We humans are an inside-out kind of species, aren’t we? We like to bring the outside in. Once it was about survival – timber for the fire, animal hides for warmth, flowers to mask the rather more pungent smells of daily life. These days it’s less about necessity and more about aesthetics, but the impulse is the same. There’s something comforting about being surrounded by nature, especially if you live somewhere where nature feels like something that happens elsewhere.
For some, it’s about escape. A house full of leafy plants, weathered wood and soft earthy tones can transport you to a quiet Scandinavian forest, even if the reality is a one bedroom flat over a multi-story car park. For others it’s about balance. A home that reflects the outdoors in some way – be it through colour, material or motif – feels grounded, as if the walls themselves breathe a little easier. And then there are those who are happiest outside but who also like the luxury of indoor plumbing and so need a compromise.
The Role of Colour: Earth, Sky and Sea
The first and most obvious way nature gets in is through colour. It’s no coincidence people paint their bedrooms soft, misty greens and their bathrooms the blue of a summer sky. These are colours that make sense, that we associate with calm and space and air. They’re a counterpoint to the artificial light, the screen glow, the hum of modern life.
A living room in deep forest green is a retreat, somewhere to curl up with a book while the rain drums against the windows. A pale sandy beige might be a beach at low tide where the light is golden and the air smells of salt. Some go further, pulling entire landscapes into their interiors – not just a colour here and there but an entire scheme lifted wholesale from the natural world. The kitchen of a keen walker might have slate-grey countertops and pine shelving, a nod to the mountain paths they prefer to the morning commute. A city dweller who dreams of the Mediterranean might choose warm terracotta floors, white-washed walls and a splash of deep, sunburnt orange.
And then there’s the bold stuff, the large scale murals that change the room entirely. Photowall by Sweden has a range of nature designs that can turn a blank wall into something quite special – a misty Nordic lake, a jungle canopy, a wildflower meadow in full bloom. It’s like having a window into another world, a reminder there’s always more beyond the walls we build around ourselves.
Bringing in the Textures of Nature
It’s not about what you see—it’s about what you feel. A space that gets its inspiration from the outdoors should engage more than your eyes. This is where texture comes in.
Think of running your hand over rough-hewn wood or cool smooth stone. A house with those materials doesn’t just look natural—it feels it too. Wooden furniture with a visible grain, linen cushions with a slight crumple, ceramic tiles with the irregularities of something handmade—these are the small details that make it feel real.
Soft furnishings too can reference the landscape. A wool throw in the colour of autumn bracken, a jute rug that feels like the forest floor underfoot, a basket woven from seagrass—each element plays its part. Even the simplest of objects, chosen with care, can carry a whisper of the outdoors. A bowl of driftwood, smoothed by tides. A handful of pebbles gathered from a favourite beach. These are not big design statements but they are significant. They remind us of places we love, moments we’ve lived.
Letting Light Do the Work
Nothing transforms a space quite like light. A sunlit room, even unfurnished, is beautiful. A dimly-lit one, no matter how beautifully decorated, will always feel restricted. When it comes to getting inspiration from the outdoors, light should be given as much thought as furniture, if not more.
Big windows, if possible, are the easiest way to bring the outside in. But even in a home with limited natural light there are ways to create the same effect. Mirrors placed opposite windows can bounce daylight into dark corners. Sheer curtains rather than heavy drapes make a room feel more open. Even the colour of artificial light can make a difference—warm bulbs mimic the golden glow of the sun, cool tones replicate the clarity of morning light.
Some take it a step further and design their homes around the changing light of the day. A reading nook in the spot where the evening sun streams in, a breakfast table in the spot where the morning light hits—these small decisions can change how a space is used, making it feel more in tune with nature.