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6 Natural Home Decor Ideas

November 11, 2014 By

Contribution by Andrea Davis, HomeAdvisor

Can’t get enough of the outdoors? If you want more of it in your home without maintaining a jungle, then consider alternatives. Here are some top ideas for homeowners wanting that extra touch:

1. Add natural elements: One of the easiest ways to incorporate the outdoors indoors is literally to add it to your home decor. It might be pebbles, wood, straw, leaves and other pieces in smaller amounts throughout your home. You could also add photographs, paintings and framed pieces of wood or leaves to the walls of your home.

2. Assemble flowers and plants in pots: If you are willing to do the maintenance and manage the upkeep, you can add potted plants to your home. This adds elements of color and natural fragrance to your home. You might avoid real plants if you have severe allergies and do plastic versions to be safe. You should also be aware of any plant varieties that are poisonous to your pets.

3. Install natural flooring: If you have tile, laminate or vinyl floors, you can have a flooring installer replace them with hardwood, cork, bamboo or other natural flooring materials. They feel warmer underneath your feet, and they are organic and biodegradable compared to what might have been in your home before.

4. Make the most of your windows: Your windows are for more than a beautiful view. You can let in natural light by opening them or replacing heavy curtains with light, see-through drapes. You can also let in fresh air and the scents of the outdoors. If you’re worried about pests or debris, install new screens.

5. Use outdoorsy colors: Another option is painting parts of your home with naturally-inspired colors. Some color options include green, blue, yellow and brown. There are also neutral tones like white, tan and beige to evoke cleanliness. Whether you paint an entire room or just a wall, you can complement the room with elements like plants to make it seem more outdoorsy.

6. Consider stenciling: You can also stencil outdoor-related images onto your walls. Maybe it’s trees, leaves, the sun, moon, stars or an entire landscape. You can do random stenciling or theme it by room. The end result will be a design that attracts visitors and complements the outdoor landscape.

Your interior can get closer to the outdoors depending on how much money or time you want to spend bringing the elements indoors. The end result will be a natural, seamless transition from the beautiful landscape outside to the same relaxing feel inside.

 

Photos courtesy of DesignMine

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Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

May 5, 2014 By

You know the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make natural cleaning supplies?” Okay, we made that one up, but there are so many ways to make natural cleaning supplies using things that you may already have at home.

5 Natural Cleaning Products:

1. Toilet Bowl Cleaner (Yahoo Shine): You need a measuring cup, a toilet brush, half of a cup of baking soda, 10 drops of tea-tree essential oil, and half a cup of distilled white vinegar. Pour the baking soda into the toilet bowl, add the oil, then add the vinegar. Let the water sit for several minutes then scrub it with the toilet brush. Flush the toilet and voila you have a clean toilet!

2. Natural Air Freshener (How Does She): You need a spray bottle, eight ounces of water, and five to seven drops of essential oils. Simply pour the water in the spray bottle, then drop in the essential oils. Screw the top back on and spray away.

3. Natural Laundry Detergent (Wellness Mama): You can make natural laundry detergent using just three ingredients! You need Washing Soda, Borax, and a natural bar soap of your choice. Grate the bar of soap or mix it in the food processor until it is finely ground. Mix two parts washing soda, two parts Borax, and one part grated soap then store it in a closed container. Use between one eighth and one fourth of a cup per load of laundry.

4. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent (Happy Money Saver): You need one cup of Washing Soda, one cup of Baking Soda, three packages of unsweetened lemonade drink mix, one cup of Kosher Salt, and one cup of water. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and start using your new dishwasher detergent. The lemonade makes it smell good and has antibacterial properties. We think that you could also try adding in a few drops of lemon juice.

5. Natural Multi-Purpose Citrus Cleaner (Lexie Naturals): You need a glass container, citrus fruit peels, one tablespoon of salt, vinegar, distilled water, and five to ten drops of essential oil. Cut the orange peels and put them in the glass container, add salt to the orange peels and let them sit for twenty to thirty minutes. Fill the containers with vinegar and water. You can do half vinegar and half water. Now put a lid on the jars and let it sit for two to three weeks. After you’ve waited two to three weeks, strain the solution and fill up a squirt bottle. If you want to add essential oils, you should add them now. Now you are ready to start cleaning!

These natural cleaning products will help you to save money and have a home that is both clean and green.

If you enjoyed this blog post you will also like our cleaning checklists:

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bathroom Bacteria Busters

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom

 

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