Home is the new eco friendly sanctuary in 2021

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, we've adjusted our lifestyles to spending more time at home - where we work, home school, supervise the nursery and live, all in one; a way of life that is likely to be here for some time.

With global focus on the connection between nature and happiness, it's time to get in tune with nature and bring its positivity into our homes as we create an atmosphere that will make us want to stay at home a whole lot more.

From eco design to environment friendly gardens, it's all about integrating natural elements to evoke a homely, relaxing feeling in our living and work-from-home space. Letting nature in will make 2021 an amazing year for your home and family!

Here's how you can get started...

Multipurpose spaces

With working from home more, our living spaces will become even more multipurpose. Find inventive practical ways to double up the functions of your spaces - like creating a little home-office under the stairs, or a nursery area on a landing for a playpen - you may be spending a longer time here than you think!

Back to nature elements

Architects and interior designers are adopting the eco design trend and incorporating nature into their designs. This is evident as natural materials like light woods become a regular feature in flooring, furniture, walls and ceilings. Natural woven wicker and cane furniture is making a comeback and using natural elements, like seashells and driftwood, as design accessories bring a restfulness to any space.

Earthy tones for warmth and calmness

Colours too are tending towards natural earthy shades to create a warm, calm feeling. Contrasts to your colour palette, or little pops of colour, creating mood or mystique, are becoming popular in the design world especially when used for single wall accents with textured wall paper or wood-effect finishes.

Comfort and cosiness

Create an atmosphere of comfort and cosiness inviting us to be stay-at-home more. Spruce up the comfort of your space with lush, soft fabrics in throws and plumpy cushions and array a sumptuous sofa, outdoor cushions and modern bean bags on your patios. Relaxing recliners are ideal for those sports addicts to watch the welcome return of big sports events in 2021 like the British Lions tour and the Olympic Games. For a schedule of international sports events visit: https://www.lionstour.com/2021/match-dates/ and https://www.roadtrips.com/calendar-of-events/

Letting the outside in

Inside, outside living is becoming the norm. Our garden views and more sunlight and natural airflow streaming in will be even more important as we spend more time at home. Let the outdoors in with light-hued, soft, flowing curtains, have bigger windows and more glass doors so more natural light and airy breezes can flow indoors. Bring what's natural indoors!

Green inner refuge

Strengthen your relationship with nature and grow more plants and flowers inside the home. Flourishing indoor gardens and vertical wall gardens filled with fresh greenery are in vogue.

Waterwise choices keep you eco-friendly too.

Windowsill gardens are perfect for growing pretty little plants and healthy herbs especially if you don't have a garden. Having a small home doesn't prevent you from growing fresh plants and flowers as, these days, people are getting creative with charming, attractive mini gardens on their tiny balconies.

Environment-friendly gardens inspire

Gardens are an extension of our indoor spaces and should inspire. Strategic planting of colourful, proliferous patches of flora and flowering shrubs will provide wonderful garden views from inside your home, to bring nature in and beautify your space.

Healthy gardens are full of buzzing bees, butterflies flitting about and other insects beneficial to our gardens. Gardeners try to attract more insect life by selecting appropriate flowering plants and building insect hotels to provide a safe haven for spiders, ladybirds, beetles etc. Here are some great projects, for you and your kids, for building an insect hotel: https://www.gardenandhome.co.za/gardening/how-to-make-an-insect-hotel/

A recent trend is raised garden beds - ideal for creating interesting and decorative features in your garden, whether big or small, and for easy plant care. Designed in wood or recyclables like old railway sleepers is in keeping with the latest in eco design.

Be eco-friendly and water wise but make your garden a special, beautiful place to enjoy from both indoors and outdoors.

Create an aesthetically pleasing, environment friendly sanctuary - indoors and outdoors - to relax, rest and enjoy time with your family and where your work productivity can blossom. Bring loads of calming energy into your home with natural elements and design. Even if an idyllic holiday is planned in 2021, your home and garden sanctuary will always be here awaiting your return.

Be on trend with your home and work space, get more in tune with nature and its elements, it will make 2021 an amazing year for your home and family!

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