Nature inspires home interiors

If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of an interiors surprise.
Undated Handout Photo of Barletta medium sofa, from £909.30; Applique stag cushion (right) £28; Heritage Fair Isle cushion, £9.60 (front middle); Marks & Spencer. See PA Feature INTERIORS Woodland. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Handout. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature INTERIORS Woodland.Undated Handout Photo of Barletta medium sofa, from £909.30; Applique stag cushion (right) £28; Heritage Fair Isle cushion, £9.60 (front middle); Marks & Spencer. See PA Feature INTERIORS Woodland. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Handout. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature INTERIORS Woodland.
Undated Handout Photo of Barletta medium sofa, from £909.30; Applique stag cushion (right) £28; Heritage Fair Isle cushion, £9.60 (front middle); Marks & Spencer. See PA Feature INTERIORS Woodland. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Handout. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature INTERIORS Woodland.

Nature is inspiring decor, and a veritable menagerie of creatures, from stags to foxes, is running wild in on-trend rooms.

“It’s the decorative equivalent of a cosy night in with a steaming mug of hot chocolate,” says Amanda Fox, creative director for The Handpicked Collection.

“Woodland motifs bring the wild side in. In the summer, it’s a great look because it blurs the boundaries between the home and garden. In autumn and winter you might not always feel like gambolling in the freezing cold, but some tactile and beautiful pieces made of wood, or evoking woodland, help you feel part of the natural world.

“And let’s not forget that woodlands are secretive places where magic happens. A little bit of mystery in the home is no bad thing.”

The trend shows no sign of slowing, she adds, pointing out that evoking the natural world in our homes helps us feel less mass-produced, and more at one with nature.

“This is such an easy-to-live-with look, which can be interpreted in classic manor house style, or by taking a more modern, chic approach which just hints at the great outdoors,” notes interior designer Joanna Wood.

“To achieve a stylish woodland feel in your home, use rural colours and natural motifs. Try neutral shades such as heather, tan and chestnut or bolder tones like berry red, lake blue, lichen green or lavender and violet.

“If you’re hoping to achieve a more modern touch, mix in mustard yellow and cooking-apple green as accent colours.”

You’ve truly been living in the wilderness if you haven’t noticed that those kings of the forest – stags – are a must-have accessory, either as a faux mounted head, or emblazoned on cushions and throws.

Smaller furry creatures – foxes, squirrels, hedgehogs – are just as fashionable, but if you want to create a truly traditional countryside look, include pheasants, partridges and owls too.

Classic country – Hunting lodge style is wooing those yearning for a snug but up-market, rural hideaway, no matter where they live.

“Tartan rugs and throws, currently so fashionable, offer an instant Scottish feel,” advises Wood.

Cool country – Pared-back country style is a world away from the rustic and folksy, and has its origins in sleek Scandinavian decor which relies on subtle shades and texture to achieve a serene, get-away-from-it-all effect.

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