Each year scientists, designers and architects are discovering more and more benefits that come with increased human exposure to the natural world. As our gardens turn dormant over the cooler months, it’s natural that we don’t pay as much attention to the wonders of nature, however, it’s possible to reap the benefits of the outdoor world all year round through the clever selection of products that will enhance your home and delight your senses.

MATERIAL MATTERS

The very fabric of the buildings we live and work in has a huge impact on our wellbeing, therefore we need increased exposure to light and good ventilation as well as less time spent with toxic products and chemicals. And whilst we can’t all live in mud-brick homes in the middle of forests of pure air, there are ways to incorporate nature into our everyday lives.

Flooring is the obvious starting point here, so you can’t go past either solid hardwood or engineered timber floors as the grain of timber provides the ideal base on which to layer other natural elements. And if you select a timber floor that is grown from an Australian-made hardwood plantation, then you’ll feel even better that you’re making an ethical decision and doing your best for the environment too. The Terra Firma range is exclusive to Carpet Court and has a range of beautiful colour options – I particularly love the Tallowood as it will be perfect for contemporary or more traditional homes.

If you’re looking for the ideal carpet to enhance your connection to nature, consider a 100% wool or a wool blend. My top recommendation here is Correa – it is actually inspired by Australia’s stunning coast.

HARMONIOUS HUES

Your home’s colour palette may have a greater impact on your feelings of connection with nature than you think, but when you think about it, it does make sense. A home decorated in natural, earthy tones – from the warm colours of a sunset through to the greens of a forest, or the rich ochres of deserts formations, will have a very different impact on us than a home of harsh, synthetic shades.

TEXTURAL TREATS

Texture plays a vital role in our connection to the outdoors, so try to incorporate lots of lovely, touchyfeely materials into your home. Linen or linen-look curtains, particularly if they show the inherent ‘slubs’ within the fabrics, are the perfect window coverings to achieve this. The Seattle range from Carpet Court has the look of a natural linen (it’s a blend), and the Driftwood or Sky colourways are stunning nature inspired hues. Sheer curtains also have the benefit of letting in light whilst maintaining privacy, and that hint of the outdoors that you can see through sheers is another bonus too!

GROWING GREEN

When we think about bringing the essence of the outdoors in, many of us immediately think of indoor plants – and for good reason! Science now backs long held claims that having plants help reduce stress levels, sharpen your attention and can even help you to recover from illness quicker*. Finally, it is now believed that some indoor plants can help clean and freshen the air that we breathe, and the most highly recommended plants are the Boston fern, rubber tree, spider plant and certain palms.

Given the myriad of mental and physical health claims, bringing a sense of the outdoors to your indoors is an incredibly smart move, so if you’ll excuse me, I am off to order some dreamy green sheer curtains from Carpet Court, then head to the nearest nursery to stock up on plants!
*Source: published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology