Summer can be a brutal readjustment at first, especially for the nature lovers among us. Studies confirm that connecting with the natural world can reduce stress and negative feelings – so it's no surprise that being cooped up indoors can turn even the sweetest of temperaments into the grumpiest.
But while you’ll likely be closing the door (and every window) on the heat this summer, you don’t necessarily need to say goodbye to that outdoor vibe. With a few design tweaks, and a sprinkle of creativity, you’ll be able to blur the boundaries between indoors and out.
You will transform what might previously have felt like an air-conditioned prison into an oasis of light, greenery and earthy home comforts.
Fibres, textures and patterns
Whether it’s wicker, rattan, jute or bamboo, materials inspired by nature can bring a soothing atmosphere to your home. Embrace materials such as wood or cork, which feel warm, natural and inviting. Walk barefoot across a sisal rug, light your living room with a seagrass lampshade, or create a cosy corner with rattan furniture. You could even bring your outdoor seating indoors, dress it up with sheepskin throws or cool cotton pillows, and set it up next to a large potted plant, to create a garden-like nook or reading spot all year round.
Natural elements
Use rocks, seashells, jars of beach sand, wood and straw as accents (if you don’t have the real thing to hand, incorporate them as photographs and murals instead).
Shells, in particular, can remind us of holidays spent by the sea – so bring that restful feeling indoors by using them creatively in your decor. Add miniature shells to planters or vases, use large clam shells as planters for succulents, or shop for shell motifs on cushions and pillowcases.
If you see something outside that you love, such as a pine cone or an interestingly shaped stone, bring it home and use it to decorate your space. Suspend a twisty, tangly branch or palm frond from the ceiling with fishing line, fill a large seashell with tiny pebbles and succulents, or tuck large glossy leaves and spiky grasses inside cylindrical water-filled vases, for stunning tabletop displays.
Colour palettes inspired by the outdoors
Of course, rich, earthy tones are great at conjuring an outdoor feeling inside, but don’t limit yourself to those. Be bold. Bring in blues that echo the colour of the sky, add a splash of yellow to remind you of sunshine and its energy, and use vibrant greens to remind you of grasses and plants. Offset them with neutral tones, such as white, tan and beige, to make your interior feel natural and crisp.
Whether you’re using a nature-inspired palette on your walls, window coverings or bedding, use colour effectively. It can be a powerful mood-changer, making your interior feel airy and spacious, even when it’s been hermetically sealed from the heat.
Let in the light
While it may be tempting to block out the glare of the sun with heavy drapes and blinds, try replacing them with (or at least add them alongside) some lighter fabrics, or even sheers. Let natural light into your home and that outdoor feeling will pour into your space.
The views from your windows are also key to feeling like you are connecting with your external surroundings – so if your view is currently of overgrown bushes or rubbish dumpsters, consider a clear-up.
Create a green wall
We have written at length about the aesthetic merits of vertical gardens. If your space is bright enough, a green wall is a sure-fire way of bringing the outdoors in. See our video on how to create a succulent vertical-garden wall at https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-life.
Contrary to popular myth, most plants can tolerate air conditioning, provided they’re not in direct contact with the jets of cold air – but plants with large leaves can normally cope much better than delicate blooms.
Try species such as mother-in-law’s tongue and peace lily, or ask an expert at your local garden centre for more advice about other hardy indoor species. You can also help some varieties by regularly misting the leaves and watering the potting soil, to keep the plant’s immediate growing zone humid enough for it to survive.
Alternatively, channel your creativity to create a terrarium, a type of aquarium, but for plants rather than fish. You can use just about any glass container, from a small jar to a large bowl, which is then planted out to look like a miniature garden or forest enclosed in its own little world.
Make sure you choose plants that all thrive in the same environment (for example, all succulents if it’s to be a dry, open environment, or all ferns and mosses if it’s to be a moist, closed one). Then add a layer of rocks to the base, followed by a layer of charcoal, then potting soil, before adding plants, decorative pebbles, rocks, pine cones or even little figurines and ornaments, to make your terrarium look like a little garden world.
Entice the senses
Your senses of smell and hearing can be just as evocative in transporting you outdoors as the things you can see and touch – so light candles scented with jasmine, gardenia, grapefruit, lemon or coconut. Burn woody incense, or use a plant spray filled with essential oils mixed with water to mist the air and uplift the atmosphere.
And just as the sounds of birds, rain, wind or waves are used in luxury spas to make you feel relaxed and in tune with nature, this same idea can be used inside your home. Alternatively, play some of your favourite holiday tunes to remind you of that relaxing vacation.
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