Décor au naturel
Just as a bear emerges from his cold winter home to a world renewed with nature’s bounty, today’s home furnishings and accessories are renewing souls along with our relationship with Mother Nature.
From natural materials to those mimicking what can be found in nature, today’s décor conveys a sense of authenticity and tranquility. After years of cold, sterile furnishings and accessories, our homes are warming up with natural elements and transforming them into welcoming spaces that help instill a sense of calm.
Reclaimed woods, rough-hewn finishes and fabrics with patterns inspired by nature were plentiful as manufacturers showcased their newest designs during the most recent trade show for the industry at World Market Center Las Vegas.
"Organic textures pay homage to Mother Nature, from the imprecise grains of a rough-hewn tabletop to the symmetrical precision of honeycomb," said Julie M. Smith of Nine Muses Media and a home furnishings trend and new products expert.
Smith said the return to nature is one of the top trends seen in home fashions. She said the look is refreshing and invigorating in its use of upbeat colors and vintage floral prints.
Incorporating natural elements into our homes’ décor serves as a reminder of the world around us. It makes us feel safe and calm, said Tina Dyba of Diva Concepts in Las Vegas.
Through her company, Dyba designs and decorates tranquil living spaces that use natural elements to bring balance into a space that may have too much of one item or not enough of another.
"A space that has limited or has no plant life will feel cold and sterile, much like a hospital," she said.
"Stone, wood, grasses, woven banana leaf and shell can all be brought into a home to create the natural and organic feel," said Brett Hatton, founder and chief executive officer of Four Hands.
The Texas-based manufacturer, wholesaler and importer specializes in innovative home furnishings, many of which are made from natural materials. The Coco collection of fixed and portable lighting, for example, is handcrafted in the Philippines and uses indigenous materials such as shells and coconut rings. Hatton said it brings the "soothing characteristics of the islands into your home."
Hatton also said lighting is one of the best places to begin when adding natural elements to your décor.
"Lighting is the most cost-effective way to live in an organic sense but the layering of natural materials in any design scheme will provide the look and feel."
According to Smith, the return to nature is part of a modern country style that is equally at home in an old farmhouse or urban setting.
"Every decorative style can work with natural furniture and accessories, it’s a matter of consistency," Hatton added.
When it comes to modern aesthetics, High Point, N.C.-based The Phillips Collection is an expert.
"We work very hard to harness nature, and shape and direct it into a warm contemporary form," said Mark Phillips, president of the company that specializes in green and organic furnishings and accessories for the home.
"We work with rescued roots, which we fashion into modern console tables and screens. We work with fragments and scraps of teak wood that are fashioned into pedestals, tables and artistic horses."
The surge in natural and nature-inspired décor is inspired, in part, by our increased awareness of going green. But, at the same time, it is being fueled by designers who are making a concerted effort to make living green fashionable.
"It’s no secret that we’d all like to be green. The trick has been to make it gorgeous. Nobody wants to buy green unless it meets the design needs of their house," Phillips said.
With his design team, which includes his 25-year-old son, Jason, who has garnered several awards for his work, The Phillips Collection aims to create pieces that are as beautiful as they are functional.
"Why can’t your furniture be something that is breathtaking?" Mark Phillips asked.
Sometimes, as is the case of C.R. Laine’s new Hive Honey fabric, the intent is to raise our awareness of a situation occurring in nature.
The eco-friendly company used the golden color and honeycomb pattern to help draw attention to the unexplainable die-off of our nation’s honey bees. Since the 1980s, the general health of honey bee colonies has been declining and research has yet to determine the cause.
"Color and patterns are connected to nature," said Holly Blalock, C.R. Laine’s creative director.