7 Ways to Bring a Natural Feel Into Your Kitchen
Whether you want to freshen up your existing kitchen or renovate it, these ideas will bring more nature into the space
Personally, I dream of having a kitchen inside a greenhouse, where plants overflow and the ceiling and walls feature abundant glass. But not all of us are in the position to transform our kitchens into greenhouses with cabinets and cooking gear.
Here are seven ways to get a greenhouse or garden vibe in your own kitchen. Some you can do without renovating. The rest you might want to plan as part of a kitchen redesign.
1. Incorporate large indoor plants
Nothing beats real foliage when it comes to creating a nature-inspired theme. If your kitchen receives natural light, consider adding big plants, such as the ones occupying the unused spaces of this kitchen.
Nothing beats real foliage when it comes to creating a nature-inspired theme. If your kitchen receives natural light, consider adding big plants, such as the ones occupying the unused spaces of this kitchen.
Tropical plants such as the one shown in this kitchen are nice options because big leaves feel lush and look clean.
Decorating with plants is a great way to fill awkward spaces with colour and nature.
The large window in this kitchen has a beautiful garden view, but the tropical indoor plant fills the corner and adds life year-round.
Find a specialised kitchen designer near you on Houzz for expert advice in recreating your kitchen
Decorating with plants is a great way to fill awkward spaces with colour and nature.
The large window in this kitchen has a beautiful garden view, but the tropical indoor plant fills the corner and adds life year-round.
Find a specialised kitchen designer near you on Houzz for expert advice in recreating your kitchen
2. Add greenery with nature-themed plates
What better backdrop for your salad or meal? Nature-themed china and crockery can bring greenery to your kitchen minus the challenge of keeping plants alive.
Try displaying plates and pitchers in glass cabinets to keep the garden inspiration visible year-round.
Even with a simple table setting, this kitchen table resembles a garden party with cabbage china by Bordallo Pinheiro.
What better backdrop for your salad or meal? Nature-themed china and crockery can bring greenery to your kitchen minus the challenge of keeping plants alive.
Try displaying plates and pitchers in glass cabinets to keep the garden inspiration visible year-round.
Even with a simple table setting, this kitchen table resembles a garden party with cabbage china by Bordallo Pinheiro.
3. Buy cut flowers or force bulbs
Cut flowers will add colour and a touch of nature to your kitchen, even in the depths of winter.
When purchasing flowers, look for bouquets with green foliage as well as bright flowers. Forcing bulbs is another way to get long-lasting colour and foliage in your kitchen.
How Do I… Make Cut Flowers Last Longer?
Cut flowers will add colour and a touch of nature to your kitchen, even in the depths of winter.
When purchasing flowers, look for bouquets with green foliage as well as bright flowers. Forcing bulbs is another way to get long-lasting colour and foliage in your kitchen.
How Do I… Make Cut Flowers Last Longer?
Alternatively, you could purchase a few large leaves to create a foliage bouquet. Regularly buying cut flowers can get expensive, but consider splurging for holidays, special occasions or stressful weeks where you can use a pick-me-up. You’ll find inexpensive blooms at farmer’s markets and supermarkets.
4. Use grasscloth on walls and window shades
Grasscloth is a beautiful, natural material often used as wallpaper and window coverings, and it can bring a warm, organic texture to a space.
Grasscloth window shades filter light similarly to tree foliage overhead. Here, blue grasscloth wallpaper evokes water with its subtle varied colours.
Grasscloth is a beautiful, natural material often used as wallpaper and window coverings, and it can bring a warm, organic texture to a space.
Grasscloth window shades filter light similarly to tree foliage overhead. Here, blue grasscloth wallpaper evokes water with its subtle varied colours.
5. Add a skylight to let in the sunlight
Skylights brighten your space, and the infusion of sunlight in winter can warm your kitchen and lift your mood. If you’re in a very sunny spot, consider adding an automated shade. This kitchen has a beautiful view of trees and sky, giving it a relaxed, upbeat and natural feel.
The Glorious Benefits of Skylights
Skylights brighten your space, and the infusion of sunlight in winter can warm your kitchen and lift your mood. If you’re in a very sunny spot, consider adding an automated shade. This kitchen has a beautiful view of trees and sky, giving it a relaxed, upbeat and natural feel.
The Glorious Benefits of Skylights
6. Bring in live-edge timber
A ‘live’ edge means keeping the natural shape of the tree on one or both edges of a timber slab. This creates a natural look that contrasts well with foliage and light.
Some woods, such as cherry and walnut, have beautiful grains that reflect light. Live-edge woods make great shelves, benchtops and tables. In this contemporary kitchen, the live-edge bench has the look of a fallen tree.
A ‘live’ edge means keeping the natural shape of the tree on one or both edges of a timber slab. This creates a natural look that contrasts well with foliage and light.
Some woods, such as cherry and walnut, have beautiful grains that reflect light. Live-edge woods make great shelves, benchtops and tables. In this contemporary kitchen, the live-edge bench has the look of a fallen tree.
Live-edge timber can also work in traditional kitchens. This kitchen uses a live-edge bar to provide a warm, organic contrast with the clean white cabinetry.
7. Design your kitchen around a carved-stone sink
If you are planning a kitchen renovation, consider a carved-stone sink. Stone instantly adds a natural element in your kitchen. Carved-stone sinks feel utilitarian, like something you would find in a potting shed.
The beautiful patina of this soapstone sink adds the element of age. The bright, cheerful yellow cabinets contrast with the natural stone, much like a flower against a stone wall.
Your turn
Which of these seven ideas could work in your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen inspiration for a future redesign? Read How Do I… Choose Tiles for My Kitchen Splashback?
If you are planning a kitchen renovation, consider a carved-stone sink. Stone instantly adds a natural element in your kitchen. Carved-stone sinks feel utilitarian, like something you would find in a potting shed.
The beautiful patina of this soapstone sink adds the element of age. The bright, cheerful yellow cabinets contrast with the natural stone, much like a flower against a stone wall.
Your turn
Which of these seven ideas could work in your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen inspiration for a future redesign? Read How Do I… Choose Tiles for My Kitchen Splashback?