Nothing beats the feel of fresh air, sights of nature, and being surrounded by the outdoors. However, harmful UV rays, bad weather, and mosquitoes often hinder time spent outside, especially in summer. Fortunately, homes can better embrace the outside through screens, sunlight, plants, and flooring.

Keep reading to learn four ways you can bring the outdoors inside your home. 


Enjoy the Views and Breezes

Retractable Phantom Screens appear when needed and vanish when not. Mesh material ushers in fresh breezes while keeping insects at bay.

Opening doors and windows enables refreshing cross-ventilation and lessens reliance on air conditioning. Ultimately, the screens foster an outdoor ambiance minus the pests.

Installing retractable screens across patios immerses homeowners in breezy views without bugs buzzing about. Cozy up with books while enjoying the scenic sights and gentle winds.


Invite In Natural Light

Sunshine cuts back on artificial lighting needs and lifts spirits. To illuminate home interiors, you can add skylights or solar tubes directing rays downward into rooms. Reflective mirror placements also effectively distribute daylight.

Sheer window treatments prevent dreary, gloomy aesthetics yet still enable rays to filter through. 

Applying window film blocks up to 99% of harsh UV rays for protection from glare and sunshine strength, depending on the manufacturer. 

Embracing natural light creates pleasant, breezy abodes.


Incorporate Houseplants

House plants and natural elements infuse spaces with lush green hues and intriguing textures, heightening visual intrigue. But flora offers benefits surpassing sheer decor improvement. Through photosynthesis, indoor greenery inhales carbon dioxide and exhales oxygen like outdoor counterparts, enhancing air quality and eliminating toxins.

Certain tropical varieties like weeping figs, orchids, bamboo palms, and snake plants filter and decontaminate air within enclosed rooms via pollutant removal. 

Read this guide to learn more about plants that improve indoor air quality


Install Hardwood Flooring

Rather than laminates, select natural flooring materials like hardwood, bamboo, or cork that relay organic charm. 

Beautiful wood grains and markings inject spaces with texture and aesthetic depth. Hardwoods also tend to feel cozier underfoot than tile or vinyl options, making rooms more welcoming. Sustainably sourced bamboo aligns with eco-values via swift regeneration without resource depletion. Ultimately, authentic wood floors infuse interiors with true ties to nature.

Today’s Homeowner Tips

I recommend opting for a penetrating sealant to protect the wood from moisture damage and be sure to routinely dust mop and damp mop the flooring.


So, Is Integration Worthwhile?

Embracing the outside through screened patios, ample sunlight, lively plants, and organic floors boosts home comfort and revitalization as ventilation and lighting reliance on electricity wanes, and savings and sustainability rise. Meanwhile, enhanced air quality and visual richness improve health and inspiration. Blending the alfresco with the indoors thus proves mutually beneficial for homes and inhabitants alike.


FAQs About Incorporation

What is the cost of retractable screens?

Prices range from $25 to $100 per linear foot based on aspects like frame material and quality. Outfitting an average patio spans $3,000 to $6,500.


How can I brighten my home naturally?

Skylights, solar tubes, particular window treatments, and considerate mirror placement diffuse illumination through interior spaces. Evaluate sunlight potential per room and integrate enhancements accordingly.


Which plants best clean indoor air?

Leading varieties for air purification include peace lilies, weeping figs, orchids, bamboo, and snake plants. Position several air-filtering plants around your home wherever viable.


Should I choose hardwood or engineered flooring?

Both harbor pros and cons regarding durability, life span, and eco-friendliness. You should consider factors like budget, lifestyle, and sustainability goals when deciding. Properly maintained hardwoods retain the truest natural essence.


Editorial Contributors
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Elise LaChapelle

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Elise LaChapelle is a copywriter with over a decade's experience in the digital space. She specializes in blogging, website content, social media, and e-mail marketing across a diverse array of clients, helping them to connect with their target audience through concise, compelling messaging. When she's not crafting copy, Elise enjoys working out, cooking, and spending time with her husband and two daughters.

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Amy DeYoung

Contributor

Amy DeYoung has a passion for educating and motivating homeowners to improve their lives through home improvement projects and preventative measures. She is a content writer and editor specializing in pest control, moving, window, and lawn/gardening content for Today’s Homeowner. Amy utilizes her own experience within the pest control and real estate industry to educate readers. She studied business, communications, and writing at Arizona State University.

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