Natural materials are a great way to elevate your home and connect with nature. There are staples of natural materials such as linen and timber which will add warmth to a space. I have picked my favourite natural materials below. You can introduce natural materials into your home through flooring and wall finishes and in smaller ways by introducing select home accessories. The great thing about natural materials is that they come with their own unique palette and texture.
LINEN
Linen is my favourite fabric. It is one of the only fabrics that get better with age. Made from flax it is one of the oldest used materials in the world. For adding warmth to a house you won’t find a better fabric, than linen, it is also stronger than cotton. It lends itself well to dying and is a beautiful way of bringing soft natural colours into your home. As curtains, it lets light in beautifully. As cushion covers and bedding, it holds warmth and is super soft. Photos via Pinterest & I love linen.
TERRACOTTA
Terracotta is one of my favourite materials. It is unglazed pottery which is left raw. Most terracotta is the earthy ochre colour that we all know but it can be white such as the Tamegroute pottery is before it is glazed. A versatile material it is beautifully used as a floor tile where the richness of the colour can be seen in a large expanse. It can be quite a cheap material due to the simplicity of its production in terms of finishing. Most people will know the material through plant pots but it looks great as an interior material. Photos via Crü & Pinterest.
BASKETRY
Woven products add a delicateness to interior products. They are normally woven from natural materials such as bamboo, and palm leaves. The nice thing about woven natural furniture is that it develops its own patina over time. Basketry is a staple of many communities all over the world. Materials used in basketry can be dyed which makes them really versatile. Photo via SF Girl By Bay.
TIMBER
Timber adds a feeling of warmth and tactility to interiors. The fact that it is used in places where tactility is important such as flooring and cabinets shows how much people value it as a material.
Around 3,000 to 4,000 species produce timber that is suitable for products. I love the natural patina that timber develops over time. I’m a huge fan of vintage timber that is full of marks and history. Photos via Reform.
COTTON
This fabric is the most profitable fiber crop in the world. It is a material that brings with it a weight of history unlike no other. Cotton is a material that is incredibly easy to work with and manipulate. It holds on to warmth and allows air in to keep things cool, it can be dyed and washed well-meaning it is the perfect product for home textiles.
