Make a Home Special: Bring the Outdoors In

For me, nothing is more uplifting to my creative spirits than a walk out in nature. And the older I get, I really appreciate it more and more….SO….if I love nature that much, and love to be surrounded by it as often as possible, how exciting would it be to bring a bit of it indoors? Bringing the outdoors in…what does that mean exactly? It means adding things to your home that are derived from nature such as rocks, clay, wood, plants, shells, and flowers. Adding items to a space that are manufactured from natural elements, like a wood table or a rattan woven basket are also a way to bring the outdoors in.

Make a home more special by adding outdoor elements in the space ...fireplace with a shell mosaic, wood walking sticks, and large potted plants.

A rustic clay bowl on a small stack of blue books holds a favorite bright green house plant.

Whether it’s in its natural form, or an item made out of natural materials, both can bring the outdoors in. Earthy elements are warm, genuine, organic, and lasting. They can add such calmness and beauty to a space and make it feel comfortable and homey.

Three floating shelves with handmade pottery and vintage ceramic pots with plants.

The easiest way to bring some natural components to a space would be to add live plants. Plants are always uplifting, but let’s say you want to be more creative. What about a table made out of tree branches, or a display of walking sticks, or even a fireplace tiled with sea shells? Your imagination is the only limit.

These Items Can Make a Home Special:

Sticks and Wood

Four natural wood walking sticks leaning up against the white hearth of a fireplace with a sea shell mosaic facade and a large potted Fiddle Leaf plant. All these elements help to bring the outdoors in.

A budget-friendly way to add decor is to display a variety of walking sticks. I found mine while out hiking and brought them home. I whittled off the bark and placed them on the fireplace hearth…amazing! That’s literally bringing the outdoors in and they are absolutely unique! They bring a very unexpected and very warm sculptural element to my white flat fireplace facade. Another sculptural element that adds loads of interest is my wooden birdhouse made of thin branches. We purchased this birdcage at an antique mall a few years back. This little hut adds fun to the space under my floating shelves.

A wooden birdcage hut made out of smooth small branches adds a natural accent to a living room.

We have a handmade round end table which we bought from an antique mall several years ago. We fell in love with it instantly. It has a slatted wood top and bent branch legs.

Bringing the outdoors in can make a home more special. A close-up of a side table made of wood slates and bent branches for the legs adds a unique touch.

Living room side table made of bent branches with a potted spider plant and a faux cream colored coral lamp.

The fireplace mantel was a wonderful surprise. I sent my husband out to buy a nine-foot long plank of wood for the mantle and the plan was to paint it white. BUT, the moment I saw the plank I loved it, It was so striking…. it reminded me of an ocean wave. I didn’t touch a thing. I feel like it adds tons of character and movement to the room.

A fireplace mantel showing a beautiful wood grain pattern reminds me of an ocean wave.

Ocean Objects

Nothing says ocean fun like a faux coral lamp, and colorful coral-patterned fabric pillows. But the piece de resistance of the entire room is my shell-covered fireplace. My seashell fireplace is my pride and joy, it really adds something special to my home. It looks like it might have been very time-consuming and difficult to do BUT it was actually one of the easiest projects I have ever done! In its original form, the fireplace was a giant black marble slab. It had little character and came across as very cold and stark. My husband covered most of the marble with wood which we painted white. With the remaining exposed marble, we slathered it with mastic and placed a variety of shells (paid links) into it. It’s a creative textured mosaic that just screams…”DAY AT THE BEACH!”.

Bringing outdoor elements indoors can make a home special. A closeup of a mosaic made of shells.

Clay Pottery

What’s more earthy than clay pots… glazed with the colors of the great outdoors?! Whether they are pinched pots, coil pots, or thrown clay bowls, they are all part of my fabulous collection. They are all proudly displayed on my floating shelves. My assortment is extra special because the ones I really adore are the ones handmade by my children throughout the years…school art projects and Mother’s Day gifts. One of my textured, rustic clay bowls holds a favorite houseplant.

A unique collection of pottery; some store-bought and some handmade by children.

Paintings and Pillows

If bringing the outdoors in is too literal for you, you could always opt for the essence of nature…through pillows, fabrics, and paintings. I chose a variety of floral patterned pillows as well as floral paintings. Behind the couch, a collage of paintings of mostly floral and animal designs brightens up the space.

Wall of paintings: flowers in a vase with a couch with floral pillows in blue and yellow.

What is surprising to me is how many different ways there are to bring the outdoors in. I encourage you to look around, even if it’s in your own backyard, and see if any natural elements are calling your name. They may spark a creative idea that could lead to a room transformation! With my living room, I pulled out all the stops. I might have gone overboard with all the earthy elements, but it’s their warmth and uniqueness that makes my home feel special.

If you’d like to see how I get inspired from the outdoors, see my post: “The Best Ideas Can Come From Nature: Blue Heron“.