Interior design does not have to be expensive, especially if you want to achieve a natural, organic look.
Recycling and refurbishing are all the rage currently in the world of modern homemaking. If you choose to go down that route, you can get a cozy, warm atmosphere without breaking your bank.
On the other end of the spectrum, getting custom, artisanal wooden furniture imbues your living space with a sense of antique luxury. Seeing as though those can cost a pretty penny, you can splurge on a single centerpiece and build your design around it.
Read through this article to find more tips and tricks on how to make your interior design feel natural and organic.
Bare brick as the centerpiece or backdrop
What we define as a natural material change with the times. Clay bricks were, for centuries, the pinnacle of technological advancement.
Now, bare bricks on a wall evoke a rustic, unpolished, and natural look that appeals to many homeowners.
Leaving a wall unplastered uncovers and highlights a beautiful brick-laying pattern that captures the eye. The deep reds instill a sense of comfort and homeliness to any living space.
Even if you choose to paint over the bricks and give them a new luster, leaving a carefully portioned section of a wall bare can be a beautiful touch.
Woodgrain – nature’s own embellishment pattern
You know that feeling of coziness and warmth you get in a tastefully decorated log cabin? Being nestled and comfortable with a fire crackling while silent snow carefully layers flake by flake on a tree branch outside your window?
A big part of that feeling is the natural wood finish most of those cabins keep.
While someone might say the randomness of a wood grain pattern is unkempt and scruffy, many homeowners feel a natural wood finish gives a space a special sense of authenticity.
The interweaving patterns of grains and knots, unique to every piece of wood, will make your living space feel warm and welcoming.
From beams to flooring and furniture, wood is a universal material that can be used for almost anything. Reclaimed wooden materials are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also ethical and sustainable.
Artisanal wood furniture
If it’s not outside your price range, consider including an artisanal piece of wooden furniture as a centerpiece for your living space.
Be it a refurbished, antique feature or a freshly crafted piece, wooden furniture can create a wide range of sentiments. A dining table with a natural, grainy wood finish can lend a rustic and country atmosphere. An antique wooden armoire makes any dressing room feel like a queen’s personal closet.
Supporting local craftsmen is a noble and environmentally friendly cause. If they source local materials and handcraft the pieces, the authenticity will surely pass through their hands and go straight into your interior.
Potted plants make a living space come to life
The health benefits of including potted plants have been repeatedly proven. They reduce stress, purify the air, edible herbs provide a constant source of fresh ingredients, and are above all, aesthetically pleasing.
You can opt for a large house plant, those are currently en vogue, but even if you go for a small pot, you will experience all the benefits. The routine of caring for plants, watering them, changing the soil, making sure they’re getting enough light relaxes and gives new meaning to taking care of your home.
Potted plants are a simple and straightforward way of including natural elements in your home. They connect us with nature and provide us with all-important splashes of green in our often much too gray lives.
Woven items make a house feel homely
A simple set of wicker woven boxes in the corner of a room instantly makes the entire space feel more natural and welcoming. There’s something about the texture, the touch, and the feel of woven items that evokes childhood memories, no matter where you’re from on the globe.
Wicker woven baskets, chairs, even coffee tables with that kind of texture can do wonders for softening up an overly clean-cut-looking room.
Embellish your home with a sea-loving flare using shells
It’s as simple as going to your nearest beachfront and collecting a few dozen colorful shells. You can frame them in glass, pin them up individually on a will or just keep a basketful in the corner as an ornament.
Using shells can be tacky if overdone, but when you use restraint and find a tasteful balance, the salty, fresh air of the sea will start to emerge in your interior design.
Natural stone textures ground a room and bring it stability
If you’re looking for that real organic feel for your interior design, including a piece with a natural stone texture is a must.
A grainy wood finish gives your home a cozy atmosphere. Bare stone is associated with a sense of security and strength.
You don’t have to go all the way and fork up for a granite kitchen counter. A single marble coffee table top will suffice, or a stone lamp. Even some neatly arranged stones and pebbles on your mantle will bring forth the earthy element. The natural patterns and embellishments planted deep in the material over millennia invoke a sense of maturity and ancientness.
Bathrooms are particularly fond of this type of texture. Pebble tiles and granite sinks have a very tasteful interplay with glass elements usually found in bathrooms.
Recycle, recycle, recycle
Reusing and repurposing is not only the ethically responsible thing to do. It can also lend itself to a whole aesthetic genre.
For example, repurposing old railway ties for ceiling support beams can really show your allegiance to the green cause, as well reinforce a natural look and feel.
Bookshelves and tables are also prime candidates for refurbishing and reusing. Seeing as though they serve a stationary purpose, a good coat of paint will usually return the pieces’ old luster. Some of these old, dried-up pieces of wood can set fire easily, so consider using fire retardant paint when finishing them.
Even if you don’t use the fixtures for their original purpose, a purely decorative refurbished piece can do wonders for the atmosphere of living space.
Natural light creates a natural atmosphere (obviously)
There’s no better way to create a dreary, artificial, and depressing atmosphere than the lack of natural light in a room.
Don’t suffocate rooms with heavy drapes or block windows that could be precious sources of light.
Light is the ‘material’ that affects our moods the most. Even if you have to open up new windows or maybe even a sunroof, bringing more natural sunlight will surely make your home feel more open, airy, and all-around pleasant to be in.
Conclusion
Striking a balance between the comfort, elegance, and sleekness modern design brings with the rustic, rough, country feel a natural style garners is not only possible but preferable in today’s interior design.
Using natural materials not only creates a special kind of aesthetic, but it is also ethically preferable.
Using locally sourced, natural materials have an incredibly positive impact on the environment. It also supports your local craftsman community.
So, next time you do a living room redesign – make sure you contact furniture makers in your area.
