How to Bring the Outdoors In

There’s a sense of poetry to the great outdoors—a connectedness and harmony that quietly fills the fresh air and sun-drenched earth. It’s a source of inspiration for many of us, one we long to feel in tune with in whatever small ways we can. Not only that, we often feel better physically when surrounded by nature: calmer, lighter, and more centered.

One easy—and we say, even a little fun—method to keep ourselves feeling connected to nature is bringing the outdoors in. This could be a big moment or a tiny detail inside a home. Maybe it’s something fresh from the outdoors; maybe it’s a print or pattern based on a favorite botanical. Whatever the case for you, here’s a little inspiration for grounding your space the best way we know how.

USING NATURE AS DECOR

A simple starting point for welcoming the outdoors into your home is to, well, go outside. This is the easiest and least expensive method. It can look like picking or cutting a few flowers to add to a favorite vase or collecting eye-catching pinecones, bits of moss, or stones to display in a cloche. Store-bought or started-from-seed plants are another easy way to add a little life to your home. Complete the look with a beautiful plant stand or planter—even better if it’s also made from natural materials!

If you’re willing to wait a little longer, you could also introduce nature in more subtle, time-honored ways. Try pressing or drying your own florals for long-lasting beauty, or learn the art of making potpourri and/or dehydrating fruit to naturally keep your home smelling (and looking) lovely. Tip: Jo’s simmer pot recipe in the Resetting Your Home for Spring blog is an easy place to start.

 Why stop there? There’s no limit to the ways you can bring the outdoors in. Tables, walls, and rugs can be good focal points that embrace natural materials like stone or jute. Even smaller details made from or containing shells, bark, clay, or lava rock could be a fun addition to mirror your environment and add texture—or simply spark inspiration for your own style.

USING DECOR INSPIRED BY NATURE

For a quicker, already-put-together option, lean into designs that have been inspired by nature. This can look and feel a bit more understated, simply nodding the rhythms and tone of the outdoors. At Magnolia, nature is the starting point for our collection each season—the theme and assortment is loosely drawn from the plants growing in Jo's gardens at the time. Sometimes this inspiration shows up as a small floral motif, other times as a subtle texture or hue. However you can get inspired by nature, let those elements show up throughout your space.

Here are some other examples of bringing the outdoors in:

• Use faux florals and botanicals wherever you need a reminder of the season, since these are always in bloom without the upkeep. Pressed floral designs are a similar concept—displaying nature’s beauty in quaint, unexpected ways.
  
  
• Choose artwork that fills your space with inspiration and scenic charm. From lovely landscapes to classic botanical art, a well-placed tapestry, print, or photograph keeps nature in plain sight, all the time.
  
  
• Reconsider how nature-inspired motifs could show up on everyday items like bedding, tableware, and door mats. For a bolder, more permanent statement, consider patterned wallpaper, furniture upholstery, tiles, and light fixtures. Psst… find even more inspiration in an article all about decorating with floral patterns in the Spring 2026 issue of Magnolia Journal.
  
  
• Borrow textures and colorways from nature to create a home that feels harmonious with its environment. For example, Jo designed The Colorado Mountain House to blend with its surroundings, choosing elements like the materials and finishes used based on what she drew from nature. Read more about that process in Behind the Design of the Colorado Mountain House.
  

With all of its colors, textures, and expressions, nature is a fitting reminder that beauty takes many forms. Curate pieces that keep you feeling connected to that—pieces that are thoughtful, beautiful, and practical too.

SHOP NEW DECOR