Bring the Outdoors Indoors with these 6 Changes to your Home
Martin Banks 06.17.24
You love your home and the great outdoors. Is it possible to bring them together? Making your humble abode resemble a forest or woodland may seem complicated, but it’s simpler than you think. Here are six design changes to transform your home’s interior into an outdoor adventure.
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1. Hunting Trophies
Hunting trophies can add a dash of visual intrigue to a living room or man cave. This interior design element is unique for hunters because it’s an immediate conversation starter. You can tell your family and friends stories about the unique bucks on your wall. Next time you go hunting, consider hiring a taxidermist to preserve your quarry’s remains. This professional will make the animal look as realistic as possible for interior decor. While white-tailed deer are common trophies to see, you don’t have to limit yourself. Taxidermists are skilled enough to mount your elk, moose, caribou and other priceless pieces.
2. Animal Trinkets
Hunting trophies are an excellent decor idea when bringing in the outdoors, but they’re not the only option. You can create trinkets from most creatures and hang them around your home. For instance, you can make a small trophy fish jaw mount at home with the right tools and patience. Larger fish work better because their bone structure is conducive to the job.
Ideas for animal-inspired decor are nearly limitless, but you may have the best luck with antlers. Whether moose or deer, you can use these bones for various decorative pieces. Some crafty items include candle holders, pool racks, toilet paper holders and candelabras. Antlers are terrific for your interior design because they’re versatile and last long wherever you put them.
3. Greenery
Whether shrubs, flowers or trees, plants are a core part of the outdoors. These green elements give your yard its identity and could be excellent for your interior. Incorporate plants inside the house to bring your interior closer to nature. If you have a sunroom, you could enjoy a greenhouse by letting plants bask in the sunlight. Placing plants around the house requires careful attention because these organisms need sunlight, water and good soil. Choose low-maintenance greenery to ensure your plants live as long as they should. For instance, aloe vera needs six hours of sunlight daily. Place this succulent by a window for maximum natural light.
4. Outdoor Aromas
Scent is critical to your connection with the outdoors. You enjoy smelling cedarwood, pine and freshly cut grass when you go outside. How can you bring these fragrances inside? Luckily, there are a few ways to enhance your interior aromas. Get a diffuser with essential oils resembling outdoor smells. These products take you outside without opening the door.
Outdoor scents take your mind to a different place and can benefit your health. For instance, a 2021 study found lavender aromatherapy substantially reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. While plants create fantastic scents, nature has more aromas to make your home smell like the outdoors. Campfire is an excellent fragrance for summer nights in the house.
5. Wood Fireplace
Campfires are an outdoor classic regardless of the time of year. Bringing the fiery sensation indoors is easy when you have a fireplace. This interior design element calls outdoor fires to mind through its flickering flames and natural warmth. Evenings near the fireplace bring memories of relaxing with your family and make you feel like you’re camping in the woods.
If you want a fireplace in your home, it’s essential to consider the material. While wood fireplaces bring a natural aesthetic, they’re complicated to install and maintain. Experts say you’ll pay between $130 and $380 annually to keep it clean and up to $350 per square foot to install it. However, firewood is typically easy to source in your backyard or at a local store.
6. Natural Building Materials
Walls and floors constitute much of your home, significantly affecting your aesthetic. Consider switching them for more natural components to bring your home closer to the outdoors. You’ll feel outdoors while walking around the house and seeing wood panels.
Implement wood wherever you can around your home. Hardwood flooring, wooden furniture and exposed beams only scratch the surface of what you can do with lumber. When incorporating wood, be mindful of humidity levels because moisture can warp it. Stone is another terrific natural material that makes great countertops, walls and floors.
Making the Natural Choice
Interior design is like a canvas because you can paint it how you desire. What if you made your residence look more like the outdoors? These six decorative choices bring you closer to nature’s beautiful forests and woodlands and turn your home into a woodland paradise.
