Now that the weather is getting cooler, and we’ll be spending less time outdoors, the need to mimic nature indoors is even more important. Here are our tips for bringing nature into the great indoors in both your home and in the office.
AT HOME
Bring nature in – literally.
We’re not just talking pumpkins! Treat yourself to some new houseplants for an easy way to let the outdoors in. For serious fall vibes, try a plant with darker leaves like an Alocasia Reginula, or ‘Black Velvet Elephant Ear’ plant. Another autumnal way to bring nature inside is to arrange branches in a vase. Not only will it feel fresh, but they’ll last longer than flowers – and you can even snip them from your own back yard.
Keep it light.
As days get shorter and it gets dark earlier, it’s important to get the lighting in your home right. If you’re using LED bulbs, the best color temperature for the home is 2700K. For lighting that mimics nature even more closely, add a variety of light sources, like floor lamps and table lamps, that can be switched on in lieu of overhead lights as it gets later at night. If you have or can put your lights on dimmers, even better!
Clear the air.
One of the best parts of fall are the smells that go with it. For a natural way to freshen the air in your home, try a simmer pot. Check out our simple method below!
AT WORK
Go big with plants.
The office isn’t where you’d typically think of being surrounded by nature, but it’s one of the places that needs it the most, and also a place where going bold works. We support adding plants in any capacity to a work space, as it improves mood and health, but our favorite way to add greenery at the office is to add a plant wall. In spaces without windows, this works particularly well.
Get artsy.
A less obvious way to add nature is through artwork. This can be as simple as an abstract print or, like we did for our Iponweb project, you can get more immersive with floor to ceiling, wall to wall nature prints. We chose black and white photos of national parks to transport employees to a tranquil space in these phone pods.
Lighten up.
Mimicking natural light in the office is just as important as it is in the home, if not more so. Many of our clients’ concerns about their spaces center around poor lighting. Not only is it important to make sure that the quantity and spacing of the light is even throughout the office, but choosing the correct color temperature is also paramount. In most workspaces, 3000K LED bulbs are ideal. This is the closest color to sunlight without being too bright and improves productivity as well as mood. For a cozy feeling, and even better lighting, add task lamps to be turned on when the sun starts to set.
Our recipe for a simple and fresh fall simmer pot.
You’ll need:
- (1) Lemon – sliced into circles
- (3) Springs fresh rosemary
- (1) Tbsp dried cloves
- (3) Bay leaves (optional)
- Water
Fill a pot about 3/4 of the way with water (this will boil down so you want to add more than you’d think!).
Add lemon, rosemary, cloves. Adding bay leaves will also help to eliminate any kitchen odors that might be lingering.
Bring the pot to a boil for 3 minutes, then lower the heat so that it’s just steaming.
Let the pot ‘simmer’ for as long as you like, or until there is very little water left.
Enjoy!
Gala Magriñá Design works with clients that understand the importance of creating a beautiful space and want to work with a no-nonsense design team that is able to clearly chart the best way forward. What separates or approach from other designers is our extensive knowledge of how people live and how best to create a customized space that nurtures that. We aim to merge cool and beautiful interiors with a holistic, mindful and intuitive approach to design that results in powerful, healthy spaces that elevate and transform people’s lives. For more information please visit galamagrinadesign.com.