Design experts share simple, sustainable design strategies rooted in nature to help create interiors that calm the mind and nurture overall wellbeing.
With today’s long list of stressful worries in the outside world, it’s critically important to be able to retreat to an interior space that feels like a safe space and a place where it’s possible to rest and recharge.
“We can’t always control what’s happening in the world, but we can maintain the energy we live inside of,” says Diana Stobo, founder of The Retreat Costa Rica, who designed the property’s sustainable nature-led interior. “A serene home becomes a refuge, one that gently reminds your body and mind that you’re safe, grounded, and supported. When your environment is calm, your thoughts will follow.”
In fact, a serene home isn’t an indulgence, it’s a critical way to regulate our nervous systems, adds Angela Harris, CEO of Trio, an interior design firm in Denver, Colorado.
“We spend nearly 90 percent of our lives indoors— roughly 17 hours a day—so our nervous systems
are continuously shaped by the environments we inhabit,” she says.
Infuse Your Home with Natural Elements
Best of all, it doesn’t have to be a heavy lift to transform your space. Begin by tapping into some of the natural elements found in the nearby landscape to infuse your home with calm, suggests Lauren Morgan, the design principal at her own interior design studio in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. “Make it a goal to try to find harmony between the exterior and interior so you can feel a connection to the earth from the comfort of your interior space,” she says. “When materials and décor respond to nature, we are quietly inspired.”
This idea of connecting the inside world with our environment is one aspect of biophilic design, which aims to reconnect us to nature through natural light, greenery, and the use of organic materials, says Phoebe Beachner, principal at DesignGLXY Group, a biophilic design firm in New York City. “These elements gently cue the body to slow down and feel supported,” Beachner says. “A serene home allows us to restore our energy and cultivate a deeper sense of wellbeing.” To reclaim the serenity in your space, replace synthetic items with sustainably sourced natural woods, linen, wool, and cotton.
“Layered organic textures and an abundance of natural light help create a sense of harmony and flow,” Beachner says. “This is less about following trends and more about intention, sourcing, and longevity. Sustainable pieces age beautifully, require fewer replacements, and foster emotional longevity through daily use and connection.”
Going back to basics is a great redesign philosophy, suggests Stobo. “Choose tactile items, like plants, that breathe life into a room,” she says. “I adore using plants as art. Or seek out imperfect hand-thrown ceramics, pieces that look like they were found, not manufactured en masse.”
It’s also fun to add vintage wall art to your space. “Simple landscapes, antique-inspired prints, or charcoal sketches add depth without feeling trendy,” Beachner says. “There’s nothing I love more than venturing through flea markets and thrift stores to craft a story with found vintage frames.” And, as you move throughout the spaces in your home, aim to create consistency in color and texture palette. This will help you achieve a feeling of peaceful flow.
“When designing for serenity, make it a goal to pick colors and material palettes you find most soothing,” suggests Jamie Smith, an interior designer at Happy Haüs Studios, the Portland, Oregon-based design firm she founded that focuses on designing spaces that harmonize with the natural world. “The world can feel loud, unpredictable, and heavy, but your space doesn’t have to keep you on high alert.”
Do a Whole House Detox
In the process of sketching out your design strategy, there are other things you can do to improve the “feel” of your space. One quick and easy fix is to toss synthetic rugs and carpets, especially if they have a chemical odor, Morgan says. “Stained and moldy textiles need to be removed as well,” she adds. Anything that creates visual, sensory, or energetic clutter is worth letting go as well as this can detract from your feeling of serenity in your space.
“This often includes poorly made furniture or decor that feels disposable,” Beachner says. “From a wellness perspective, harsh artificial fragrances and chemically treated materials can compromise indoor air quality. Pieces that block light, airflow, or openness can also subtly impact how restorative a space feels.”
Once you’ve done this, opt for lower-tox replacement options where it matters most. “I encourage starting with what touches your body and your air the most and this includes bedding, rugs, upholstery, paint, and anything scented,” says Amara Naqvi, a holistic interior designer and founder of Aalign, her own design firm in Orlando, Florida. “Looking for low- VOC finishes and certifications like OEKO-TEX for textiles, GOTS for organic cotton, and FSC for wood helps take some of the guesswork out.”
In addition, be on the lookout for “fake” fragrances and get ready to toss those things into the trash. Plug-in air fresheners and heavily fragranced sprays are at the top of the list, Naqvi says. Old or mystery cleaning products, especially anything labeled “extra strong,” and candles that produce visible black soot on the jar or around the wick need to be disposed of, too. “If something is constantly perfuming your air, you’re constantly breathing it,” she says. “And, if you can see soot from a candle, it’s going into your air.”
Ultimately, if there’s anything in your home that makes you feel anxious or overstimulated, get rid of it. “Your home should never feel like a storage unit from the past or a showroom for trends,” Stobo says. “If the things in your home don’t reflect who you are or wish to be, you should let those things go.”
