4 months ago
I’ve always loved bringing little pieces of the outdoors inside. Two pine cones I picked up from the forest floor have taken up permanent residence in my truck. When my husband asked why I keep them there, all I could say was, “I don’t know, I just like looking at them.”
Just yesterday, I came across some conkers beneath a horse chestnut tree. I’m now pondering the perfect spot to display them at home. (Supposedly, they repel spiders—but I’m still waiting to be convinced!) One of my favourite things is walking into our house and seeing a stack of logs neatly piled in the wall recess, ready for winter. It’s not just the sight that fills me with joy—it’s the earthy scent that lifts my spirits and warms my heart. And every morning, I search for that one coffee mug adorned with pine trees. Somehow, coffee just doesn’t taste the same in any other cup.
The truth is, we are all unconsciously drawn towards nature or things that remind us of nature. Go to a DIY shop, and note the wallpapers – so many have leaves, or trees or evidence of nature patterns. We are drawn to decorating our homes with things that remind us of ‘outside’. Wood panelling available for walls, nature inspired table ware, houseplants and paints with earthy tones are all suggestions that we try to make the inside of our homes, like outside.
But why?
It’s because we thrive in natural environments. Research demonstrates that being outside lowers the stress hormone cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure. We instantly feel more relaxed and being outside can have a positive and very profound impact on our mental health.
In a world where we are exposed to so many unnatural environments, surrounded by screens and technology, mental health issues are constantly on the rise. Suicide statistics are shocking and so many people struggle to access the right help for mental health challenges.
Deep inside us all, I believe that we have an innate desire to ‘return to the wild’ because we know what we need. The conkers, the leafy wallpaper, the houseplants, the wooden wall panelling are all signs that we try to recreate the outdoors, indoors because it makes us feel good.
Research shows that just having access to visual cues of nature can trigger the same calming brain response as being in nature itself (though to a lesser degree). People heal faster in hospital when they can look at trees through a window. Anxiety and depression is also reduced when people can view nature through windows. We can still be inside and reap the benefits of outside.
Deep down, I believe we all know what we truly need to thrive To maximise health and happiness, we need to spend as much time as possible outside, in natural environments. And being outside doesn’t have to be restricted to summer days. there’s something incredibly powerful about experiencing the changing seasons and the variety of outdoor environments throughout the year.
So spend as much time outdoors as possible. Take your children to the park, and have fun collecting conkers. Pick flowers for your home, or instead of a floral display, find interesting twigs to create a small feature. Use pine cones to create ornaments or collect them for Christmas displays. Bring home a pebble that you find interesting, or a striking autumnal leaf.
Little by little, invite the outdoors into your living space and enjoy the calming, grounding effects it brings.
