire your paint choice and throw pillows.

 

Textures

It certainly didn’t occur to me initially that texture is a way to bring outdoors in. But really, the wheat berries grown in the field next to your house are textured. So are the wicker baskets kid’s shoes can be piled in at the front door. Even the handful of rocks held in the firm grip of a chubby toddler’s hand at the playground. Wood is also full of texture – including your not-so-pretty-banged-up (but well loved!) kitchen table.

 

Artifacts

One of the most common ways to bring some life to the inside is to add a plant or a vase of colorful flowers. My personal favorites are the Fiddle Leaf Fig and Snake Plants, though I also have a few random pots of succulents, sedum and a Christmas Cactus.

A pumpkin displayed in your front entry, a tree for the holidays, and yellow and pink tulips at Easter are also seasonal examples of bringing the outdoors inside.

 

The joy in this for me is that as the years progress, my style and decorating elements can easily evolve as well. There’s less to pack up between seasons and more to look forward to throughout the year. Even a little sprig of Yarrow found in a ditch can provide a sense of whimsey when put in a jar of water on the dining room table.

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