Importance of Bringing the Outside into Your Home

There’s a reason why so many people take walks to clear their heads and boost their moods. Nature has numerous healing effects on the mind and body. As such, it only makes sense to bring the outdoors into your home.

Your home is a sanctuary of sorts — a safe place for you to unwind and find comfort. If you’re wondering why nature is important and how to create an earth-inspired environment indoors, these suggestions may pique your interest.

How Nature Benefits Your Health

Greenhouse gas emissions significantly contribute to climate change while posing severe threats to public health. In fact, scientists estimate that poor air quality causes 100,000-200,000 annual deaths in the U.S. annually.

Nature has proven itself a remedy to this crisis by purifying the atmosphere — plants and soils sequester one-third of carbon emissions from the fossil fuels industry every decade. People’s physical health can improve by clearing the air of harmful toxins.

Research has also shown several mental health benefits of nature. Spending only 120 minutes outdoors weekly can greatly enhance your mental well-being — that’s because the brain produces more serotonin when you’re outside, which helps balance your mood.

Sunlight exposure also increases vitamin D levels in the body, which improves nutrient absorption and immunity.

5 Ways Bring More Nature Into Your Home

Bringing the outdoors into your living quarters is easier and more cost-effective than you think. Here are five recommendations for a more earthy indoor environment.

1.   Open the Windows

Spring and summer are the perfect times to open your windows and ventilate the house. You may not realize it but paint and everyday household products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that put your health at risk. Older homes especially may contain mold, lead, asbestos or invisible gases.

Cracking a window helps remove allergens and toxins that would otherwise affect your respiratory system or cause headaches and sinus inflammation.

2.   Start an Indoor Herb Garden

Did you know that food transportation accounts for 19% of agricultural emissions? Fortunately, you can easily grow herbs indoors for a healthy source of ingredients with a lower environmental footprint.

New hydroponic gardening kits have also made it easier to grow other types of produce inside your home year-round. Imagine picking tomatoes from your hydroponic setup in your dining room in the middle of winter.

3.   Become a Proud Plant Parent

Of course, you can fill your home with a variety of beautiful houseplants, which will help purify your indoor air quality naturally.

Recent studies have suggested that houseplants remove pollutants and bacterial infections from the air, which could prove beneficial for controlling COVID-19 transmission. Additionally, plants help regulate indoor humidity levels for greater comfort.

4.   Hang Nature Photography

Scientists recently examined how photographs of natural environments affect people with anxiety and depression, stress and various mood states. Their findings show that nature photography has therapeutic effects on your mental health and could be a viable option for treatment plans.

Turn your photography passion into decorative art, adorning your walls with photographs of natural landscapes. Also, look for paintings that depict natural settings like the ocean, a forest or a mountain range. Looking at these pictures will induce a greater sense of calm.

5.   Paint in Earthy Tones

Nature colors could inspire you to paint your interior walls and decorate your home in earthy tones. Depending on how you integrate outdoor hues inside, you may begin associating lounging in your living room as a natural escape.

There are numerous muted shades to choose from for a relaxing home. For instance, light beige or off-white walls will allow organic wood furniture and greenery to stand out. Otherwise, you may choose a saturated blue-grey like the ocean or a khaki green accent wall.