If you start to look around your home or at home stores, you will start to notice that many prints, patterns, and shapes derive from nature.

Organic Dandelion Duvet – West Elm                Mali Batik Pillow – West Elm

Some nature originated items may be more recognizable than others. For example, a large dandelion flower printed on bedding is an obvious nature inspired design. While a less obvious nature inspired design can be a circle of white dots on a pillow, mimicking the head of a dandelion flower from an aerial view. Neither of these two nature inspired designs are necessarily better than the other one but one might argue that the spotted pillow is a more sophisticated design. The subtlety and interpretation of an inspired design is often what makes you “ooh” and “ahh” over it. This is not to say that more literal inspirations are not beautiful, because they certaily have their place too.

Butterflies, Drift Wood and Moss – Bliss Home & Design Store/ Natural Tree Stump Side Table – West Elm  

More literal interpretations usually bring a fun and playful feel to a room. For example, a tree stump side table is most certainly taken from nature but it has an almost comical and cheerful feel to it because we all are aware that tree stumps are not meant for indoors. Literal interpretations of nature are good to use in small doses – maybe just a few select pieces on a shelf or on the countertop – too much can start to look cheezy and over the top. To achieve a more sophisticated look, create a softer palette of greens and neutrals. Mixing in the neutral creams, whites, and greys will calm the senses and give you that peacefulness found in nature. When shopping for furntiture or window treatements, look for fabrics that have fluid, free flowing lines – it is rare that you will find anything in nature that is perfectly straight. When decorating, try thinking a bit more abstractly. For example, if you really like whales, don’t but pillows and lamp shades that have whales all over them but look for a pattern that looks like the tail – the pattern could be several tails juxtaposed ever so that most people wouldn’t even realize that the pattern stems from a whale's tail. These small but important subtle details may not be recognized consciously by a guest in your home but these subconscious details are what will make your guests think you have an awesome, “effortlessly,” designed home.

Sesame Letterpress Garden Calligraphy Collection – West Elm

Tulip Chair by Saarinen – Knoll Studios
By Christa Rose Falk
Blog: www.loveinspirecreate.com
Twitter: LoveInspireCre8

Image Sources:

West Elm: http://www.westelm.com/
Knoll Studios: http://www.knoll.com/knoll_home.jsp
Jonathan Adler: http://www.jonathanadler.com/
Bliss Home and Design Store: http://blisshomeanddesign.com