From ancient mossy trees and lush swamps to bright and sandy beaches, the state of Florida offers untold riches in its outdoor environments. A considerable part of the state’s charm is the beautiful outdoor scenery that welcomes its residents each day. Being outdoors, especially in a location as consistently picturesque as the Sunshine State, offers many benefits, including improved sleep, reduced depression symptoms, mental restoration, and improved emotional well-being.
Unfortunately, we can’t spend all our time outdoors, but you can take advantage of these outdoor benefits while still enjoying the comforts of your home. Leveraging outdoor elements into your home and incorporating them into your design strategy can transform your home’s aesthetic, bringing the outside in – without any bugs.
Consider these options for bringing the outdoors inside and updating your home while keeping its character intact.
Local Photography and Art
Few appreciate Florida’s natural beauty like other Floridians. Choosing artwork and photographs from local artists that highlight native ecosystems supports the economy while creating a connection between your home and its surroundings.
Many skilled artists specialize in Florida landscapes and wildlife, both in abstract and realistic depictions. Large statement pieces that depict a dazzling sunset or stunning ocean view can dramatically alter the feeling of a space, creating an area where you can enjoy these marvels at any time of day. Pairing specific pieces of art with these outdoor images creates a cohesive scene throughout your coastal home. The options for this type of update are endless – it all depends on your style and the character you want to bring to your home.
Maritime Decorations
Those with a coastal home may be interested in leaning into the state’s long seafaring history. Adding maritime decorations is a natural design choice for all types of Florida homes. Antique or vintage items like oars, anchors, and fishing nets from long-decommissioned ships can bring authenticity to your home while paying tribute to Florida’s history. Some of these items can also be repurposed into functional pieces in your home, like a ship wheel being turned into a side table. Sculptures of wildlife, like octopi, dolphins, and lobsters, are other pieces that can boost the maritime and coastal feeling within your home.
Natural Light
If you haven’t taken advantage of the light of the Florida sun, you could be missing out on one of the easiest ways to improve your home’s natural ambiance. The yearlong warmth and sunlight are just a few of the reasons why we’re here. Thoughtful window and skylight placement can maximize the sunlight in your home, creating a bright and airy atmosphere that blends seamlessly with the natural environment. Replace your entryways with sliding or bifold doors that have large glass panes to increase the available light. Light-reflecting surfaces, such as glass and mirrored accents, boost your existing light without requiring a home remodel. The soft colors of the sunrise and the sunset’s bold hues can permeate your home. You get the feeling of the outside without opening the front door.
Using natural light into your décor also has health benefits. These benefits include boosting vitamin D absorption, improving your circadian rhythm for better sleep, and reducing potential health risks related to fluorescent lighting.
Native Plants
One of the most seamless ways to bring the outdoors into your home is by adding native plants and greenery. Adding the right plants into your home’s aesthetic is an easy way to add personality and verdancy – natural green is a great color to include in most house’s color schemes. Spider plants, palm trees, snake plants, and fiddle-leaf figs will flourish in your home while also paying homage to the state’s coastal flora. They are also easy to care for and can improve the air quality of your home.
Isolating a larger area and creating a more dramatic scene with an indoor garden or green wall can be a striking statement that helps you maximize the potential benefits of putting greenery in your home. These benefits include boosting production, reducing stress levels, and improving air quality.
Color Palette
Finding the natural color palette around your home is as simple as taking a walk outdoors. Using the colors native to the area means you aren’t fighting against the area’s organic beauty. Seamlessly blend your interior design with the outdoors for a boost of personality. For coastal homes, these colors will frequently be earthy tones like beige, light blue, soft coral, and seafoam green. Integrating these colors will pull the tranquility associated with coastal landscapes into your home. When combined with bolder colors as accents, like the oranges, pinks, and blues found in the stunning sunsets, the entire picture becomes immensely reminiscent of the coastal landscape. Earthy browns like chocolate or terracotta can bring further depth and warmth to your home.
When choosing the color scheme for your home, choose hues that work together without clashing. One recommended strategy is to use the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of the room in the dominant color, 30% in the secondary color, and 10% in the accent color. This balanced approach creates visual interest without becoming overwhelming.
Natural Materials
Using natural materials sourced from local businesses and craftsmen is not only an environmentally friendly way to incorporate the outdoors into your living space, but it also supports the Florida economy. Utilizing natural materials like stone, wood, and reclaimed materials for countertops, flooring, and accent pieces adds a unique touch to your environment, bringing authenticity and warmth to your home. Choosing neutral tones and natural patterns can help ensure these items do not overwhelm the space but rather promote the tranquility of being outdoors. Smaller items from around your home, like jars of sand, beach glass, rocks, florals, and shells, can also be integrated into your design strategy as accents on shelves or tabletops.
Create Your Dream Atmosphere
As a Florida coastal homeowner, you likely enjoy the sounds of the ocean and surf. Using outdoor elements inside your home will help complete the experience of living in your luxury home. Even minor changes can transform the feel of your home, but a full redesign can truly bring the outdoors right to your fingertips.
Contacting an experienced designer like CRT Studio should be your first step in developing a fully furnished, luxury interior design. If you’re interested in learning more about how CRT Studio can help you achieve your vision, contact Rob Turner at (407) 440-4446 or rob@crtstudio.com.