Natural materials are the perfect way to add warmth, texture and character to any home. With so many different materials out there, you won't struggle to find some that fit right in with your personal style.
These different materials can be used in many different ways, complementing different design styles in their own unique way. Whether you're looking for a modern, minimalist home or a warm, cozy cabin vive, natural materials are a versatile choice that can easily help you reach that dream aesthetic.
In this post, we'll go over the best materials to use in your home, and cover different decor pieces that can be finished effectively with these materials:
Wood
Wood is perhaps the most common natural material, and for good reason. The best way to add a warm natural feel on a larger scale in any space which can also be incorporated in many different ways. The most popular way is through your main furniture pieces like tables, chairs, bed frames and storage units, all which can become focal points for your space.
You can also inlcude wood in your space in a more sutble yet just as effective way through smaller decor pieces. Wooden bowls, vases and picture frames can all add that extra touch of warmth without the wood becoming the main material in the space. Using wood for your wall art itself is the perfect way to make a statement on your wall, as it applying wooden wall panelling, which can be one of the best ways to bring nature indoors.
There are so many different types of wood materials to implement in your space, all providing you with a different feel. Cork and Bamboo are two super popular choices for interior designers when using natural materials, as is reclaimed wood, giving you a more stripped back, cabin-like feel.
Stone
Stone is another super popular natural material amongst interior designers, adding so much depth and texture to your space. With so many different textures, colours and patterns available to choose from, you can uase stone in almost any area of your home.
For adding a touch of minimal elegance to your space, conisder using more high-end materials such as marble. Marble countertops, backsplashes and shower walls can create a spa-like feel in each space of yor home.
To create a more casual look in your space, opting for natural stone tiles or brickwork is the way to go. A popular way that natural stone is used is through the flooring, using slate or travertine can add a rustic yet clean vibe to your space. Additionally, brickwork can create an industrial, loft-like space.
Plant Fibres
A material that might be more specific in regards to personal taste, using plant fibres throughout your home can add so much texture through your decorative pieces. You can use them to add to existing pieces to add visual interest, or create unique pieces entirely made from the eco-friendly materials.
The popular choices for plant fibre materials are hemp, jute, sisal and seagrass. They can be used for pieces like rugs, storage baskets, lampshades, throw pillows and wall decor. Popular interior design styles that use these materials are Boho and Coastal, as well as decorative pieces for Mid-Century Modern and minimal homes.
Metal
Metal may not be a natural material in the same way that wood, stone and plant fibres are, but lean in to the more industrial side of designs, bring a raw feel into your space. Materials like iron copper and brass can be used in a variety of ways, from lighting fixtures to hardware to decorative accents.
For a more rustic look, consider going for aged or distressed metal elements to really get the natural feel from the materials. An old antique metal mirror or a picture frame can add so much character and overall visual interest to your space. On the other hand, polished, newer metal elements are undefeated in creating a sleek, modern look.
Clay
Clay is another super versatile natural material that's been used for years and years when it comes to home decor. Clay itself is easy to work with, giving artists and creators so much freedom in creating unique, stylish pieces that hold so much practicality.
Some of the most popular used of clay in homes come in the form of vases, planters, decorative tiles and more statement sculptures. A way that clay isn't as commonly used is through mixing it with water, and plastering your walls with it, giving it much more texture and character than typical paint.
The natural, earthy tones of clay no matter how you use it adds tones of warmth and texture to any space. On the more artsy side of things, finding uniquely painted clay decor pieces can add the perfect pop of colour to your space. Although you loose the natural colour, the shape and feel of the piece maintains the natural feel you just can't beat.
Leather
Leather is another material that's bene used for centuries in home decor. Created from animal hides to create a strong, long-lasting materials, the material is available in may different finishes and colours. This gives you endless options in regards to textures and styles, from smooth and polished to rustic and distressed.
Some of the most popular ways that leather is used is through furniture such as sofas, chairs and ottomans. It doesn't just have to be used in your living room, leather works great on things like bar stools for your kitchen (if you have room, definitely look into some pieces!).
This material is also perfect for adding warmth and texture into any space. The natural textures provide additional depth and dimension, making it a super popular choice for rustic, industrial and Mid-Century Modern interior design styles. As well as your main furniture, leather can also be used for accents in pillows rugs and wall hangings.
With all these different natural materials available to you, it might be tricky deciding how to actually apply them to your space. From rugs to pillows to light fixtures to bowls, we'll give you our favourite methods and decor pieces to use these materials with below:
Add Minimal Warmth with a Rattan Armchair
Image Credit: Daals
A rattan armchair is one of the most timeless pieces of furniture that can add a ton of warmth, texture and visual interest into your space. Working perfectly with bohemian, coastal and organic modern spaces, this sustainably made made can also give you a durable chair whilst being eco-friendly.
These chairs can easily be used as the statement piece of a living room or bedroom, or as part of a designated reading space if that's your style. The natural texture of the rattan material will never fail to add warmth and dimension to your space. The colour of the chairs also prevent it from overbearing your space, giving you freedom to get creative with colours in other aspect of your decor.
Spice Up Your Floor with a Jute Rug
Image Credit: La Redoute
Rugs are one of the best ways to add character to a space. When it comes to using natural materials, jute rugs are the perfect option for almost any space. Using one of the most popular plant fibre materials, these rugs are ideal if you're looking for some strong texture and an earthy feel.
The natural colour also allows this style of rug to remain more understated than other designs, allowing you to experiment with colours in other areas like the the rattan chairs. This means that whatever colour palette you have in mind, a jute rug will complement it perfectly with it's neutral tones.
Keep It Sustainable with a Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table
Image Credit: Sorrell Smith
Being sustainable in your home is always a plus, especially if the piece adds so much visual interest to your space. A reclaimed wooden coffee table is the perfect piece for this, bringing rustic charm to your space along with tonnes of warm texture.
Using pieces salvaged from old buildings like barns, these tables hold a lot of character compared to other coffee table designs. The natural, distressed look of the wood means a piece of decor can become a visual focal point in your space without sacrificing any functionality.
Soften Your Space with a Woven Wall Hanging
Image Credit: Dunelm
A woven wall hanging, made from plant fibres such as jute, hemp or even cotton, is an ideal way to add texture and warmth to your walls. The natural, earthy colours of the materials allow them to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your space, whilst reaming noticeable through their strong textures.
Coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, you can use these wall hangings as part of a gallery wall, splitting up the framed art to add some more aesthetics to the wall. The other main option you have with these hangings is to use one by itself as a focal point for your space. There are some beautiful designs out there, so you'll be sure to find one just for you.
Get Comfy with a Wool Throw Blanket
Image Credit: Soak and Sleep
Adding a wool throw blanket to your space can add so much warmth and texture to your space through a light, easy moving piece of decor. Wool is one of the best natural materials to use when creating a cozy space, and these blankets can be used anywhere.
Compared to other pieces using natural materials, throw blankets using wool have so many shapes and sizes featuring different colours and patterns. No matter what interior design style your space has, there'll be a wool throw that can be the finishing piece of the puzzle.
Upgrade Your Storage with Seagrass Baskets
Image Credit: The Basket Company
Using seagrass baskets for your storage is the perfect eco-friendly, versatile solution that can be easily used in any space of your home. Seagrass is great for storage baskets due to it's durability through weaving. The weave patterns also gives the baskets extra visual interest on top of the natural textures and colours.
These baskets can hold anything. If you've got some clutter laying around or you need a spot for all the toys to go, using a seagrass basket can be super functional whilst adding so much more visual interest than regular storage boxes/baskets.
Add Some Shine with Copper Pendant Lights
Image Credit: Moleta Monroe
Light fixtures can be one of the best ways to create a focal point in your space. When it comes to using natural materials, opting for copper through a pendant style can add a sleek, modern vibe to wherever you want to use them, as well as extra warmth through the metal's colour.
The copper can blend in well with so many different palettes whilst remaining a focal point due to the minimal shine the material gives off. With the fixture itself, going for a smooth, curved piece can help the material reflect light and create a lot more visual interest overall.
When it comes to using natural materials in your space, there's so many different materials can all bring sense of nature into your space. Whether you want to use these materials with your main furniture or for decor pieces for highlights, the warmth, texture and overall visual interest you'll get from using these materials is undefeated in the world of interior design.