Bringing The Outdoors In

Since the early ages humans have been inspired by nature. Our love of the great outdoors can be seen in artwork, town designs, the activities we participate in and so much more. So why not add in elements of nature to your own home?

The term biophilic design is used to describe a type of architecture that works to connect humans to nature to improve their overall wellbeing.

Research has shown the overwhelming benefits of incorporating natural design into our everyday living space. These benefits include decreased stress, better sleep, increased happiness and creativity. Incorporating nature into your home doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Here are just a few ways to bring the outdoors in.
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1. Houseplants - This is probably the easiest (and quickest) way to start bringing outdoor elements inside. There are so types of houseplants and so many local places to purchase them from that the hardest part might be not buying the entire store. Make sure you do some research first into the best houseplant for your lifestyle. Each type can vary in level of maintenance and some may not be the best choice with pets or young children. When possible, try to plant your new house plants in organic soil so you and your family are not breathing in toxic compounds every day.  
2. Bedtime Bulbs - While windows might provide natural light into your home during the day, Bedtime Bulbs provide a more natural light spectrum than traditional LED bulb when it comes to evening lighting. This softer yellow light will help your circadian rhythm reconnect nature by cueing it for the proper evening light signal. If you are interested in learning more about Bedtime Bulbs or want to try them out, you can now purchase them at Avena!
3. Flikr Fire - Yes, we've highlighted Flikr Fire before and are again because we absolutely love their indoor, clean burning fire element. In our opinion, they have mastered the perfect combination of bringing the best outdoor elements inside and have us hoping summer campfire nights aren't too far away. 
4. Choose materials from nature - Thinking of renovating a room in your house? Choosing elements that contain wood grains, stoneware, fractal patterns, clay, etc. can have a powerful effect on your indoor space. Biophilic design research has shown that these elements help calm and focus the mind, especially in an office setting (hint: perfect for your work-from-home space!).
5. Nature-based color palettes - Maybe you aren't knocking down walls or building an addition but that doesn't mean you can't freshen up a room with some new paint! Choose colors inspired by nature. These can be bold colors like forest green or softer, more neutral colors like desert sand. 
6. Make the outdoors accessible - Another way bring nature closer is to create a lifestyle around the outdoors. This can mean anything from having lunch outside to spending your weekends hiking or camping. To keep outdoor adventures at the forefront of your mind (and your environment) surround yourself with indoor elements that make the outdoors more accessible. This can include leaving a shoe rack by the door for muddy boots and coats or even a picnic blanket in your car. 
7. Water fountain - Along the same lines as house plants, having an indoor water feature can help make the outdoors feel even closer with the soft sound of water bubbling and the sight of it cascading down.
8. Artwork - A watercolor painting of the beach, pressed flowers, a family ski vacation photo... whatever makes you feel connected to the outdoors!

You don't have to apply all these methods to benefit from bringing a little bit of nature indoors. Test a few out and see which ones you like and work in your environment and daily routine. 

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Want to learn more about the benefits of biophilic design on your health? Bringing the Outdoors Inside article in ArchDaily covers how nature inspired design and even the little things like indoor plants have a major impact on the human mind. Dive into some beautifully inspiring designs and generate some home design ideas of your own!

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