How To Embrace The Outdoors Inside

 

It doesn’t matter if you live in a crowded city apartment or on a sprawling farm, putting Mother Nature’s natural light and other outdoor elements to work is a great way to decorate your home and enhance your interiors.

 

“You’d never want your living space to feel like a dark, dingy cave,” says Sally Morse, director of creative services at Hunter Douglas, a leading window treatment company. Here she outlines some little tricks to make your space embrace the outdoors and all that it has to offer:

 

Light Can Change Everything

“Natural light has both a visual and emotional impact,” Morse explains. It transfers heat in colder months, makes a room more welcoming and even has the power to elevate our moods. “Selecting a window covering that fulfills both your aesthetic and functional requirements is an art,” she continues. Before buying, consider factors like light control, energy efficiency and UV-ray protection for furnishings, and coordinate fabrics and colours to match your existing décor.

 

For example, the Luminette Privacy Sheers collection from Hunter Douglas, which has just been updated for spring, features a sheer fabric that beautifully filters light. “You don’t have to sacrifice privacy in order to let the light and view in,” Morse says. Going the extra mile, translucent or room-darkening fabric vanes rotate 180 degrees for light control and privacy.

 

Green Surroundings

Adding wall art and accessories throughout the home that give off an outdoorsy nature vibe can really make a difference. “Modern technology means fake plants look totally real today,” observes Morse. A few potted greens here and there and a floral painting can make a surprising difference in a home.

 

Make Wood Work

Even if you’re living in a cinder block apartment, incorporating wood elements will make it feel less industrial. “You can easily find wooden planks to make shelving and even use rope to create a ‘hanging shelf’ for an organic look,” Morse says. Pops of natural wood in unexpected places, like sculptures and tabletop items such as place mats, also add a fresh vibe.

 

With these helpful tips, you and your home will be able to bask in some of the best of what the great outdoors has to offer.

 

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