Why We Decorate with Natural Materials
Decorating with natural materials has never been just a trend. From pinecones to houseplants, flowers, and much more, nature has always found a way into our homes.
Natural decor is not popular for no reason; it brings a feeling of warmth and comfort from the outdoors, even as the seasons change. Natural materials work well with all styles, from traditional and modern to rustic, minimalist, and more!
Nature Makes a Space Feel More Welcoming
A room can be perfectly styled and still feel empty. This is often because it is missing natural elements that bring a space to life.
Pinecones placed in a bowl, birch branches in a tall vase, or dried lotus pods mixed into a display add an organic feel that manufactured decor cannot replicate. The beautiful thing about natural materials is that no two pieces are exactly the same; each has its own shape, flaws, and character.
These small differences make a space feel much more authentic instead of overly perfected.
Natural materials can also help soften a space, especially apartments, which are typically very modern and lack character. A few natural elements can introduce new shapes that make a space feel cozier and more relaxed.
Nature Belongs Indoors
Decorating with nature is not new; people have always found a way to decorate with natural materials.
For generations, natural elements have been used to decorate homes. Branches, greenery, flowers, plants, pinecones, and more have all played a role in seasonal traditions.
Before stores became flooded with faux decorations, nature provided most of what people used to make their homes feel comforting.
The human connection to the outdoors still lives on today and inspires the way that we decorate.
A bowl full of pinecones or a wreath made with natural materials may look typical, but it is a tradition that has been around for many years.
Natural Materials Follow the Seasons
One of the best parts about decorating with natural elements is how easily they can transition from one season to another.
In the fall, pinecones, pods, branches, and other botanicals complement colors that are associated with the season.
During the holiday season, these natural elements can be paired with evergreen, berries, bows, metallics, and more.
In the spring, lighter branches and dried botanicals can achieve a totally different look when paired with lighter or bolder colors.
Natural materials can create a foundation that is perfect for each season.
Bringing the Outdoors In
Our lives have become extremely attached to technology; therefore, bringing in pieces of the natural world can provide a comforting effect on our busy, screen-filled lives.
You don’t need your entire home to be covered in plants to create that feeling of connectedness to the outdoors; even the smallest natural accents can make a huge difference to your space.
Natural decor works very well because it doesn't require too much technique and can be used to fill in empty gaps in a room or add some interest to a plain shelf.
Natural Does Not Have to Mean Rustic
Using natural botanicals to decorate does not mean a space has to be rustic or woodland.
Natural materials can be styled in many different ways, with each way completely changing the feel of a room.
The way that natural elements are paired is important. For example, pinecones arranged in a basket can create a rustic look, but if those same pinecones were placed in a ceramic bowl on a neutral tabletop, they would suddenly feel much more modern.
Birch branches can become part of a dramatic holiday arrangement or a minimalist floor arrangement, totally depending on the way they are styled and paired with different accents and decor.
Natural elements are very flexible because they help add to finished decorations.
Natural Materials Are Imperfectly Perfect
Natural materials are not identical. They are all different in some way, making them interesting.
A pinecone may have a different color. A branch may have a different curve. A dried lotus pod may have more holes. Each of these differences creates depth and character.
In a world full of manufactured products made to look the same, natural products remind us that beauty is not about being the same as everything around us.
Variation is loved by designers because they believe it makes arrangements more interesting.
Bringing Nature Into Your Space
There will always be new trends to follow, but nature in our home decor is not just a trend.
Natural materials bring warmth, character, and excitement into spaces. No matter what you prefer your home's aesthetic to be, natural materials can add to both modern and traditional spaces.
Sometimes the best decorating inspiration is not based on trends or what everyone else is doing; it is already what surrounds us outdoors!