11 Nature-Inspired Room Ideas to Bring the Great Outdoors Inside

There’s a reason why you love spending so much time out in nature. It’s calming. It’s serene. It just makes us happier (and yes, science shows that plants really do increase our wellbeing). Although most of us are cooped up inside for a majority of the day—whether it’s the work-from-home grind or the weather— there’s no reason you can’t bring the great outdoors into your home. 

Here are 11 ways to decorate with nature in mind.

1. Let In Natural Light

Light isn’t decor, per se, but it is the key to making your interior feel as airy as an open field. There’s not always a lot you can do about a lack of natural light, but you can swap out heavy curtains or drapes with airy, translucent fabrics like sheer linen or cotton. You can also hang mirrors to help reflect the natural light you do have.

2. Turn Your Guest Room into a Plant Room

Plants are one of the best ways to bring the great outdoors into your home. Though there are a wealth of plant room ideas floating around on the internet (let’s be honest, we’ve become totally obsessed), it doesn’t have to get complicated. Simply pick a room—whether it’s a guest room, a home office, or a nook in your living room—and stack it with an abundance of houseplants. 

3. Install a Living Wall

A living wall—also known as a green wall or vertical garden—is a garden that grows up your wall rather than across your yard. You’ll commonly see these types of green spaces in coffee shops and hotels, but you can use the idea in your home. Adding one is an easy way to decorate with nature—literally.

A local gardener specializing in hydroponics and living wall installation can help you get started, or you can purchase a live moss wall online. If you don’t have a green thumb, you can imitate the look with a picture frame filled with fake plants.

4. Utilize Natural Materials

If you want a home inspired by the great outdoors, ditch the industrial elements and instead, utilize natural materials. If you’ve got a budget, renovate with exposed wood beams, natural stone walls, and natural wood cabinetry (a home renovation contractor near you can help you get started). For a quick and wallet-friendly refresh, choose a linen couch or a rustic wooden table.

5. Grow an Indoor Herb Garden

Gardening is now an indoor activity too. You can grow a lush indoor herb or vegetable garden from the comfort of your living room or kitchen window. Not only will it look great, but your cooking will thank you. Just remember that if you want to (literally) branch out from traditional herbs, you need to choose small veggies that thrive in containers like hot peppers, microgreens, and leafy salad greens.

6. Choose Rattan Furniture

Make no mistake: Rattan furniture is nothing like the wicker that graced childhood bedrooms of the 1980s. This fibrous vine is ultra-trendy when used as an accent—whether that’s a headboard or decorative chair. It gives a laid-back feel with hints of boho and a bit of nostalgia.

7. Make Art out of Pressed or Dried Flowers

Transform that swiftly wilting bouquet of fresh flowers into artwork that will last. Pressed flower art adds a sweet, floral touch to your home and helps you channel those cottagecore design style vibes. You can purchase a flower pressing kit to help you get started or do it the old-fashioned way with a book, some tissue paper, a picture frame, and a little bit of glue.

If you’re not in the mood for a craft project, you can always pick up some dried flowers to pop into a vase to get a similar look. The best part is these flowers couldn’t be lower maintenance.

8. Bottle Up Nature

Forget decor inspired by nature—go for decor that is literally nature. Forage for natural accents like pine cones, twigs, and seashells, then put them in a decorative vase or mason jar. It’s the perfect accent to liven up a bookcase, shelf, or side table.

9. Incorporate Botanical Prints

If real plants aren’t your thing, you can always bring nature in with an art print. Choose wallpaper with botanical-inspired prints featuring leafy greens and lush petals. Another option is going for landscapes, like photography from national parks or paintings of nature scenes and farmland for some easy nature-inspired decor.

10. Decorate With Earth Tones

Get the feeling of the great outdoors by decorating with earth tones—think taupe, brown, sage, and olive green. If you need a pop of color, emulate the sky with a little light gray-tinged light blue or reach for a deep evergreen. 

11. Build an Orangery

Did you know that you can actually grow trees inside? As long as you have enough light, anything is possible. An orangery is typically a glass extension that functions as a pseudo greenhouse and living space (which requires a local sunroom contractor to install). You can get the look without the fuss by placing indoor citrus trees (like dwarf Meyer lemon trees) near your largest, sunniest window.