Inside Out – Bringing the outside in this summer

Unless you spent an extended lockdown in the Arctic Circle, you should be familiar with biophilia by now. But just in case you really have been snowed in, nearly all ID this year has been focused on bringing the outdoors inside. And if you’re a UK resident, this is great news for all those rain-drenched days that usually accompany a British summer.

This is a trend that keeps coming back, and even more so lately as we find our lives increasingly dominated by more and more tech – the basic caveperson in all of us gets a subconscious kick from keeping nature close-by. By this, we don’t mean transporting an ant colony into your living area, but bug-free indoor plant life is so hot right now that most trendy indoor spaces are morphing into miniature rain forests.

But zeroing in on foliage isn’t the whole story. Biophilia embraces other parts of the natural world into design, and that means natural fabrics and colours. Rich vibrant greens, and earth tones need to be studied in every shade they come in, complemented by hand-crafted accessories in pottery and wood.

So, how do you do successfully bring the outside in without your walls resembling a children’s play area? To guide you to success through this potential minefield, these are our suggestions:

1. For the quickest conversion, bring in some plants. If your fingers aren’t so green, then opt for the easy-going cactus, but if you’re more confident then go for amagnificent Monstera deliciosa, AKA the swiss cheese plant, and the ultimate statement in tropical glamour.
2. As we mentioned before, colour is key. Plants bring in the verdant hues, so pick your foundation colours carefully – too much green, and you’re in danger of recreating the Emerald City. A backdrop of earthy or outdoorsy browns and greys are perfect, but add a touch of vibrant jewel tones to surprise the eye and bring in a bit of natural bling. However, this doesn’t mean you need to ignore wallpaper. If you’d rather make a statement with a daring design, then go full-on foliage with a cheeky toucan or tiger to surprise.
3. Natural fabrics should make a statement! Get your soft furnishings in the most quality cotton, linen, wool, velvets and silks that your wallet will allow. Even if that’s only a few cushions, you will not regret it.
4. Texture – this goes hand-in-hand with your fabric choices, but a little mix and match is what we’re focusing on here. This can also incorporate rustic or zig-zag cotton and linen weaves.
5. Artwork – from hand-drawn studies of plants and animals, select from the modern and old. We thoroughly recommend Victorian prints from the botanical books of yesteryear, but present-day artists also have plenty to offer.
6. Hand crafts like macrame and pottery are a must, so if you’re holidaying abroad this year, then take a visit to the local markets to shop for something unique.

If you follow these guidelines, then your finished room will be a centre of calm, featuring natural shadows and restful space for the body, mind and eyes.

Unless you spent an extended lockdown in the Arctic Circle, you should be familiar with biophilia by now. But just in case you really have been snowed in, nearly all ID this year has been focused on bringing the outdoors indoors. And if you’re a UK resident, this is great news for all those rain-drenched days that usually accompany a British summer.