This blog article has been a long time in the making. My whole business model is based on the notion of “nature-inspired”! But does having natural and organic elements in the home make a difference in how we feel? Does it improve our mood? And why do I have such a passion for creating nature-inspired home decor? I’m pondering this topic in a pragmatic rather than scientific sense. I’m a lifelong sufferer of anxiety and depression, and probably some form of PTSD born out of childhood trauma. I’ve tried medications, meditation, yoga, exercise, healthy eating, and positive affirmations, and they have each helped in their way but do not come close to how much better I feel when surrounded by trees. Unfortunately, I now live in a suburban hell, which is only slightly better than the urban hell of my youth...But I do live in this beautiful state of Pennsylvania—a state filled with natural beauty, trees, farms, mountains, and hiking trails. When we do finally decide to relocate, there are plenty of options! But, for now, I have to settle for making my home as comfortable and pleasant as possible using what I have. For many years, I have tried to keep small gardens, which keep me busy during the warmer months. Gardening gets me outside and out of my head and allows me to photograph beautiful things. Over the past couple of years, I started considering my indoor environment. Houseplants and indoor herbs have become a staple in my home, with varying degrees of survival. I don’t have the greenest thumb in the world, but I can grow a thing or two! In addition to live plants, my interiors are filled with faux florals and faux floral decor that I designed and created. Blending real and faux florals seems perfectly natural to me. But I often wonder—is there a difference between the real and the faux? Can nature-inspired decor have the same or similar effect as the real thing? And does having houseplants have the same positive effect as an outdoor garden? That question has intrigued me since starting this nature-inspired decor “experiment” several years ago. Our modern lives are toxic and artificial in almost every way, which has harmed our physical, mental, and spiritual health. I can personally vouch for that! That being said, the ability of humans to create our own built environment is fascinating to me. The crossroads between the natural world and the built environment is what holds the most interest to me. I love design. I love architecture, art, interior design, and decorating (I did go to school for interior design, after all!), all of which are artificial constructs. Creating nature-inspired home decor has been the ultimate exploration of how to bring balance to these two opposing worlds. What I know is this… I love observing the beautiful flowers, plants, and trees when sitting in my garden. I am fascinated by nature’s creative shapes, hues, texture, and scale. Mother Nature really IS the ultimate designer and artist! Mimicking nature’s skilled hand is quite challenging, but the effort has been the backbone of my handcrafted floral designs for seven years. It’s always a challenge to strike the right balance between man-made elements and the natural world! Admittedly, there isn’t the same depth of experience with faux florals as with real flowers in a garden. The comparison is equivalent to actually taking a hike through the woods versus sitting on your couch watching a YouTube video of someone walking through the woods. When you hike, more of your senses are triggered, making it a totally immersive experience. But sometimes the visual representation—if that’s all that’s available to you—is all the reminder you need that we are creatures of nature under the skin. But does having plants, flower arrangements, and faux florals in the home have the same benefits as being in nature? Does surrounding yourself with representations and small samples of the real thing do anything to make you feel better in your interior spaces? My answer--Both my houseplants and my faux floral creations make me smile. The moment spent checking on the growth of one of my latest plant babies can bring me as much joy as admiring the beauty of my floral decor. In the past, my home was not filled with anything resembling organic or natural elements, and I didn’t realize just how barren the space felt…until one day, I filled that space with plants and faux floral decor. All of a sudden, it was like somebody turned on the lights! The difference in the mood of the space was immediate. Suddenly—and dramatically—there was life where previously there was emptiness. And the live plants in my home allowed me to be a caregiver, and that’s more powerful than people realize. When you care for another being (in this case, my houseplants), the experience takes you out of your head for a while and forces you to focus on the moment, to be present. Being present and engaging in activities that promote mindfulness are ancient ways of coping with stress, depression, and anxiety. So, in answer to my question, yes…In my experience, bringing a bit of nature into the home—whether real or faux, or even a mixture of both—goes a long way to helping us feel more relaxed, calm, and even energized. My home felt like a dark hole until I gave it “light” with plants and flowers. I do feel better in my surroundings. My creativity has also greatly benefited from having an interior that makes me feel calm and relaxed. My home is where I both live AND work. I no longer feel suffocated, empty, or claustrophobic. It’s been a game-changer! I know this is not a scientifically backed answer (although I have read many articles on the subject), but it IS my own experience, and I believe what I see. All I can provide is my own experience, and it has been a positive one! And so I think I leave this mental meandering on that note and leave you with a quote from one of our country’s greatest naturalists, John Muir: “Everybody needs beauty...places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.” What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you have your own experiences to share? Drop a line in the comments, and let’s start a conversation! Sources: https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_nature_makes_you_kinder_happier_more_creative https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature https://selecthealth.org/blog/2019/07/10-reasons-why-being-in-nature-is-good-for-you https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-health-benefits-nature https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/ Related blogs you may want to read:
Let’s talk about houseplants Biophilia in interior design How to repot a bonsai ficus How to repot a pothos plant How to propagate bromeliad pups Small houseplants that love bathroom humidity Eight health benefits of decorating with plants Eight tips for creating spring vignettes My Spring 2022 indoor fairy gardens Spring makeover for my indoor fairy gardens
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I’ve been wondering if too much thinking is holding me back. You need to think things through and have a game plan, but you must know when to stop! Just that one thought too far, and you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, where you find yourself in a place where you are trying too hard to control everything. The truth is, sometimes the best things happen when you plot a course and let it be! Take this little piece of artwork, for example. The backstory is that I was sick with the flu on the day I made this sketch—or study, to be more precise. On this particularly miserable afternoon, I needed something to do that didn’t require too much thought or effort. I just wanted to DO something because I was sick and tired of being sick and tired! I watched a YouTube artist (Patrick Gallagher) create freestyle Celtic knots and was inspired to try something similar. So, I’ve been experimenting lately with drawing and creating Celtic knots and developed a fascination with them. I’ve fallen in love! Something about them draws me in, and creating one—even when it is hard work—feels spiritual and even magical. Knotwork--as it turns out--can come in many styles, and there are just as many techniques to drawing these impressive art pieces. I usually use a very well-thought-out grid design when I draw new patterns (like the ones pictured below), but I wanted to see what would happen if I stopped micro-managing the process. It would be interesting to create something more intuitive. Turns out it was a scary yet freeing experience! And so on this awful afternoon—coughing, sneezing, whining, aching, coughing some more, and trying not to pee myself every time I coughed (yeah, it’s a thing when you reach a certain age!)—I decided to sit and try out a freestyle knot. I put the pencil on the paper and let it go in any direction, not thinking about patterns or results. My only consideration was not to create too many crossovers close together. So, I drew my initial guideline. Then, I drew my double lines, erased my guidelines, constructed my overs-and-unders, and shaded to create a 3D effect. I cleaned it all up, took a snapshot, and posted it to Instagram. And then I looked at it… This is not a great work of art—just a study of technique. But something strange and almost eerie happened here. Remember I said I did not plan the line direction or pattern, just let the pencil go where it wanted to go? Now, look again at my freestyle drawing…Do you see the “D” clear as day in the center? I did not plan that! Now look again…Do you see the cursive “L” incorporated into the “D” pattern? These are my initials!! D.L. There it is as plain as day…but I did NOT try to create that effect! I had no idea it was even there until I was finished and was critiquing my work to see what I liked and did not like about the drawing. Something about this experience hit a nerve. I realized I think too much! Some of the best things materialize when I plot a course and have faith that I am going in the right direction. But when I fall into the trap of thinking…and thinking…and thinking…(OVER thinking) I find that I only get in my way. I then fail to see the obvious stuff that could be sitting right in front of me! And I miss opportunities because I am just too focused somewhere else. What are your thoughts on intuition and control in art? Have you had similar experiences? Were you surprised by the results? Would it have worked out as well if you had tried to control the outcome? Share your thoughts and experiences! Shop for Celtic-inspired wood-burned decor by Di's Studio Designs here!
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