New And Natural

Being in nature is a genuine de-stressor, so why not make your home as relaxing as possible and bring your outdoors indoors?

In accordance with the new trend of nature-inspired design for the home, we spoke to interior designer Debbie Travin, president of the award-winning interior design firm DLT interiors, about ways to bring that oh-so-natural look home while still maintaining your own sense of style.

Know Your Options

Some of the hottest options for natural furniture trends right now are rattan, rope, grasscloth, linen and petrified wood, Travin says. You can add accents to this that are more glam, like mother of pearl; more traditional, like brass or silver or more minimalist, like bone. Marble is also always a classic and capiz shells or windowpane oyster shells add some shine as well. All of these elements together make for a very modern coastal aesthetic, Travin says, that’s also very on-trend. When making all of these choices, though, remember to choose what most appeals to you personally.

Mix And Match Texture

If this aesthetic is something you’re interested in, Travin says mixing and matching these different surfaces and textures is the way to go. You don’t want a room that’s covered entirely in rattan, for example. So, if you have a marble dining room table, one option would be to mix it with a wood cocktail table and a rattan accent chair. “If you mix the materials and textures, it gives it that really warm feeling that you’re going for, especially more of the indoor-outdoor feeling,” she says. “You can mix those materials just like you mix jewelry … you can mix it all in the house, and that’s really what gives it that authentic nature inspired look.”

Go (Real) Green

It can be tempting to choose silk or plastic greenery for the home, but they’re really not going to bring in that nature-inspired look you’re hoping for, Travin says. If you’re concerned about caring for plants, choose real and low-maintenance options like succulents, moss placed in a vase, statement trees like fig trees or olive trees or even dried flower arrangements, which add color and last a long time. Just don’t overdo the greenery so it looks like you’re living in a jungle; edit down your design for a clean aesthetic.