Bringing the Outdoors In

There is a profound, almost primal, connection we share with the natural world. It is a source of tranquility, inspiration, and renewal. Thoughtful home design in 2025 is embracing this bond as never before – moving beyond the idea of erecting barriers to nature, and instead inviting it to become an intrinsic part of the living environment. The art of bringing the outdoors in now encompasses a holistic design philosophy: one that blends trending materials, dynamic color palettes, and sustainable practices to erase the boundaries between structure and landscape, creating a sanctuary that breathes with the rhythm of nature.

This year’s most inspired interiors are shaped by a desire to harmonize with the world beyond our windows. Designers are capturing the ephemeral play of light, celebrating the textural beauty of natural elements, and cultivating a life-affirming presence of greenery. As we thoughtfully integrate these contemporary trends, we find ourselves crafting spaces that are both expansive and intimate, timeless and of-the-moment. Here, we explore how to cultivate this harmonious flow, drawing upon the colors, materials, and philosophies that are shaping the homes of 2025.

Maximize the Flow of Natural Light

Light is the lifeblood of a home, the silent artist that shapes our perception of space. In 2025, designers are using oversized panes, delicately arched windows, and glass doors to infuse interiors with sunlight. Skylights and clerestory windows add dimension and drama, framing shifting views of the sky and garden beyond.

Sophisticated window treatments, think sheer eco-textiles in flax or organic cotton – allow light to filter through while preserving privacy. Bringing in the outdoors is as much about harnessing natural light as it is about framing the world just outside, rendering every hour of the day a dynamic part of your home’s atmosphere.

Embrace Trending Materials and Colors

This year, the palettes and finishes favored by designers reflect a renewed passion for the authentic and the enduring. Flamboyant tones, subtle terracottas, lush moss greens, and serene sky blues – are seamlessly woven alongside earthy neutrals, producing rooms with warmth, depth, and a timeless tranquility.

Sustainable choices are at the forefront: reclaimed woods, FSC-certified oak, and rapidly renewable bamboos are gracing floors, walls, and cabinetry. Natural stone, slate, travertine, and even terrazzo with recycled content – adds a unique geological story to hearths, floors, and kitchen expanses. Warm metallics, like brass and copper, provide an elegant and current counterpoint to these organic textures. Layer in textiles made from jute, linen, and wool, materials that are both comforting to the touch and gentle on the planet.

Weave Greenery and Biophilic Design Into Your Home

The most direct way to invite nature indoors is through biophilic design, a growing movement in 2025 that incorporates living plants and natural forms at every level. From dramatic living walls that visually anchor a dining space, to collections of sculptural indoor trees or clusters of air-purifying ferns in sun-soaked bathrooms, greenery takes center stage.

For a subtler approach, botanical prints, artisanal ceramics inspired by organic forms, and locally sourced wood accents evoke a connection to place. Choose plants and natural motifs that echo the landscape around your home, ensuring every room feels attuned to its surroundings.

Blur the Boundaries With Seamless Transitions

Integration between the indoors and outdoors is being taken to new heights through innovative design. Sliding and folding glass walls retract to merge kitchens and great rooms with terraces and gardens, providing spaces for effortless entertaining and daily living.

To reinforce a sense of continuity, designers are extending flooring materials, be it sustainable hardwood or natural stone – from interiors onto patios. Outdoor living is similarly elevated: plush seating, textured rugs, and ambient lighting create exterior rooms as thoughtfully composed as those inside.

Sustainable Practices and Lasting Impact

Sustainability is not just a choice, but a guiding principle in 2025. Energy-efficient windows, recycled and reclaimed materials, and low-VOC finishes are becoming standard, alongside practices that honor craftsmanship and the environment alike. By prioritizing quality and longevity, today’s designs are as gentle on the earth as they are comforting to the soul.

Let Us Light the Way

Crafting a home that seamlessly blends with the outdoors is a journey in creating a space that nurtures the soul and honors the world around us. By embracing the latest trends, thoughtful light, trending palettes, sustainable materials, and biophilic design – you can create a sanctuary that feels both grounded and endlessly inspiring.

Let Lodge & Lantern guide you in designing a home that lives in harmony with its surroundings, a place where nature is not only welcomed, but celebrated in every detail.

Start Your Journey
Nicole Macdonald

AUTHOR


Nicole Macdonald – January Made x Creative Process Collective

Hi there! I’m the founder and head architect behind Creative Process Collective, as well as owner and designer over at January Made Design.  You can guarantee I will greet you with an over the top smile and talk your ears off about all things creative, small business and probably pets (everyone loves pets). Serial over-sharer on social media, you’ll be able to find me most days sitting at my trestle table working away with a green tea and surrounded by too many house plants and most likely a cat stretched across my keyboard.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

https://www.januarymade.co.nz
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