Finding natural ways to upgrade your home can be extremely rewarding. It makes it feel more open and gives you that connection to nature that might be missing if you live in a major city. Think about how the vast majority of the population lives. They go from one box to another without really ever experiencing naturalness. Nature is something that they might do on the weekends or during their leisure time, but it’s not a daily occurrence.
That’s where this guide is going to help you. We’re going to look at some of the ways you can actually upgrade your home to make it more welcoming. We also take a look at some of the controls that you might want to put into place to keep yourself safe as you go through this process. Here’s everything you need to know.
Put houseplants everywhere
One of the most obvious ways to make your home more natural is to put houseplants everywhere. These can help you reduce stress and soften edges in your interiors. Plants are particularly important if you have modernist or contemporary designs in your home. They make your property feel more welcoming and change the ambiance completely. You’ll be surprised by how much difference just a couple of houseplants can make. If you can include hydroponics and herbs in this, then that’s even better. Not only will these give you something to do and nurture, but they will also change the aroma and sense in your home.
Think about where you could place plants around your home. You can put them on window sills, shelves, or in the corners of your rooms. You could also Hang them in baskets outside of your home to make your landscaping more welcoming.
Maximize natural light
Another pro tip to make your home feel more natural is to maximise the amount of natural light that it gets. You want as many warm layers as possible.
The first step is simply to open your curtains. Drawing these allows light to flood into your room.
Then the next step is to add natural fibre rugs like wool, cotton and jute. If you have the budget, then linen inner curtains can also be a good idea. These again add a lot of warmth, especially to downstairs rooms. You could also add bamboo shades if you want more softness and texture. These are very good at diffusing artificial light throughout the room, as long as it has the right temperature.
Add more natural textures
If you haven’t added any natural textures yet, then do so. These materials are a great way to make your property feel much more natural and in sync with nature. You don’t have to do much, just look for ways to use wood and river rocks where you can. For example, you might have reclaimed shelves with a natural raw look combined with stones decorating your mantelpiece. Finding woven baskets these days is a challenge because so few people make them. However, if they’re available in your area, then look for them. Hand-woven is obviously the best as it draws together human and natural elements.
For the wintertime, you’ll also want to think about linen throws and wool blankets. These add additional warmth to your interiors and look great. They are also nice when it’s a cold evening and everybody is gathered around the fire.
Use natural chemicals
Most people’s homes are full of unnatural chemicals. There are so many different molecules in the atmosphere that they interact with the body in unfavourable ways. If you have pests in your home, look for natural pest control options. These are the best ways to keep children and animals safe. If you use synthetic compounds or toxic chemicals, they can linger in your property for a long time and lead to health problems later on, which you’ll want to avoid.
The same goes for your kitchen and bathroom. If you can use natural chemicals, then do so. Many property owners are now moving towards white spirit vinegar and baking soda as their primary cleaning agents. These can smell a bit strong when you first use them, but they’re also highly effective at removing dirt and germs from surfaces. If you don’t want to use this, then there are all sorts of branded eco-friendly products out there. These avoid the use of harsh chemicals while keeping your interiors hygienic.
Add branches and greenery
You don’t necessarily have to add living plants to all your interiors. Adding things like branches and greenery can also be a great way to transform your interior spaces.
Yes, you’ll sometimes have to rotate them, but the impact that they can have is often tremendous. One bunch of green leaves on a side table or branches on a mantelpiece can make all the difference to your interior spaces.
Obviously you’ll want to make sure that these branches are aesthetic; you don’t want to pick just anything. But these are often easy to find if you go for long walks in nature or have local woods in your area.
Use warm, layered light
If you can use warm layered lights in your home, then you are also onto a winner. Warm tone LEDs are now easy to find, so you should be able to get them from your local home ware or hardware store. Reducing the brightness and intensity of these lights can make a big difference if you want lighting that’s under 2700 Kelvin.
If you can find fluorescent candles that flicker and glow, that’s even better. These are much safer than regular candles and cheaper to run as well. They feel more inviting than overhead fluorescent lighting or even regular lamp shades in the middle of the ceiling.
So there you have it, some of the natural ways we recommend to upgrade your home. Once you start using these, you’ll automatically feel more in sync with nature, and it could completely transform your mood. Your home will become a restorative venue that prepares you for the challenges of relationships or career life.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
