The outdoors and nature have a powerful impact on us. They boost our physical and emotional well-being. The sights, sounds, and smells can help us to take a breather to de-stress while developing our senses. Not only this, but nature gives us a good feeling when we look at it as it’s pleasant on our eyes, and it’s good for our eyes too.
Due to these benefits that we can get from spending time in nature and looking out into nature, it’s important to maximize our chances of seeing the outdoors from every angle in our home. This can be achieved by bringing the outdoors in, and vice-versa, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow throughout every part of your home.
Use this extensive guide on how to create the indoor-outdoor flow in your home to reap the benefits that nature can bring.
Have everything at the same level
Having a consistent level between your indoor and outdoor areas is essential in helping to create the indoor-outdoor flow. Making the outdoors the same level as your indoor area prevents visual barriers that disrupt the flow. Doing this for your home provides you with seamless access to the outdoors.
Being consistent with levelling also can improve your home’s aesthetic as it can make the indoor and outdoor environment feel like one massive space. Due to this, it can make it seem like you have one large living area as the eye sees it as a combined area.
Achieving this needs a lot of hard work put into it. It requires modifications for the outdoor ground level to be lower or higher, or it may need the indoor floor height to be adjusted.
Install bi-fold or sliding glass doors to enhance lighting
Flooding your home with natural light is the best way to create a flow between the indoors and outdoors. Natural light can do wonders for you, instantly boosting your mood and improving your quality of sleep. To have optimal natural lighting through your home, have large windows and install bi-fold or sliding glass doors wherever you can to flood the space with sunlight.
These aspects also improve the visual connection to the outdoors. They create a straight flow from your home to the outside space. This helps to create effortless movement between the spaces with nothing in the way. You also take away the boundary between the interior of your home and nature, bringing the outdoors in.
Bi-fold or sliding doors make it easy for you to utilize the outdoors as another room in your home. They open the walls and make everything feel much larger and open. This allows you to spend more time outside and host guests easily. These features also provide a modern design to your home which can help to increase your property value!
Have similar flooring materials between indoors and outdoors
Having similar flooring materials between the indoors and outdoors makes the spaces visually appealing and lets you have continuity to blend the spaces together. You can match the materials you use for the indoors into the outdoors. Use materials like stone, tile, or concrete that can be used both indoors and outdoors.
If using the same or similar materials can’t be achieved, then you can use different materials. These should be similar textures or colors to create cohesion. You could also place an outdoor rug to create a unified design.
Use a unified color palette
Using a unified color palette helps to make the flow between your indoor and outdoor spaces better. It ties them together to instantly blend the areas. This achieves a harmonious design that helps the flow from your home to the outdoors. You can do this by using your indoor color palette outdoors in terms of décor. Use similar tones for furniture and other décor that you have inside.
You can even match the wall color to features outside. Try to include natural colors in your home to bring the outdoors in, matching the beautiful nature that surrounds your house. Put greens, browns, and beiges into your home as a way to reflect the environment.
Make an outdoor living area
A vital way to blend your outdoor and indoor environments together is to make your outdoor space an extension of your home. A great way to do this is to make an outdoor living area. Have a well-designed patio, deck, or yard that reflects your interior living area.
To create the flow, you can use natural materials, like stone. This adds warmth and texture while maintaining durability in your outdoor environment. Have plenty of outdoor furniture that reflects your living space in your home. You could put plush, weather-resistant sofas and armchairs in your yard to use as an outdoor relaxing haven.
Layer your outdoor furniture with outdoor rugs, just like you have in your home’s interior, and add cushions to the furniture to make them comfortable and cozy. Add throws and blankets to keep the cozy vibe and allow you to use the outdoor living space in the evenings.
Use lighting to create a similar ambiance
Using lighting in your indoor and outdoor spaces can help to blend these together and create a good flow. You should match the warmth or coolness of your indoor lighting outside.
For example, if you have warm lighting, use soft outdoor lighting such as LED candles or lanterns to create a glow that flows from your yard into your home. You could have dimmable lights outdoors, especially if you have them in your home, so you can adjust the lighting to set the right tone when needed.
Utilize plants
Bring plants into your home to incorporate elements of nature indoors. Utilizing plants allows you to connect the outdoors and indoors as they will reflect each other. Try to get similar looking plants in your home to what you have outdoors to strengthen the connection.
To do this, you can use large potted plants, such as olive trees or palms. Try having a vertical garden and green wall outside and inside to mirror each other and allow you to be close to nature wherever you are.
In your yard, you can mirror your interior design to enhance the indoor-outdoor flow. If you have a sleek interior that is minimalist, then translate that aesthetic into your yard. Have structured plant beds and modern plant pots with sleek outdoor furniture that modernizes every aspect of your home.
Make a clear view
Having a clear view of the outdoors is essential for creating the best indoor-outdoor flow for your home. To do this, you need to arrange your interior’s layout and have window treatments that make your windows clear. Rearrange the interior to make sure no furniture blocks the windows and doors, ensuring you don’t have an obstructed view. Have large and minimal windows to improve your visibility and choose sheer curtains or retractable blinds to let natural light flood your home while keeping a clear view. Having this openness brings the stunning natural environment into your home and also makes it feel much larger.
You may need to rearrange items in your yard too. Make sure any outdoor coverings you have for equipment or for shelter, such as a smoker shelter, aren’t blocking the pathway to the outdoors. This lets the indoors flow straight to the outdoors, giving a clear view of nature. Doing this encourages you to step outside more and enjoy what nature brings to you.
End Note
Use this guide on how to create the indoor-outdoor flow in your home to bring nature inside and encourage you to get outdoors more to relax and entertain. Modernize your home with these changes and create an outdoor extension, giving you more space to host guests or to take a breather when needed.
