Decorating
8 Contemporary Ways to Use Natural Materials in Your Home
There’s no doubt that natural materials are in vogue at the moment, so how should you use them in your décor?
Gone are the days when natural materials in the home evoked images of sackcloth and dreary colour tones. Nowadays, they’re taking centre stage and adding their own glamour. It’s a different type of glamour to be sure. Based on subtle textures and tones rather than glitter and bling, these tips will help you to add depth and character to your home.
Create understated glamour with natural stone
There’s no doubt that marble provides texture, tone and subtle patterns that man-made work surfaces cannot match.
Here, the beautiful textures of the Carrara marble worktop and splashback contrast with the rustic finish of the base units. The marble also stands out from the whitewashed brick and tongue-and-groove panelling, and the dark wall cabinets with metro tiles on the inside. These surfaces complement each other because of the limited colour palette, and the fact that the room is a large, airy space.
Marble is a characterful choice for the kitchen, but be aware of its drawbacks in terms of staining and durability.
Check out this guide to help you choose the right worktop
There’s no doubt that marble provides texture, tone and subtle patterns that man-made work surfaces cannot match.
Here, the beautiful textures of the Carrara marble worktop and splashback contrast with the rustic finish of the base units. The marble also stands out from the whitewashed brick and tongue-and-groove panelling, and the dark wall cabinets with metro tiles on the inside. These surfaces complement each other because of the limited colour palette, and the fact that the room is a large, airy space.
Marble is a characterful choice for the kitchen, but be aware of its drawbacks in terms of staining and durability.
Check out this guide to help you choose the right worktop
Keep it cosy
If you have a wood-burning stove or open fire, you’ll need somewhere to store your firewood. Putting it out on display is a great way of introducing natural textures into the room and giving it added cosiness.
This window seat doubles as log storage for a woodland cabin. The bespoke woollen seat pad and cushions introduce colours from the foliage outside, and tempt you to rest and gaze out at the trees beyond.
If you have a wood-burning stove or open fire, you’ll need somewhere to store your firewood. Putting it out on display is a great way of introducing natural textures into the room and giving it added cosiness.
This window seat doubles as log storage for a woodland cabin. The bespoke woollen seat pad and cushions introduce colours from the foliage outside, and tempt you to rest and gaze out at the trees beyond.
Reclaim and reuse
Recycling, upcycling and using reclaimed materials all sit well with an organic theme. This clever redesign of a tiny 18th century cottage takes upcycling to new creative levels. In the kitchen, the owner has made use of old internal doors, cut to fit as cupboard and drawer fronts. They have been sanded down, but left unpainted.
The worktop is made from scaffolding planks, sanded smooth and sealed. Old German wine crates have been revamped to create wall storage, with the shelves inside made from a reclaimed pair of oak beams from the roof. The lampshades are old fire buckets.
Discover the secrets of successful upcycling
Recycling, upcycling and using reclaimed materials all sit well with an organic theme. This clever redesign of a tiny 18th century cottage takes upcycling to new creative levels. In the kitchen, the owner has made use of old internal doors, cut to fit as cupboard and drawer fronts. They have been sanded down, but left unpainted.
The worktop is made from scaffolding planks, sanded smooth and sealed. Old German wine crates have been revamped to create wall storage, with the shelves inside made from a reclaimed pair of oak beams from the roof. The lampshades are old fire buckets.
Discover the secrets of successful upcycling
Celebrate the artisan
This colourful seating area celebrates beautiful artisanal textiles. Look out for handcrafted fabrics like these on your travels. Without the inner cushion pad, they’re light and easy to transport home and are a lovely way to bring a natural feel into your home.
One tip, though: always inspect for signs of insect damage. It’s believed that many cloth-eating moths and bugs arrive in textiles and rugs from other countries and they rapidly multiply in centrally heated homes. If you’re at all worried, wrap the cushion in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for 24 hours. The creatures can’t survive extreme heat or cold.
This colourful seating area celebrates beautiful artisanal textiles. Look out for handcrafted fabrics like these on your travels. Without the inner cushion pad, they’re light and easy to transport home and are a lovely way to bring a natural feel into your home.
One tip, though: always inspect for signs of insect damage. It’s believed that many cloth-eating moths and bugs arrive in textiles and rugs from other countries and they rapidly multiply in centrally heated homes. If you’re at all worried, wrap the cushion in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for 24 hours. The creatures can’t survive extreme heat or cold.
Go for metallic glamour
Contrast natural materials with sleek metallic objects. The wooden furniture here adds warmth to this stunning room.
Metallic finishes and textures are certainly having a moment. The copper trend continues and is joined in the limelight by natural brass and gold finishes. The metals here look particularly striking against the moody dark background, but the wood is an important element to prevent it looking too harsh.
Contrast natural materials with sleek metallic objects. The wooden furniture here adds warmth to this stunning room.
Metallic finishes and textures are certainly having a moment. The copper trend continues and is joined in the limelight by natural brass and gold finishes. The metals here look particularly striking against the moody dark background, but the wood is an important element to prevent it looking too harsh.
Bring in beauty with botanics
Flowers and foliage are a great way to stylishly add an organic touch to your home. Their impact is magnified when you match the colour of the blooms to a hue in your accessories. Here, the bright yellow flowers echo the zingy cushion in a sophisticated scheme.
Houseplants can also be enlisted to add natural glamour. And if you don’t have green fingers, consider botanical-print wallpapers or fabrics.
Flowers and foliage are a great way to stylishly add an organic touch to your home. Their impact is magnified when you match the colour of the blooms to a hue in your accessories. Here, the bright yellow flowers echo the zingy cushion in a sophisticated scheme.
Houseplants can also be enlisted to add natural glamour. And if you don’t have green fingers, consider botanical-print wallpapers or fabrics.
Soften a space with natural fabrics
Use fabrics, throws and rugs to get the natural vibe you’re looking for. Here, a couple of sheepskins thrown over the chairs help to soften the scheme and provide texture.
Complemented by the use of metallics and the relaxed colour tones, the picture evokes an easy, natural yet sophisticated look.
What do you think of these ideas for bringing natural materials into your home? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
Use fabrics, throws and rugs to get the natural vibe you’re looking for. Here, a couple of sheepskins thrown over the chairs help to soften the scheme and provide texture.
Complemented by the use of metallics and the relaxed colour tones, the picture evokes an easy, natural yet sophisticated look.
What do you think of these ideas for bringing natural materials into your home? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
It pays to be inventive and think beyond the usual sources for functional and decorative items around your home. Here, a piece of driftwood, fished out of the River Thames in London, was dried out and whitewashed to create an unusual mantelpiece. It’s held in place by a pair of plaster corbels.
An old roof beam or railway sleeper cut to size could give a similar distinctive look.