Everyone’s dream home is different, but there is one design touch that never seems to go out of style – natural materials.
A natural design creates a sense of warmth and cosiness and is one of the easiest ways to turn a house into a home. From timber features to bamboo furniture, natural light and houseplants – there are so many ways you can bring the outdoors in.
Whether you’re ready to go full rustic-chic or are simply looking for small changes you can make to your home, we’ve summarised the easiest ways to go au naturel.
Timber touches
One of the most versatile home building materials, timber is hugely popular both in and outside the home. Timber cladding adds rustic charm and offers effective heat and sound insulation, making it a practical choice too.
Inside the home, timber looks fantastic on feature walls and floors. While cheaper alternatives can be tempting, nothing beats the real deal for adding that naturally beautiful touch.
Not ready to commit to a full redesign? Timber furniture or cabinetry is an easy way to introduce the material into your home. With so many types of woodgrain and finishes to choose from, you can really make timber features your own.
Natural stone
If you’re looking to add a touch of class to your home, natural stone is the answer. It works beautifully as a unique feature wall, as the natural variation of the stone means no two are the same.
Nothing says romance like a cobblestone fireplace, a cosy addition to any sitting room. If you’ve got an existing fireplace, a rock veneer is an easy, cost-effective solution.
Alternatively, you might want to consider stone tiling in the kitchen or bathroom. It not only looks great, but also keeps the house cool on hot days. The same is true for pool areas – stone stays nice and cool in the sun, making it more comfortable when you’re getting in and out of the water.
On a smaller scale, you could introduce marble benchtops in your kitchen or bathroom. Coupled with other natural touches such as copper tapware, they will add a refined, elegant feel to any home.
Rustic furniture
If you’re looking for a quick way to introduce natural home design, rustic furniture is a fantastic option. Bamboo, rattan and wicker pieces are easy to find and work perfectly in any room in the house.
From bed frames to cabinets, chairs and even outdoor settings, it’s hard to go wrong with natural furniture. As a bonus, these materials are eco-friendly, meaning you can shop with a clean conscience.
Natural light
Nothing has the power to transform a room like natural light. Particularly if you’re working with smaller spaces, you can really open them up by getting creative with lighting.
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden or patio, make the most of it by using glass folding doors, which can be fully opened to create a beautiful indoor-outdoor space. Alternatively, give rooms a dose of natural light with large feature windows, glass ceilings or clever clerestory windows above eye level.
If you need to work with what you’ve got, you can brighten up your home with cleverly positioned mirrors to help direct natural light, and by painting your walls in lighter, brighter colours.
For help bringing your natural home design to life, get in touch with the multi-award-winning team at Sheridan Building today.
