One of the biggest downsides to living in an apartment is not having a yard, which, for many people, is their first point of access to the great outdoors. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of ways you can incorporate nature into your living space, even if you live in the middle of a concrete jungle.
If you want to make your apartment feel more connected to the outdoors, here are some of the best tips that you can try:
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Let more natural light in
Natural light provides many benefits, but perhaps the most important one is that it can make a space look and feel more open and inviting. Apart from that, having more natural light in your apartment has psychological benefits, such as increased productivity, reduced stress levels, and an overall better mood.
Here are several ways you can let in more natural light into your apartment:
- Choose lighter-colored curtains and shades
- Avoid heavy drapes
- Clean the window panes regularly
- Remove obstructions in front of the windows
- Keep your curtains open during the brightest parts of the day
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Build a ‘patio space’ on your balcony
If you are lucky enough to have a balcony in your city apartment, why not turn it into an outdoor patio? Just like a regular patio, you can deck it out with outdoor furniture, some plants, and a few outdoor lights to turn it into a great outdoor space that you can readily access.
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Decorate with indoor plants
What’s a better way to incorporate nature into your apartment by bringing in some indoor plants? Aside from sprucing up the space, incorporating greenery into your home can provide both physical and mental benefits, such as reduced stress, increased productivity, faster illness recovery, and higher motivation at work.
However, not everyone has the time or knowledge to properly take care of plants. If you belong to this crowd, go for indoor plants that require little to no maintenance, such as aloe vera, snake plants, succulents, pothos, and many more.
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Grow herbs in the kitchen
Many herbs are relatively low-maintenance and can grow in your kitchen with little sunlight. Aside from serving as decorations, herbs can incorporate pleasant aromas in your kitchen and, of course, give you steady access to herbs and spices for your meals.
If you have a bit of a green thumb, you can try growing herbs from seeds by simply planting them in small planters. Otherwise, you can buy fully-grown herbs and help maintain their growth with proper care.
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Buy furniture made of natural wood
Furniture made from natural wood is not only sturdy but can also incorporate a more outdoorsy feel to your apartment. More than that, wooden furniture is also relatively easy to maintain and requires only a few touch-ups every once in a while.
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Lay faux wooden tiles
Although you may not be able to change the flooring in your apartment, you can lay faux wooden tiles that can make your floors look like they’re made out of real hardwood. Similar to wooden furniture, a wooden floor can make your apartment look more in tune with nature and also make the floors easier to clean.
Another great thing about wooden tiles is that they are just as easy to remove as they are to install, meaning that you can quickly lift them from the original flooring when it’s time to move out. However, you may want to inform your landlord before installing removable tiles just in case so that you don’t accidentally violate your lease.
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Add nature-themed wall art
You may be miles away from the nearest beach, forest, or mountain, but you can still make your apartment feel closer to nature by hanging up nature-themed wall art. Whether it’s photos, paintings, or tapestries, wall art that reflect the beauty of nature can be excellent additions to your city apartment.
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Display real nature elements
Aside from wall art, another great way to bring in nature through decorations is by displaying elements that you’ve collected from the outdoors. Rocks, sand, driftwood, and wildflowers can make for some pretty neat decorative pieces if they are displayed properly. Making such displays will also make for awesome DIY projects, which can also be therapeutic in their own way.
Living in an apartment surrounded by concrete and not much else can make you feel disconnected from nature, especially if you are an outdoorsy person by default. Nevertheless, there are a lot of ways you can incorporate nature into your space, starting with the tips mentioned above.
