With the cold weather on its way, getting outdoors and enjoying nature falls to the wayside in favour of cosying up in front of the fire with a mug of hot chocolate laden with fluffy marshmallows. However, sunshine and lush greenery are key to keeping moods high and after a long dark winter, spirits can fall as your levels of fatigue increase.
The best way to combat this is to bring some nature indoors and if you are someone that particularly suffers during a dark winter, consider investing in a SAD light which imitates natural daylight and can help keep the increasingly common seasonal affective disorder at bay.
Don’t worry if you aren’t particularly green fingered, here are some tips to bring some low maintenance nature into your home this winter season:
Seasonal Display Bowls
For a time, every home seemed to have a potpourri bowl, either on their living room table or on top of the hallway shelf greeting guests as they came into your house. Nowadays, the potpourri displays seem few and fair between, so why not make your own autumn themed display?
With your kids in tow (or without, depends on how fast you want to move!) wrap up warm and get outdoors, start collecting natural objects; pinecones, sticks, conkers, nuts, leaves. All bits that aren’t likely to rapidly break down in a warm room (avoid autumn fruits or gourds unless you are happy to regularly replace them). Then get a large, decorative bowl and start arranging your autumn nature items in a pretty display. Once complete, proudly put your autumn decoration in full view of your guests and wait for the compliments to roll in.
Once winter rolls around, you can change up your display with spray snow, glitter, tinsel and some holly sprigs to reflect the wintery, festive season.
Artificial Grass
Artificial grass isn’t just for the garden and in fact we’ve seen some very creative displays using this versatile material. From bathmats, car wraps and even as a wall decoration, artificial lawn is perfect for creating a natural looking area in your home. Use it in place of a carpet in your kid’s playroom, a rug in your bedroom or simply as a welcome mat by your front door.
Quality artificial grass is soft and offers a realistic feel underfoot, so don’t worry about it feeling rough and uncomfortable. Just make sure to check artificial grass reviews before buying so you can trust it’s a quality supplier, rather than a cheap alternative.
Kitchen Windowsill Herbs
Did you know there are plenty of herbs that grow really well in potted kitchen windowsill containers? They just need a little sunlight and a daily sprinkling of water and they will keep your palette happy as an extra cooking ingredient for your home cooked meals. Not only that, but plants are great to keep in your kitchen as they contribute to cleaner air by neutralising chemicals commonly found in household products, decorating materials and furniture. If you want some herb planters for your kitchen windowsill but are worried about forgetting to water your plants, set an alarm on your phone as a reminder.
Living or Artificial “Living” Wall
These seem to be popping up more and more on popular image sharing sites Pinterest and Instagram. Living walls (whether artificial or real) are amazing display pieces taking up an entire wall of your home and are a fantastic way to make your property feel more at ease with nature. Starting with a green painted base or artificial grass wall covering, use various shades of green leafy plants to create variations in colour and textures. Ivy plants and large leafed plants are good for covering large areas and creating trailing designs and you can use spaced out bunches of flowers for a splash of colour.
While the sun may be around less as we move towards the end of the year and the days are starting to get chilly, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the benefits of nature. Bring some nature into your property this winter season and relish in the soothing, relaxing atmosphere a bit of greenery can bring to your family home.
Leave a Reply