Home Improvements that Bring the Outdoors Inside

By H.L. Staples
RefacingCabinet.com Columnist

Emily Dickinson said in a letter to a friend "How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude!" In part, she was referring to the way in which we all enjoy nature's presence in our homes. The following home improvement ideas allow you to bring the outdoors inside by remodelling to add more light, life, and water. Some of these remodelling projects require an outlay of money and time and some are a breeze. 

Major Remodelling

• Light: Add a sliding glass or French door. Have a skylight installed. Better yet, extend your living space with a conservatory.
• Life: Remodel all flooring with natural materials, like wood and stone. Redecorate all window-treatments and other textiles with natural materials, like cotton and silk.
• Water: Have a wall fountain installed. If you have the room and enjoy a swim, add an indoor pool. Perhaps go with a natural filtration system, which avoids chlorine's artificial blue and preserves the look of a natural water source.

Minor Remodelling

• Light: Remove all heavy drapery and curtains. Install blinds, and leave them open. Arrange furniture to allow for the path of light to travel as far as possible into the room. Hang mirrors to reflect light.
• Life: No matter how close you live to city center, you can cultivate your inner gardener with a window garden. Tend some potted trees. Get a low-maintenance pet like a fish, lizard, or turtle that requires you to create and maintain a miniature natural habitat.
• Water: Purchase a small table fountain. Fill a glass vase with pebbles, and use as a centerpiece.

Even just adding one of these home improvements can make a significant difference in the way you experience your home. Begin with the minor projects, while planning the more involved improvements--naturally!

Sources

Bring the Outdoors Inside, OC Register

Nature, Quote Garden

About The Author
H.L. Staples has renovated three older homes and has just purchased her fourth. Her articles have appeared in The Boston Review, Denver Quarterly, The Georgia Review, and elsewhere.