“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”– Frank Lloyd Wright
Human beings have been trying to reach out to nature since ancient times. Bringing nature indoors, and especially plants have a very strong positive influence on your home. Not only do they purify the air in the indoor environment, but they are also useful in fighting the modern phenomenon of Sick Building Syndrome.
We have previously presented an article about landscape architecture books and tutorials. Here we discuss 6 landscaping ideas that bring nature into your house through design. Some of these ideas are for large houses, and some others are simple enough to work for small city apartments.
1. Vertical gardens and green walls
Not enough horizontal space? Think vertical. The technique of growing plants on a vertical screen or wall is usually called a “green wall”. The wall can be completely covered with the plantation or just partially. Nutrient water flows over a vertical surface to feed the plants. You can water them manually or by drip irrigation, both work fine.
However, vertical gardens are a bit harder to maintain than productive gardens. On the other hand, they are relatively low maintenance in comparison with courtyard gardens. They can also become the real focal point of a room. Check out this simple vertical garden and how it added instant vibrancy to the room.
2. Indoor Productive Gardens
Whether they’re grown indoor or outdoor, productive gardens enable you to fully incorporate nature into your daily life. They do not only bond you with nature but also promote a sustainable self-sufficient lifestyle in your home. Moreover, they work for the tiniest studio apartments.
Productive gardens are a low-budget sustainable solution, and they give you the benefits of growing your own clean, organic food. So, who said nature is only for billionaires with massive gardens and luxury condos?
No space for a backyard or even a balcony? Problem solved. You can still reach out to nature by growing plants indoors. Check out this article on indoor productive plants.
3. Light Wells and Mini-courtyards
Do courtyards ever get out of date? Whether your house is contemporary, boho, or even vintage, courtyards are very effective landscaping ideas that bring nature indoors. However, if you don’t have enough space to create a courtyard then consider a lightwell like the one below.
If you already have a light well installed in your house for lighting purposes, consider creating a garden underneath. Surround it with glass for maximum transparency. Make use of the double-height area, choose plants of large heights. We suggest Royal Palms “Roystonea Regia“, Travellers Palm “Ravenala Madagascariensis”, and Spineless Yucca “Yucca Elephantipes“. The verticality of the palm trees ensures that people on both floors are connected to nature.
However, beware that the gorgeous courtyard gardens require a lot of maintenance. So, be sure to take constant care of your precious little green zone. If you’re unsure about a plant’s scientific name, you can use the plant identification app.
4. Water curtains and water springs
Water fountains, springs, and pools are popular in modern residential design. However, people of ancient civilizations have been integrating water elements in residential buildings since forever.
Water elements are sometimes used to show splendor and grandeur, but their true purpose surpasses just decorating luxury condos and fancy villas. If you live in an area with a hot arid climate, a water element will humidify the air and cool things down. Meanwhile, they connect you to nature almost instantly. Water elements are among the most effective landscaping ideas that put us in direct contact with nature. Moreover, this is a great way to Feng-Shui your home and it induces positive energy.
Check out this beautiful Sao Paolo weekend house designed by SPBR. In this residence, the water element was central to the design. It succeeded in turning the house feel into an exotic and relaxing retreat in the middle of the city. Can not afford a huge pool or water curtain? Check out the simplified small Morrocan fountain in the picture below. Even a small glimpse of water will give your space a dose of positive energy. Scatter some of these dried flowers on the water for a pleasant scent.
5. Balconies and patios
Let the indoors and outdoors communicate. Do not have that option in your city apartment because of street regulations? Glass facades will provoke a similar effect. This works for cold climates. In that case, it’s not possible to physically open up the house to the outdoors. Therefore, an effective way of bringing nature indoors is by framing it.
6. Climbers and creepers
Did you know that nature can literally climb all over your house? Your wish can easily be granted. Install plants like vines, climbers, and creepers. They rejuvenate any home inside-out. Also, they give it the Mediterranean flair and are incredibly easy to plant.
These plants naturally invite themselves to spread all over the facade of the house and are very easy to maintain. So, you can enjoy having some colorful “Bougainvilleas” creep into your window. However, the most effective way to integrate them is to use them on the roof of your outdoor patio/terrace. This is considered one of the easiest and cheapest landscaping ideas.
