Trend Alert: Polished Ways to Use Natural Materials in the Home

In a world that orbits around high-tech devices, more and more homeowners are opting for the opposite in their home design. Natural materials continue to reign supreme when it comes to trends in decorating interior spaces. In no way does natural imply rough or unfinished, either: there are so many ways to use these resources so that a room looks polished and fresh — and remains stylish for years to come. Here are seven of them:

Cultivate an Indoor Garden

You don’t necessarily have to start your own greenhouse, but bringing houseplants into your home design is a straightforward way to make it feel enlivened and more natural. In fact, some houseplants can verifiably make the air cleaner, thus freshening your space in more ways than one.

If you’re worried about having a black thumb, then try choosing plants that require little maintenance. Succulents have become extremely popular for this reason, and it doesn’t hurt that a cluster of cacti looks chic on a coffee table, kitchen counter or nightstand.

Expose Brick Walls

Once upon a time, homeowners wanted a layer of drywall over top of the bricks used to build and fortify their property. Now, though, it’s all about revealing that foundational material for a bit of texture and color — and you don’t have to own an urban loft to pull it off, either. Exposed brick works well on its own, but you can add a bit more polish by painting off your wall so that it’s more uniform but still has that geometric texture.

Update Handles and Hardware

Something as simple as new hardware can completely revamp the look of your kitchen or bathroom. And you’ll be even prouder of your efforts if you choose pulls and handles made of natural materials. One option is crystal hardware, which is made from sand fused with lead oxide. As such, they’re not only glittery, eye-catching accents, but they’re durable, too.

Keep Wood in Its Natural State

It’s time to forego the stains and paints of yesteryear in favor of wood left in its natural state. For one thing, you can find wood furniture to match just about any design style: so, your new wood chair could be knobby and rustic or super sleek and contemporary. If that’s not enough incentive, consider the fact that wood furniture is durable enough to last for generations, and can be updated to match future trends, too.

Of course, wood accents aren’t reserved to furniture only. Installing or revealing ceiling support beams draws the eye upward, making your room appear larger thanks to a natural addition.

Install a Copper Backsplash

Your kitchen may need a bit of brightness, but you don’t necessarily need more overhead lighting to get it. Instead, try installing a copper backsplash, which will bring a naturally warm sheen to your cooking space. Once that’s in place, choose a set of coordinating hardware. You could go for matching copper options or mix metallic hues, which is another trend on the rise in home design at the moment: a cool splash of silver next to the copper will really set off its warm tones.

Stun Them With Stone

Natural stone has been hugely popular in home design for years, and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. That’s for good reason, of course: granite, quartz, marble and other rocky materials look stunning, whether they’re a focal point or an accessory.

You can incorporate stone in the obvious place, your kitchen, and make your countertops an instant focal point. You can elevate the entire look even further by extending the same stone onto the backsplash, too. Of course, this is a big investment, so you can start small by re-facing your fireplace in stone or purchasing a stone-top table, for example. No matter what, your geological addition will be an eye-catching one.

Know Your Fabrics

Not all fabrics are created equal — in fact, not all fabrics are “created” at all. Instead, you can consider your couch cover, curtains, bed sheets and everything in between to be natural if they’re made from certain fibers. You just need to learn the basics when it comes to prevalent interior fabrics.

Of course, the obvious place to start is with cotton. The all-natural fiber can be used throughout your home design, although it is very prone to stains. If you go with a cotton blend that can resist these discolorations, make sure you know that the other elements are non-toxic, at the very least. Another natural option is leather, which, of course, comes from an animal’s hide. Wool, linen and hemp are further examples of natural fibers.

Keep It Natural

These are just seven ideas you can incorporate as you brainstorm ways to make your home look and feel more natural. In the meantime, crack a window, enjoy the breeze, bask in the sunshine and let those elements of the outdoors inspire you to make your home a beautiful reflection of the Earth’s best assets.