5 Tips For Bringing The Outdoors Inside

Whether you’re fed up with winter or hankering for a new look, bringing the outdoors inside is a great way to freshen up a living space. Here are 5 ideas to spruce up your house, enhance your kitchens, and invite fresh fragrances to fill the air.

Feeling The Sunshine with Citrus Trees

Are you looking for a way to enhance your living space and bring in rays of sunshine? If so, I think you’ll love the look, smell, and vibe of citrus trees.

They have a certain uplifting style that is unlike any other. In minutes of adding a lemon or orange tree to a room, it feels like the vacation has already begun.

Adding A Mediterranean Touch with Olive Trees

Speaking of vacations, who doesn’t love the look and feel of a graceful olive tree? It’s a very gentle and timeless escape to have an olive tree gracing your living or dining area.

Perhaps there’s a perfect spot for one on a porch.

If you’ve been dreaming of having the Mediterranean come to you, with citrus and olive trees, you’ll be right on track. 

Sparking The French Feeling with Lavender

While you may not have vast fields of lavender like they do in France, you can still ignite that feeling of the French countryside.

Fill vases with fresh lavender. If it’s out of season, there’s no shortage of dried options. Lavender wreaths. Lavender braids. Lavender votives. Lavender scented room sprays. 

While you’re at it, why not sit down for a good strong pot of coffee. My favorite is French press coffee. It’s easy to make and goes well with or without milk. One of the things I love about this kind of coffee is you just can’t mess it up. It’s very forgiving. Just pour water into a lovely glass pot, wait a few minutes, and then press the filter down.

Who wants to fuss over a complicated espresso machine? Not me. 

Enlivening The Senses with Narcissu

Let the winds howl and the rain pour down. With sparkling crystal bowls filled with narcissus, you just won’t care.

There’s nothing that spells springtime like narcissus. You can find them in whites, with yellow centers, and unique varieties. They can grow even in dark rooms. So, don’t let a bit of winter get you down. Pop bulbs in any pot or bowl you have lying around. 

If you want to bring spring in a little early, narcissus is here to help.

Transforming With Colorful Plants

If you and I were walking through your home, what would we talk about? My hunch is we’d explore color.

Color is one of the fastest ways to liven up space. Think about the colors that evoke a feeling of happiness and joy. Lime green. Bright lemon yellow. Brilliant orange. Delightful sparkly pinks and fuchsias. Pick plants that add a splash of color—and you’re ready to go.

Igniting Beauty with Colorful Containers

If you’re looking at transforming your space with color, think outside the plant. Sure, having plants with these colors is fantastic. But, you’ll have even more room to play if you think in terms of adding color with pots, strings, and lights.

Pots often come in these bright engaging colors for exactly these reasons. One designer trick is to use double-pots. The outer pot is the colorful one. The inner pot may be porcelain, ceramic, or stoneware. This enables you to change colors for a seasonal flair.

If you think about it, you’ve seen this in action at hotels, resorts, and spas.

Strings and ribbons are even easier to use for an instant zap to your space. Pick a palette, and with just a spool or two of ribbon, you’ll have an instant makeover.

Baskets are another great way to ignite the room with color, texture, and tone. Think about creating a basket collection that works with specific plants. One busy client uses this as a way to store baskets – in plain sight. Plus, there’s an added convenience – you can always grab a basket and use it to head to the store.

Sum Up 

As you use your creativity to bring the outside inside, you’ll feel the rejuvenating energy of plants, color, and textures. Isn’t it amazing what a few touches can do?