Decorating with natural materials in interior design is back in trend!
More than ever, nature needs help. And this is one of the best times to make the most use of nature indoors.
Humans have an inclination toward nature – and for generations and generations, the raw, organic, and natural appeal of these materials have taken a front seat.
In your home, there are various ways to decorate with natural materials.
Whether it’s furniture, wall hangings, lighting fixtures, coffee tables, side tables, or decorative accents – the use of natural materials in interior design will always play timeless and elegant.
Natural materials used in interior design are rattan, wicker, cane, sisal, bamboo, jute, and cowhide. They can also imbibe a natural and refreshing vibe!
Let’s have a look at what interior design styles use these natural materials and how to decorate with them!
Along with this, I have also elaborated a detailed guideline about each of these natural fibers and their benefits in your home.
So, sit back, relax, and sip your favorite cup of coffee. Let’s get on board the journey to decorating with natural materials in interior design!
What are the Natural Materials in Interior Design?
Unlike the plastic and resin, the natural materials used in interior design revolve around the concepts of the fabrics and substances obtained from nature.
They’re organic and naturally occurring materials in the environment.
For instance, wood, wicker, rattan, cane, and bamboo – they’re all unprocessed and have existed in their natural forms for years and years.
Ever since the population has been inclined toward the concepts of health and wellness – there has been a major rise in the use of such natural materials that neither off-gas harmful aromas nor make your home feel plastic.
Hence, equally contributing to natural interior design!
What Interior Design Styles Incorporate Natural Materials?
Well, there are a couple of interior design styles that incorporate natural materials indoors.
From bohemian to eclectic glam, coastal, Mid-Century Modern, modern farmhouse, and Japandi – you have a ton of styles to choose from.
So, let’s have a look in detail at these interior design styles and how natural materials play a fundamental role.
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Bohemian Interior Design Style
Bohemian interior design style is all about a free-spirited, laid-back, and relaxed vibe. Hence, it tends to use a ton of natural materials to create a carefree and fun-loving ambiance in the boho room. Opposing the strong chic and glam elements, the boho soul embraces the use of macrame, rattan, or wicker furniture, woven ropes, and ample knotted patterns.
Either in the form of macrame wall hangings, woven side tables, or rattan accent chairs – you can create a perfect boho touch with the help of natural materials. Take a look at these natural material products to imbibe a boho vibe!
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Eclectic Interior Design Style
Not every eclectic glam backdrop has to have silk, velvet, and chenille! Well, if you want to be extra creative and layer up your space with some extra fun and contrast – you can definitely choose natural materials for the accent chairs, ottomans, and throw pillows. However, note that you don’t choose a lot of these natural textures since that can potentially make your room look monochromatic.
Carefully mixing and matching is the way to create an eye-catchy, natural, and cohesive eclectic palette. Confused about what would work the best? Well, have an eye on these!
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Coastal Interior Design Style
Coastal interior design admires the feel of beachy sands, cool and calm waters, and ample natural materials to mimic an organic and natural vibe. Since coastal regions are quite warm, there is an utmost requirement to make the space feel airy and breezy. And there’s no better way to incorporate that if not for the natural fibers and a cool color palette.
Ensure to add ample natural materials like jute, wood, raffia, rattan, and cotton on the mirror frames, console tables, and area rugs. At the same time, say a big no to faux, synthetics, and velvet! You can even style it with ropes and shells as decorative accents!
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Mid-Century Modern Interior Design Style
Defining utmost practicality, functionality, and aesthetics – the mid-century modern style incorporates natural materials in the little details like centerpieces, artwork, and throw pillows. It’s not too much inspired by nature – but has an equal hand in creating a refreshing vibe.
Along with styling the iconic furniture and artistic centerpieces – don’t hold back from incorporating the natural woods. Yes, these various wood grains are a primary focus of mid-century modern interior design style.
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Modern Farmhouse Interior Design Style
With an authentic rustic charm and a feel of the countryside – the modern farmhouse interior design style makes use of rustic textures, woven materials, natural elements, and a subtle and neutral color palette. When decorating with natural materials – don’t shy away from woven baskets, wooden artwork frames, and ample natural material planters.
So, if you love the authentic barn feel and embrace a sense of rawness – this is one interior design style to look forward to! You also have the opportunity to style with large clocks and ample exposed wood on the beams, furniture frames, and table accents.
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Japandi Interior Design Style
A perfect fusion of Scandinavian design and the Japanese style of living – the ‘Japandi’ interior design style embraces warm tones, natural rustic textures, and an absolute minimalism vibe. Amalgamating the rustic with modern – this style is deeply rooted in the Nordic and Japanese style of design and living. Avoiding the flamboyant patterns and optimizing the crisp and clean lines – this style also incorporates the concept of Wabi-Sabi. (Finding beauty in imperfections)
In the Japandi backdrop, you can best make use of pampas grass planters, natural wall hangings, and woven lighting fixtures. And remember, wood is the most commonly used natural material in this design style!
(You can also check out my latest post – 11 CHIC IDEAS FOR DECORATING WITH BASKETS)
Examples of Natural Materials in Interior Design
Who doesn’t want to live a sustainable and eco-friendly life, right? Well, when decorating with natural materials in interior design – you’re bound to feel extra welcoming, refreshing, and energetic.
These materials can calm and soothe your space – and simultaneously leave a positive impact on your mood.
So, there are a few natural interior design materials that you can incorporate! Let’s have a look!
Rattan
Rattan is the go-to natural material for boho and coastal interior design style. Whether it’s the headboard, woven chairs, textural artwork frame, or organic pendant lights – the rattan makes a great natural yet authentic statement. Composed of a strong fibrous plant similar to bamboo, the rattan is slightly more flexible and soft.
Rattan furniture can be used for both indoor as well as outdoor purposes. It can be easily bent and curved – which is why it can take some very beautiful forms and shapes in the furniture. It appears slightly bleached and light brown, which gradually mimics the color of sand and makes the space feel like a tropical haven.
Rattan is one durable and strong material to have in your home. It’s lightweight and can easily be cleaned and maintained. Yes, it can even withstand harsh climatic conditions while offering the utmost longevity. Lastly, rattan is naturally resistant to insects and pests – hence, making it a perfect natural material for humid climates!
Wicker
Wicker is not specifically a material – but a weaving technique used for rattan, bamboo, or even willow or reed. Generally, this wicker furniture is a great pick for outdoor furniture as it can easily withstand harsh climates and extreme weather conditions. However, it’s not just confined to that since it can equally be used for indoor settings.
Wicker furniture can be used for traditional as well as farmhouse or coastal backdrops. It’s available in a variety of off-white and bleached wood colors that can practically make your space feel natural and organic. When decorating with natural materials in interior design, all you have to focus on is the maintenance, aesthetics, and cohesiveness – and believe it or not – this natural material excels in all three!
The difference between rattan and wicker is that the former is a type of material whereas the latter is a weaving technique. It’s not necessary for all the rattan furniture to use this wicker technique! Some even make use of ‘caning’!
Seagrass
Seagrass is a plant that grows underwater in aquatic conditions. This material is quite soft and cozy – hence, makes a wonderful statement on the area rugs. This plant is generally hand-picked and dried – and then is further woven together to create different patterns and styles. And this is why you must consider this material for the kids’ rooms, area rugs of common spaces, and other decorative accents. Furthermore, decorating with seagrass offers you a wide array of benefits – from easy maintenance to easy cleaning, stain resistance, and extreme durability.
Especially for coastal, bohemian, Japandi, and Eclectic interior design styles – this material is definitely something to have an eye on. Some homeowners even tend to use this natural material for wall-to-wall carpeting. So, when decorating with natural materials in your home, let the seagrass play a fundamental role in the area rugs. Let’s have a look at these few home decor products made with seagrass.
Sisal
Sisal comes from a plant that is used to make ropes and other hard weavings. Generally, this material is used in the area rugs to exhibit a sense of durability and resistance against pests, insects, stains, and scratches. Yes, a must recommend for any bohemian, coastal, Japandi, Mid-Century Modern, and modern farmhouse backdrop.
Sisal rugs have a light and natural hue texture that is quite appealing and feels like nature indoors. Yes, they could either be bleached woods or off-white. Secondly, due to the hard and tough surface of the rug – it’s quite likely to be used in the high traffic areas of your home such as the entryways, living room, and kitchen.
You must know that they aren’t very soft and cozy. Hence, if you like a softer texture, replace the sisal rug with seagrass or jute!
Jute
Jute is another strong, versatile, and durable natural material for the interiors of your home. This natural material has a touch of shine and is one of the most popular and widely used fabrics. Not just the area rugs but they can even be used on window treatments, decorative accents, and furniture coverings.
Decorating with this natural material can exhibit great characteristics of versatility and timelessness in your home. And do you know the best part? Well, you can very beautifully and seamlessly use this fabric in high-traffic areas of your home. Yes, it’s longer living and quite easy to maintain. The natural hues of jute rugs can easily complement the boho, rustic, and coastal style designs.
Even though it doesn’t feel very soft, at the same time, it can offer great hard and wear resistance and can be used outdoors under extreme climatic conditions. Let’s have a look at these couple of jute home decor products!
Cane
Cane natural material has been gaining a ton of attention in the interior design industry. And especially the cane furniture, cane lamps and lighting fixtures, and cane artifacts and decorative accents. Highly suitable for coastal and boho interior design style, this soft and moisture-resistant natural material tends to offer ventilation and make you feel cool and calm.
Have a look at these chic and pretty cane furniture pieces. It’s bound to add a flair of style, statement, and timelessness. Whether it’s the headboard, accent chair, baskets, or boxes – cane is bound to make you fall in love with it – again and again.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a sustainable and elegant natural fiber that is used to design a wide array of furniture styles, accessories, and even tableware. Since it is scratch-resistant, durable, strong, and stain-resistant – this is a favorable natural material for contemporary, bohemian, farmhouse, and coastal interior design styles.
Furthermore, this material is quite long-lasting and has a beautiful and versatile touch in any space. Due to bleached wood appeal and off-whites reigning the furniture – bamboo furniture pieces can almost pair up with any palette and style. You can beautifully style bamboo on accent chairs, trays, and mirror pieces.
So, What’s the Takeaway?
Decorating with natural materials has become even more fun and playful since we have a wide array of design options and opportunities available. Apart from aesthetics, these natural materials are also responsible for making your space appear lively, welcoming, warm, and homely – without compromising on wellness or air quality!
So, which particular natural material intrigues you the most? Rattan? Cane? Bamboo? Jute? Seagrass? Well, do let me know in the comments below!
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