Incorporating Natural Elements into Your Home Design
Incorporating natural elements into your home can feel overwhelming, especially if you just don’t have the time to take care of a plethora of plants (even though you’re green with envy whenever you pass the indoor tropical plants at the nursery!)
Mary and Vanessa at MBY Interiors are experts at adding simple, natural touches to your home, while still retaining a serene and minimalist look. Working together with Sandy, they created a home design for her that incorporates natural elements within the architecture as well as embellishments to bring the whole look together. Take the tour with our photos below, and learn how to add these natural touches to your own home.
Natural Simplicity in the Living Room
Create a space that feels relaxed and inviting, while also highlighting natural elements, by choosing centrepieces for your living room that contrast with your colour choices. Lush green tropicals with dark leaves, really pop when placed in a primarily white and beige room design. A bowl of bright moss becomes a showstopper in a white bowl, amid light coloured furniture.
Let the plants themselves take the spotlight by pairing them with white pots in natural materials like ceramic and stone. You can highlight a favourite plant with a complimentary design that really stands out, such as the orchid in the above photo, potted in an elegant Global Views container with an organic style. (Find out more about caring for your orchid in our guide here.)
Just Add Water
A few stems of cut floral, in a simple container that allows the flower or foliage to really stand out, can add a natural look without being fussy or taking away from your home decor. Eucalyptus branches, with their blue-green colouring and interesting leaf shapes, are also easy to dry for a long-lasting accent. When choosing individual floral stems, always go for odd numbers such as three or five, for a more balanced design.
Tying it All Together
Choose plants and containers that fit into your style and really add to the room design. Pots can be an integral colour or pattern accent in your living room, or you can blend them into the decor by keeping them simple and low-key.
The same is true of your plant choices, choosing plants with interesting silhouettes and shapes to draw the eye, or just using a leafy plant as a spot of green to contribute to the overall effect.
Always take the plant’s needs into consideration, such as the standard ficus above, which requires a lot of light and needs to be by a bright window. Indoor plants that like low light will love a bookshelf or nook. (Our indoor plant care guide can give you a great start on finding the perfect plant for every spot!)
Adding Zest to the Kitchen
Colourful fruit is not only delicious, but can add a splash of exhilaration to the kitchen! Bright yellow limes, grapefruits, and bold oranges all tempt the tastebuds and delight the eyes. Mary, from MBY Interiors, likes to mix artificial fruit with the real thing, to create a more robust accent that endures.
Using wooden bowls, cutting boards and utensils, which highlight the natural grain and beauty of the material, will give you an organic feeling throughout your kitchen.
Pampering Yourself in the Powder Room
It’s easy to overlook the bathroom as a spot for adding natural, live, accents. There’s many beautiful plants that enjoy low-light spaces, if your bathroom doesn’t have a bright window accessible. (Take a look at our top 8 low-light plant picks here).
Cut flowers are always an elegant solution by the sink, such as white tulips or other single coloured stems, as a simple accent that won’t overpower the room’s design. Keep it natural and minimal, with just a few additions that add a touch of beauty, like delightful patterned pots or fresh eucalyptus stems in a vase. Pamper yourself with something you love, in a space made just for you!
Making it Uniquely Yours
Finish with a flourish, as you pick out pots and plants that speak to you! This is your home and should reflect your own taste and personality, whether that’s a touch of pink or a set of woodsy-toned planters. Take the time to stroll around the garden centre or nursery and fall in love with plants that will add natural accents to your home and will bring you joy everyday!
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