How To Decorate With Nature

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You may be wondering how to decorate with nature in mind. While I have houseplants on a baker’s rack in my office, my other plants are currently outdoors.

While greenery/plants are the easiest choice, there are many other ways to create a fresh, calming, and nature-inspired atmosphere without live plants.

My Home Inspiration from Nature:

In this post, I will show rooms in my house with green or nature-inspired elements.

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If you want the look and feel of the outdoors inside your home, here are creative, nature-inspired decorating ideas that don’t require live greenery.

Botanical Wall Decor:

Look at the above photos. One is the cupboard with nature-inspired artwork above it. On the opposite wall is my fireplace, with three William Morris framed botanical prints.

A linen chair sits in my living room, surrounded by floral green and white curtains. Landscape prints line the hallway, along with my own enlarged, framed photos of the countryside.

1. Use Natural Materials in Your Decor

Incorporating wood, stone, rattan, and bamboo instantly connects your home to the outdoors.

Think wooden coffee tables, woven baskets, stone accents, and wicker chairs. These materials bring warmth and texture to your home, mimicking the natural world.

I think I’d like a green couch one day. I’ve wanted one for ages, ever since I saw a friend’s green couch back in the eighties. But I always played it safe and went with neutrals. Now, green is generally considered neutral.

Kitchen With Green, Brown, & White Touches:

2. Decorate with Dried Botanicals

If you love the look of greenery but don’t want the maintenance, consider dried flowers, grasses, or branches instead.

Pampas grass, eucalyptus, and lavender bouquets can last for months, adding a soft, natural touch to your home.

If I had dried botanicals within the kitties’ reach, I’d quickly be left with mere stems. So I’ll have to pass on that for now.

3. Add Nature-Inspired Artwork

Bring the outdoors in with landscape paintings, botanical prints, or photography of forests, mountains, or oceans. Artwork that reflects nature adds serenity and a focal point to your walls.

Florals in the Bedroom:

I recently found these floral prints at Hobby Lobby, half off. They’re bursting with color and hang above my dressers on either side of my bed.

4. Choose Earthy Colors and Textiles

Decorating with natural tones such as soft greens, warm browns, sandy beiges, and sky blues creates a grounding and peaceful environment. Pair these colors with cozy textiles like linen, wool, or cotton for a nature-inspired look.

I have a wooden coffee table and always look for wicker baskets at thrift stores.

5. Display Found Objects from Nature

Seashells, driftwood, pinecones, or rocks make unique and meaningful decorations. Display them in bowls, glass jars, or on shelves to bring the outdoors inside in a personal and creative way.

I enjoy decorating with glass jars and wooden bowls, and I like to scatter small rocks among other types of decor.

Bathroom With Green & White:

In my bathroom, I have a green shower curtain, as well as green-and-white striped curtains that I had hanging in the apartment.

All the artwork in my bathroom is plant- or nature-inspired.

6. Incorporate Natural Light

Maximizing natural light is one of the easiest ways to make a space feel connected to nature. Use sheer curtains, hang mirrors to reflect sunlight, and keep windows unobstructed to brighten your home naturally.

With 18 windows in this old house, I have lots of natural light.

7. Use Scents Inspired by Nature

Candles, essential oils, or incense scented with lavender or fresh linen can transport you outdoors without ever leaving your living room. Scent is a powerful part of home atmosphere and helps create an interconnected, natural feel.

I think I might have a lavender or fresh linen candle around here somewhere. My usual candle scents are vanilla and cinnamon.

8. Choose Furniture with Organic Shapes

Instead of sharp, modern lines, look for furniture with curves and shapes that mimic nature’s organic flow. A rustic wooden bench or an arched mirror can soften your space and bring the outdoors in.

I do like curvy furniture and soft lines. Furniture with softened edges feels cozier and more relaxing.

Other Ways I Decorate with Nature in Mind:

I think my landscape paintings are appealing with their old dirt roads, mountains, and trees. The colors are soft with greens and brown tones.

I like using wicker baskets and wooden dough bowls as vessels in my house. Organization looks more visually appealing when I use wicker baskets to store things.

I chose most of my area rugs in various shades of green. That is true in the living room, guest room, my bedroom, the dining room, and the bathroom.

You don’t need houseplants to enjoy a nature-inspired home. By using natural materials, earthy colors, botanical artwork, and sunlight, you can create an environment that feels connected to the outdoors.

For instance, I recently created my serene green bedroom with nature in mind!

Decorating with nature is about more than greenery. It’s about bringing the calm and beauty of the natural world into your everyday life.