Victoria Harrison - Rewild Your Home: Bring the Outside In and Live Well Through Nature

If you take a walk outdoors and look around, you might notice a peculiar fact there are very few straight lines in nature. If you cast your eye over a wild view, Ill bet the only straight lines youll be able to find are man-made additions, such as fences, electricity pylons, walls or rail tracks. If you were able to take those modern-day elements away, youd get an entirely different picture. Once you start looking, youll see that youre surrounded by soft curves and flowing lines. From the gentle arc of a tree branch to the meandering course of a woodland stream, nature has a way of softening, twisting and curving any hard edges away.

Our homes, however, are often the exact opposite of this. If you look around the room youre currently in, the chances are youll see neat lines, straight edges and square shapes everywhere. Much of this is for practical reasons square boxes are easier, cheaper and quicker to construct than curved homes, square windows are more practical than round ones, and so on. But its a startling contrast and departure from the shapes of the wild outdoors. When you think about it, its a distinctly unnatural environment to spend so much time in.

But does this matter? Can the shape of our surroundings really impact on our wellbeing? In a word, yes. Studies have shown that humans respond much better to biomorphic shapes (i.e. shapes resembling the curving, irregular form of a living organism) than non-biomorphic shapes. We are soothed by curved lines and stressed by sharp edges. This is entirely logical when you consider that we lived in the wild, surrounded by natural shapes, for thousands of years before we moved indoors. Even a few hundred years ago, our homes would have been built from natural materials such as wood, clay and straw, and as such, they would have followed natural forms and curves and would have been pleasingly wonky and soft around the edges. Modern building techniques have almost totally eliminated this, and today the majority of us live in square, straight-lined boxes. And while this might be economical, straightforward and cost-effective from a construction point of view, its not necessarily the best environment for humans to thrive in.

While you might not be able to change the shape of the home you live in, what you can do is think about the shapes of the furniture and dcor that you place within your home and make choices that reflect the curves and spirals of the natural world, bringing the wild landscape indoors.

You dont need to eliminate every single straight line to rewild your home, but breaking up some of the bigger shapes and bringing in organic curves will really help to make a difference. Here are a few easy ways to counterbalance straight lines with curved dcor, followed by more specific room-by-room ideas.

Any piece of wooden furniture with a live edge will bring a lovely sense of the wild into your home. This means an edge that has been left as it was found naturally, without being planed and straightened; in other words, a totally unique wobbly edge. Search out live-edged dining tables and coffee tables, and even little wooden stools, all of which bring a direct sense of the outdoors in with their natural shapes and lines. Some even have dips and holes in the surface of the table, smoothed out but left visible, while others may have these filled in with resin to create a uniform surface. Any piece of live-edge furniture will provide an immediate connection to the outdoors, as well as showcasing the skill of the craftsperson who made it. On a smaller scale, you can also buy live-edged wooden bowls and chopping boards which make a lovely addition to a kitchen.

In the search for pleasing organic shapes, it can often pay to have a look around vintage shops or flea markets as vintage furniture can be found in beautiful shapes. Bow-fronted sideboards or dressing tables work well in a modern apartment, as do some of the more stylized pieces of wicker furniture from the 1970s, such as curved cane chairs. Barstools or chairs with softly curved spindle backs will add lots of character to a kitchen or dining room. Antique closets can be more aesthetically pleasing than modern ones too, especially if they have a gently curved top or delicately carved legs. Vintage mirrors often have lovely curved shapes and etched surfaces too, and collecting a few of these to hang in a group on a wall can make a really pretty feature.

Textiles can work wonders to soften the edges of a sharp-edged room. Round rugs can serve a double purpose of softening lines visually, as well as adding a tactile layer of comfort underfoot. Try placing a circular rug underneath an angular sofa or armchair or next to your bed to add a curve to a linear room. Circular shapes also work well in childrens rooms, so try a brightly coloured round rug under a bed or as a playmat. Round cushions are great for adding life and movement to straight-lined sofas and beds too; choose soft materials and plump fillings and pile them up for instant comfort.

Window treatments are another easy way to soften hard edges. Natural cotton or linen curtains have a lovely drape and if you choose an open weave, the threads of the material will show through too, bringing a gentle sense of organic movement.

Blinds and shades can also be softened with a trim along the bottom edge to bring in a natural curve; a scallop trim gives an elegant finish, or a pompom trim adds movement to a blind in a childs room.

Another way to bring in wild shapes is through curtain tie-back hooks. Look for hooks in natural shapes such as shells or leaves and use these to draw curtains back from the window in a curved drape.

Woven textiles really come into their own here, and you can use these to introduce natural shapes to break up an expanse of straight wall. A woven wall hanging will liven up an uninspiring wall and add movement and texture too look for hand-woven wool or cotton textiles in gentle, natural colours. Round wall-hung mirrors in natural materials, such as rattan or wood, are another way to bring a sense of movement into your home; search out those with interesting shapes, patterns or textures.

Artwork is another great way to bring in interesting shapes; look for botanical motifs or floral shapes to bring in curves and spirals. Photos or paintings of nature can also provide soft shapes for your eyes to rest on, whether you choose rolling landscapes or close-up details. Framing is also important to consider, so choose wooden, cane, rattan or driftwood frames for a relaxed, natural look. Collages of pressed flowers and leaves are also a lovely way to bring in the outdoors (see ).

Bringing in natural finds to create small, tactile displays is another way to introduce natural shapes. A spiral of polished pebbles or a dish of gathered seashells are pleasing shapes to look at as well as to touch. Anything you find on your travels can help to introduce those lovely organic shapes to your interior. A feather popped into a vase, a piece of driftwood on a sideboard or a dish of polished conkers in the autumn are all little pieces of wild treasure.