6 Inviting Spaces That Embrace a Connection With Nature

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It’s no coincidence that we generally feel better when surrounded by nature. From improving our sense of well-being and aiding sleep to lowering stress levels and enhancing work performance, there’s plenty of scientific research to support what we already know: Time spent outdoors is good for us. But studies also show that many of us spend as much as 90% of our time indoors, which is why it’s so important to bring elements of nature into the home, to help us reap more of its benefits.

We’ve rounded up some inspiring ideas to show you how you can bring nature in — with peaceful garden views, natural light, fresh air and more — and tapped a designer who has done just that in her home in Hawaii.

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1. Light and Breezy in Hawaii

As much as planning the colors and materials of your home is key, so too is bringing in aspects of nature. It’s something designer Sachi Lord concentrated on when remodeling her home in Oahu, Hawaii. “Growing up in Hawaii, hearing the birds chirping outside, the leaves rustling with the trade winds and the sound of the ocean are all things that bring me comfort,” she says. “When designing a space, building a connection with nature and infusing elements of the outdoors throughout the spaces I create is extremely important.”

In her kitchen, Lord added skylights with shades, which instantly made the space feel bigger, enhanced the sense of height and let in some much-needed natural light to illuminate the workspaces. For an interior designer, bringing sunlight indoors has other benefits as well. “The natural light allows the kitchen finishes to shine and the colors to show true,” Lord says. “That’s important to me because I spent so much time agonizing over every detail!”

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The kitchen isn’t the only area where Lord introduced skylights. In the bathroom, twin skylights with shades let in light and enable the designer and her husband to enjoy views of the blue sky during the day and the stars at night. “The skylights let natural light flood the small space and enhance the stunning natural wood ceilings, which was a key element of the design,” Lord says. “Although the footprint of the bathroom is small, vaulting the ceilings and brightening up the space with skylights added to the upscale aesthetic I was aiming for.”

The skylights also serve a practical purpose. “Having skylights that open enhances ventilation in an area like a bathroom that has the potential for increased humidity,” Lord says. She can easily open the skylights at the touch of a button to allow fresh air in and steam from the shower out.

Bonus tip: Opt for skylights with smart technology that opens them automatically to air your home. And you needn’t worry about closing them if rain is headed your way, as clever sensors will preemptively shut them. They’ll also automatically close the shades on hot, sunny days to help keep the room cool.

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2. Waking Up to Nature in Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

Begin your day peacefully by waking up to natural light or garden views with a bedroom design that fosters a connection with nature. For example, this tranquil bedroom in Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina, features skylights that let in natural light and large windows that look out to foliage. Shades integrated into the skylights and drapery at the windows provide privacy when needed and can be drawn back to allow light to flood the space during the day.

Of course, not every room is in a prime spot to take advantage of a nature view. If your window view is less than attractive, skylights can offer a solution, letting you look up at the sky, clouds or trees and even hear the pitter-patter of the rain.

If you’re capitalizing on a view from a window, consider what you can add to the outdoor space to boost the view from inside the home. “Having calming views from our windows is definitely a goal, but the houses here in Hawaii are built very close to each other, so that can be a challenge,” Lord says. “We were able to achieve privacy by adding plumeria trees and fan palms outside our windows, which make our home feel like it’s in an oasis.”

For your own home, consider adding foliage plants for privacy, planting a flowering tree aligned with a sightline from a window, adding fragrant plants near windows (as Lord did for her garden) or installing a recirculating fountain to add both a soothing sound and a focal point to a patio.

Bonus tip: Choose skylights with solar-powered shades to control the amount of light coming into your home. Room-darkening double-pleated shades and blackout shades can darken bedrooms to enhance sleep, while light-filtering single-pleated and flat shades can create a soft, diffused light.

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3. Forest Bathing in Afton, Minnesota

Taking time for a bit of self-care is all the more restorative if you have a peaceful, nurturing space in which to do it. This soothing bathroom design, for example, is open on three sides to leafy views of the outdoors, so the homeowners can bathe while looking out at the sky and greenery.

The experience is similar to forest bathing, a Japanese tradition that involves immersing yourself in the woods as a meditative practice. Although this room involves bathing inside, the views still bestow the benefits of communing with nature, such as reduced stress and anxiety.

Concerned about privacy? An overhead skylight is ideal, giving you a view of the outdoors without feeling exposed.

Bonus tip: If you’re remodeling your home, consider forgoing window treatments, which can narrow the view to the outside, or try hanging a large mirror opposite your windows to double the view of nature and maximize light.

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4. Leafy Living Space in Fayetteville, North Carolina

There are plenty of benefits to incorporating plants into our homes, from aiding productivity to helping to ground us. This living room in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has a variety of greenery that adds a botanical feel to the space, creating a relaxing spot to spend time in.

“Bringing plants into our homes is a fabulous way to incorporate nature in our living space,” Lord says. “Decorating our rooms with plants can help lower our stress, and aesthetically gives us an opportunity to add color to our designs and showcase our artistic touch.” She advises using them to add another layer of interest to a space. “And don’t forget the vessel in which the plant is displayed — it’s another opportunity to make a statement and add texture.” To help houseplants thrive, place them near a window or under a skylight to make sure they get adequate sunlight.

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5. Flooded With Natural Light in Los Angeles

There are certain rooms where having adequate light and ventilation is key, and one of these is the kitchen. Ensuring that work areas are bright enough so you can chop and cook safely is essential, so it’s important to have a mix of natural and artificial light to aid you during the day or at night.

The bright open-plan space seen here has enough windows to flood it in sunshine in the morning, while skylights maximize natural light in areas prone to feeling darker. There’s also a mix of pendant lights and overhead lights to illuminate the room as needed.

“As well as natural light, it’s also good to add fresh ventilation to our homes, as too often we keep our homes closed up,” Lord says. “As a result, our indoor air quality can suffer with everyday activities like cooking, cleaning and from things we keep inside like pets and cleaning solvents. Opening up windows and skylights creates air flow that allows for stale indoor air to recirculate with fresh outdoor air.”

Bonus tip: Solar-powered skylights offer the best of both worlds: natural light and fresh air from above and the ability to open and close via remote control, without the need for electrical wiring.

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6. Easy Indoor-Outdoor Flow in Pittsburgh

Whether it’s a room for relaxing, dining or cooking — or even an outside area — designing your home to foster indoor-outdoor living can boost your connection to nature. A covered porch like the one seen here makes an ideal spot to sit outside and enjoy some fresh air, whatever the weather. Its skylights keep the views open and bring natural light into what might otherwise be a dimly lit area.

What else can you do to help blur the boundaries between indoors and out? Inside, you can widen doors leading to decks and patios to create better views and let in more light. Replacing solid doors with sliding glass or accordion-style doors will also help you feel closer to nature.

Outside it’s all about creating dedicated areas for relaxing, dining and cooking to ensure you make the most of your outdoor spaces, styling each spot to emulate the comforts you’d find inside.

More: For more information about Velux skylights with shades and ideas on how you can incorporate them in your home, visit the company’s website here.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content Team.