20 Natural Decor Ideas To Bring the Outdoors Inside Your Home

Say goodbye to super-sleek interiors. Rustic and cozy designs that echo natural surroundings are making a comeback — and we think they're here to stay. If you crave a connection to nature inside your home, these biophilic decorating ideas from designers are sure to inspire. "Natural textures — like stone, wood, plaster and linen — add warmth and beauty to a home," Aly Morford, co-founder and principal designer of Pure Salt Interiors. "When layered together, they ground the space in nature and help it to feel curated, collected and well-loved.”

From organic materials to earthy textiles and flora and fauna-inspired motifs, we've got all the natural decorating ideas you'll need to embrace the great outdoors in every room — and your patio, too. Read on to learn more.

Consumers are craving a sense of purpose and a reality check in the design world, says Erin Napier of Home Town. "I think the social media world we've all been living in is a cold, monochrome, idealized place, and we're beginning to see a bristling against it. We want connection and warmth, imperfection and nostalgia. We're seeking something real in an artificial world, and it's manifesting in the way we design our homes."

In this serene bedroom, Erin embraced nature-inspired decor to achieve that warmth. Using pine for the headboard and bench shows off the wood's characteristic knots and imperfections for a rustic and relaxed feel. A set of botanical prints above the bed adds another nod to nature.

Designers and consumers are embracing material irregularities that give spaces a lived-in look. “There is an understanding that things can get better with age," says Robin Standefer, designer and co-owner of RW Guild. "Our finishes deliberately age — we call them 'living finishes,' since they are meant to change with time. There's a desire now for a certain kind of worn-in feel."

Like this newly-renovated (but made to look rustic) kitchen. The designer selected unlacquered brass for the cabinet hardware and lighting, which will develop patina with time and daily use that will blend with the other natural and vintage-inspired finishes throughout the space.

What better way is there to embrace nature inside your home than with a bucolic mural? Whether you select a wallpaper mural, like this one, a textural tapestry or get creative and paint one yourself, these large-scale wall treatments are sure to capture the essence of the outdoors — and bring a peaceful mood to your space.

The key to achieving an earthy-inspired look is using materials that exist in nature, like stone, wood, seagrass and more. “The goal is to mix these materials; that's how you create a layered look full of character," says Leigh Lincoln, co-founder and principal designer at Pure Salt Interiors. "The trick is to keep elements within a tonal family. In this kitchen, the island and stools share a warm color palette, and the stone acts as a neutral to work off of.”

The craggy feel and weathered look of reclaimed wood closely resembles how a tree trunk appears in nature, compared to smoothly sanded and evenly stained wood finishes. Employing reclaimed materials, like the exposed beams and side table in this lakeside cabin, grounds a space with texture and warmth.

If reclaimed wood is too rustic for your taste, a natural wood finish is a fresh and modern take on nature-inspired style. These oak cabinets are sealed, not stained, to show off the patterns in the wood in a sleek and refined way that blends with various decorating styles — from midcentury modern to farmhouse.

Looking for a low-lift way to bring more natural appeal into your home? Fill a large vase with a bold bouquet of foraged greens — the wilder the better. In this sweet and simple bathroom, the oversized display of leafy branches on the pedestal table brings a much-needed touch of liveliness, while suiting the room's effortless and relaxed style.

Another way to bring life and natural greenery to your space — without renovating or redecorating — is with indoor trees and plants. It's Leigh's go-to way to add earthy appeal. "Your space can handle more [greenery] than you think, so adding large installations, like trees, can make a big difference in making your home feel fresh, welcoming and grounded," she says.

Unlike foraged greens that fade after a couple of weeks, with proper care and maintenance, these leafy beauties will enhance your home for years to come.

Make any room feel like a field of wildflowers with floral wallpaper, bedding, pillows or all of the above. In this tiny powder room, block print-style wallpaper covered in cheery marigolds is as sweet as a sunny day. The mossy green trim completes the outdoorsy vibe.

When the team at Christopher Architecture and Interiors renovated this grand farmhouse (which was once a llama farm), they wanted to honor the homeowners' appreciation of rustic elements. In this bathroom, olive green wallpaper with a whimsical bird pattern connects the space to the lush scene right outside the window.

"When using wood in multiple ways in a space, make sure there is some common ground," says designer Heather Peterson. "In this case we varied the size and finish, so it was important to use the same species (pine) for both the walls and ceiling. We went one step further with the rattan bed, which mimics the color of the ceiling and adds another layer of texture."

A rattan accent works to add a touch of rustic charm — even when it's the only wood tone in a space. In this softly-colored bedroom, the intricate headboard plays off the botanical pillow to create a pastoral scene. A wicker basket or lamp would do the same in a neutral space.

Think outside the box with clever ways to embrace wood — that don't actually require wood. The luxe-meets-rustic style of this living room gets a dose of woodsy whimsy with wallpaper depicting a log pile and fabric featuring squirrels perched on tree branches. The gold pendant light hanging in the corner is reminiscent of a pinecone.

If log pile wallpaper is outside your design comfort zone, consider a more traditional faux bois print for a similar effect.

There's a reason every fairytale castle and cabin has a stone fireplace. These dreamy, organic structures have major storybook charm. If your home has an existing stone surround, consider following designer Leanne Ford's approach: Keep the rest of the room white, so your fireplace is the star.

Stone also makes for a rustic flooring choice that adds natural, time-worn appeal. In this all-white entryway, the flagstone pavers ground the space (literally) and play off the distressed finish of the whitewashed wood beams.

"This is a cabin on a wooded lake, and we loved bringing in representations of local flora and fauna throughout," says designer Heather Peterson. "I love that this wallpaper shows pressed flower specimens, which speaks to the location but also the slow act of gathering and preserving wildflowers." And as for that whimsical ceramic woodland friend: "The squirrel is one of many critters living in this house," says Heather. "I like to imagine that he moves from room to room, kind of like a year-round elf on a shelf."

Textiles are often the most tactile items in the home — the upholstery you sit on, the rug underfoot, the drapes you pull open and closed each day. Because you come into contact with these items daily, they are important elements to imparting an earthy feel in your space. Stick with natural fibers like jute, cotton, linen and wool to harmonize with other nature-inspired decor.

What is a nature-inspired interior without a touch of green? This verdant hue undeniably channels the outdoors — especially in earthy shades like forest, sage and olive. Add small touches of green in details like art work and throw pillows, or go all in like restoration expert Jonathan Knight and designer Kristina Crestin did in this rustic kitchen with mossy green cabinets.