One of the biggest drawbacks of living a metropolitan life is that it distances us from nature. The busy life with family, kids, and work responsibilities makes spending time in nature challenging. But the reality is that surrounding yourself with nature and its elements makes you happy and healthy. Connection with nature sharpens your mind and boosts your creativity and memory.
As per a University of Michigan study, interacting with nature just for an hour improves your attention span and short-term memory by 20%. Another study stated that spending 20 minutes in a park improved the attention span of children with ADHD. Even the sound of natural beings, including chirping crickets and birdsong, can strengthen cognitive function.
Even if you cannot spend time outdoors in nature, you can still bring nature into your house for some of its benefits.
Below are some ways to incorporate natural elements and features into your house
1. Use Sustainable Materials in the House
A way to bring nature into your house is by utilizing sustainable materials while constructing your home from scratch or renovating some parts of it.
Here are some ideas for you:
- Use bathroom fixtures and tiles made of recycled material when renovating shower space
- Install shower fixtures with green certifications to be sure they meet sustainability standards.
- If repainting your house, ensure the paint, sealants, and finishes are low or zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compound). This will reduce harmful emissions and improve indoor air quality while reducing environmental footprint.
- Utilize recycled glass tiles and reclaimed wood for vanities or countertops.
- Use bamboo for flooring
- Install solar panels to generate power through a renewable source
Whichever project you undertake, hire a reliable remodeling company. For bathroom remodeling, Zintex Remodeling company is a trustworthy option; they have locations in a couple of states, including Kansas and Texas.
2. Add house plants
Adding plants is the easiest way to introduce natural elements to your house, conveniently bringing calmness and beauty. Millennials especially find joy in caring for plants, considering it a way to get a respite from the digital world.
The excitement of seeing new leaves growing on your plants is unmatchable. A University of Michigan psychologist found that green surroundings, known as “restorative environments,” can enhance physical and mental well-being.
3. Allow Maximum Light Inside the House
Another way to make your house exude natural serenity and beauty is by allowing natural light inside. You can seamlessly connect the inside of your home with the outside using clear glass panels, doors, and expansive windows. In addition, arrange furniture, ensuring it doesn’t block the windows, obstructing the path of the light.
Natural light also has great effects on your health and well-being.
Benefits of natural light exposure
- Regulates your circadian rhythm, allowing you to sleep better at night.
- Boosts productivity, alertness, and concentration.
- Creates a calming effect that reduces stress.
- Combats feelings of fatigue, allowing you to be more awake and energized throughout the day
- It’s easier on the eyes than artificial lighting and reduces eye strain, headaches, and discomfort.
- Exposure to natural light is associated with a 15% increase in creativity (research from Human Spaces) and improved problem-solving ability.
Ways to bring natural light into your house
You must design your living environment and working spaces to allow maximum light into your house. Natural light can be brought into the house and maximized in many ways. Some of them are listed below:
- Remove heavy curtains to let more sun into your indoor space
- Use reflective colors such as light-colored pastels for painting the walls
- Utilize light-colored tiles for floors to create an open and spacious look.
- Use glass in the house decoratively, such as reflecting mirrors and glass tables, to allow reflection of lighting that makes the home brighter and more welcoming.
4. Use nature-inspired prints
To create a symbolic link with the beauty of nature, consider adding botanical prints in various parts of your house. Refer to the below-mentioned ideas for doing so.
- Hang nature-inspired sceneries and paintings on the walls.
- Use decorative pieces featuring birds, butterflies, and other types of fauna, placing them in different spots in the house.
- Add throw pillows and bedding to bring the beauty of nature indoors
- Paint some parts of the house in a nature-inspired color palette, such as greens, browns, and blues, reflecting a connection with the natural world.
5. Incorporate a Water Feature
Nothing speaks more of nature than the sight and sound of flowing water; incorporating a water feature allows you to bring that feel inside your house. You can install a slate water wall in your living room, where you spend the most time and enjoy its beauty all day. This might be an expensive and extravagant feature, but it can leave a great impression on your guests.
6. Add Stones
Adding beautiful stones to the house shouldn’t be restricted to the pathway only; you can incorporate stones and pebbles into the home beautifully.
Some ways to add natural stones to your house are mentioned below:
- Create a stone accent wall with natural stone veneer.
- Install marble, travertine, or slate flooring to create a stunning impact on your house’s feel.
- Use stones to create a beautiful surround for your fireplace.
- Choose natural stone for countertops in the kitchen and bathroom.
When choosing the stone, only select those that match your aesthetic ideas and the appeal of your house while enhancing the functionality of the space. Also, remember that natural stones require regular maintenance to look their best.
Conclusion
Bringing nature into your house gives it an organic and trendy look. The above ideas can help you make your indoor space nature-inspired, classy, and elegant. Beyond their aesthetic value, natural products are also hardwearing, requiring less frequent replacements. Hence, incorporating natural elements into your house is not only a design choice but an investment for the future.
