Living in harmony with nature

It’s no secret that nature becomes a more integral part of our lives during spring and summer, when people tend to spend more time outdoors. Winters are so long, dark and cold in our little country of Sweden and we’re all just human after all. That’s why we become so jubilant when those first warm rays of spring sunshine reawaken all that we’ve been missing! Equal pleasure can be found in the late summer too, as the sun continues to warm us beneath the shade of a leafy green tree. It’s actually relatively easy to recapture these feelings any time of the year, even indoors! With the right materials and lighting, you can reexperience nature over and over again, no matter the season.

Decorating tips for capturing nature: 

Natural materials     
Choose wood, rattan, stone and linen for everything from the furniture to the finishing touches. What is so nice about this, is that everything will match, regardless of whether you pair a marble lamp with a wooden tabletop, or a rattan chair with a linen cushion. You simply can’t go wrong.

Organic shapes and designs
Jute and rattan are popular materials used in interior design because they are so flexible and durable. If you want to feel the vibes of nature indoors, braided materials in organic shapes with soft earthtones are a must. When you add finishing touches in handblown glass, like a lovely vase or bowl with a soft, rounded curvature, it will reflect the same warm, natural light of a late summer evening.

Plants 
Green plants are just as wonderful to have indoors as they are in the garden. Is there anything quite so magical as when sunshine dances through the branches of a lush, majestic tree? If you put a string of fairy lights on your big, leafy indoor plants, you’ll create that same feeling, regardless of the season! 

Colour
In nature, the colour palette is varied, to say the least! Before deciding on the theme, consider your personality and what really “speaks to you” when you’re out in nature. Is it the soothing blue of the sky or ocean? Or are you drawn to rich, earthy shades of brown and beige? Perhaps it’s restful greens, like the soft ferns and moss of a forest glade? When selecting your light source, give careful consideration to whether it should be cold or warm, depending on the atmosphere you’re trying to create.

Bringing nature indoors
The earth’s vegetation is what supplies us with oxygen. So, doesn’t it make perfect sense to have plants and greenery indoors as well? Many household plants help purify the indoor air. Large, green leafy plants will set the tone of a room, the minute you enter. Decide for yourself if you want to use plants for creating a lush atmosphere with plenty of greenery, or use them more sparingly, so that other furnishings can take centre stage. 

Moving things outdoors 
Get the most out of every long, summer day by making your outdoor spaces just as cosy and comfortable as your indoor ones! Atmospheric lighting and tasteful textiles can be used to spruce up any garden setting, balcony or porch. The late summer evenings can be enjoyed to their utmost when twinkling lights replace the fading sun and warm blankets are close at hand. It’s the perfect time to bring out a board game, chat with friends, or just relax. 

Texture
We mustn’t forget the sense of touch, either. When it comes to decorating, there is so much more to it than what is pleasing to the eye. Nothing beats beauty and comfort! Like the warmth of a fluffy sheepskin, wiggling your toes in a soft rug, or running your fingers along the silky smooth veins of a solid wood tabletop. It creates a sense of being in the now and is important to the overall experience. 

Textiles
Cotton, linen and jute add softness and a vibrant texture 
Wood
Veined, oiled or softly sanded driftwood – wood is lovely in all its forms   
Stone
Highly polished marble or raw granite wonderfully contrast with softer materials 
Grass & Straw
Straw, rattan and seaweed can be braided into organic shapes, or put in a vase to enjoy just as they are

Nature is full of contrasts. So, when creating your nature-inspired interiors, be sure to embrace and include the contrasts of nature. Like an undulating, light linen fabric against matte, black metal. Or a playful, yet stylish matte golden lamp set on a rustic wooden sideboard. Choose lighting for contrast and to add a personal touch.