A room that incorporates natural elements and brings the outside in can create an ambiance with a calming effect that never goes out of style. Timeless furniture, architectural details, natural fabrics and sensory elements can all add to the mood. Add special touches that encourage sensory perception like eucalyptus provide a woodsy feeling and a potpourri of flowers to suggest a garden. Add the sound of wind, waterfalls and rain for an extra relaxing touch. Plants and images of the outdoors can bring a finishing touch.
Choosing the Right Fabrics
Upholstered furniture with natural fibers, textures and patterns can provide a refreshing outdoor feeling. Evoke the atmosphere of Mother Nature by choosing comfy sofas and chairs with soft cushions. Add floral fabrics and colors inspired by regional influences to get the full effect. For a seaside cottage, turquoise, beige and greens suggest the ocean, sand and sky, while deeper tones and earthy browns echo the colors of a mountain home.
Let the Sunshine In
Play up a bow or Palladian window by placing sofas and chairs around it to create a focal point. Clear away heavy draperies and let the sunshine in for natural light and outdoor views. Enhance the scene by trimming away overgrown hedges and creating an appealing outdoor panorama with plants, trees and flowers.
Accessorizing
Area rugs with leaf and floral patterns and rugs in natural fabrics blend well with an indoor/outdoor room. Natural flooring like wood, cork or bamboo can add the warmth of organic elements. The greenery of potted plants and artwork with outdoor influences can add a refreshing indoor/outdoor feeling to a room. Strategically placed baskets filled with seashells, and twisted tree branches with interesting tendrils have an organic appeal. For the kitchen, a sparkling glass bowl of apples or oranges can add an organic touch.
Indoor/Outdoor Living
Furnish your patio or deck to make the most of indoor/outdoor living and expand your living space. Metal tables and chairs, bakers racks and accent pieces complement a room with an inviting indoor/outdoor feeling. Choose cushion fabrics, patterns and colors that balance the natural surroundings.
