Style Spotlight: Organic Design

In this video from the Build.com Design Lab, our Visual Design Manager Glenn Rush talks about the origins of organic modern design. He also offers some simple tips for getting this look, so you’ll sound like a style expert even if you’re still cultivating your dream organic modern house. 

If you crave harmony with nature and your heart is happiest when you’re surrounded by the trees and sky, Organic is the style for you. Although it may appear to take little effort, Organic style is thoughtful and deliberate. Creating a space that flows, where nature abounds, and your soul can breathe, takes careful planning and intentional expression. Here’s how to begin designing a home that appeals to the senses.

Sight

For the color palette of your space, allow nature to be your inspiration. Outdoors, we see shades of brown and black, creams, and greys with occasional pops of color. Choose warm woods and white for large decor elements like furniture, flooring, and wallcoverings. The right lighting for all of this will be key, of course.

Window Treatments

Your best source of light is of course, the sun. Allow your windows to do their job by opting for sheer curtains, where possible, in lieu of heavy drapes.

Mirrors

Maximize the natural light you have by using mirrors to reflect the light around your space. Well-placed mirrors can double the light in your room.

Lighting

Where lighting is necessary, light your space intuitively. The way we use light is powerful and influential in our daily rhythms. Warm overhead pendants are perfect ambient fixtures for an Organic space. Lamps are a lovely way to light a small area for reading or other tasks. Opt for lighting that uses natural materials like stone and seagrass.

Smell

Outside, the air is fresh and clean. You might smell grass, flowers, pine, or even soil. Ideally, there is a light breeze to keep the air from being stagnant. You can keep the air in your home moving in the same way.

Ceiling Fans

Part of the appeal of spending time outdoors is breathing in the fresh air. Keep the air in your space fresh and circulating with overhead ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are another way to create ambient lighting as well as add interesting detail.

Plantlife

Indoor houseplants can help to purify the air and add a natural element to your space. Be sure that your plant gets enough light exposure or is adaptable to the area in which it is placed.

Sound

When we think of walking through a forest, we certainly don’t think of echoing footsteps. We hear birds chirping, bees buzzing, leaves falling to the forest floor, maybe the  trickling of a stream. Your space should absorb sound appropriately without feeling suffocating, allowing for the sounds of nature to flourish.

Flooring

When planning your Organic living space, consider flooring that is natural and enduring such as wood, cork, vinyl, or bamboo. Area rugs are an excellent way to muffle loud flooring such as hard wood or tile.

Wall Coverings

Wall coverings are also an excellent way to stifle noise. Cork and grasscloth are organic materials that are also known to help mute noise in small and large spaces.

Decor

Explore the idea of fountains to invite the sound of trickling water into your home, which can be very soothing.

Touch

Rough tree bark, coarse blades of grass, leaves like a thick waxy fabric, flowers with petals as soft as silk; these are your inspiration for infusing your Organic decor with texture.

Flooring

Begin with your flooring, which should ideally be made of natural material like wood, cork, or bamboo, akin to walking on a forest path.

Furniture

Modern furniture lends itself well to this style. For wood, choose rough-hewn or polished finishes to add texture and interest to your space. When choosing upholstery, look for fabrics that are compelling to touch such as linen, animal skin and faux animal skin, or softer fabrics. Also consider rattan and wicker, as they are woven, natural materials that add character.

Decor

Include art that is inspired by nature and invites touch. Veined leaves and smooth rock sculptures are particularly inviting. Wallcoverings are available in interesting textures and imagery as well.

(Good) Taste

It could be easy to get carried away with this style. To become too literal, perhaps. Remember that your space needs to be practical. Not everything in your home needs to be naturally sourced, the flow just needs to feel natural. Focus on creating a welcoming, tranquil vibe and you’ll have accomplished your goal.