Beyond the Walls: How Your Outside Space Can Shape Your Home
- Maria Bowers
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
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When we think about design, our minds usually jump straight to the inside — the paint on the walls, the furniture we choose, the rugs we roll out, the lighting we install. These are the elements we can touch, move, and layer.
But your home’s design doesn’t stop at the walls.
What’s happening outside your windows — whether it’s a lush backyard, a row of potted herbs, or even a colorful planter on a balcony — has just as much power to influence the way your home feels inside. The view you wake up to in the morning, the light that shifts throughout the day, and the colors and textures of each season all set the tone for your interiors.
When you start to see your outside space as part of your home, it becomes more than just “landscaping.” It turns into a design tool.
Why the Outside Matters to the Inside
Think about the last time you stayed somewhere with a beautiful view. Maybe it was a mountain cabin, a beach house, or even just a hotel room overlooking trees instead of a parking lot. That view changed how the space felt, didn’t it? Suddenly the room seemed calmer, cozier, or more inspiring — even if the furniture inside was nothing special.
The same principle applies at home. Our outdoor spaces are constantly “decorating” for us. The wind moves through branches, shadows dance across the floor, the sunlight warms up in the evening, and with each season comes a completely new palette. Nature gives us built-in, ever-changing design inspiration.
In my own home, I see this play out every spring and summer. My raised garden beds start overflowing — basil shoots up in vibrant green, tomatoes deepen into ruby red, and zinnias explode into shades of pink, orange, and yellow. Without even realizing it, the inside shifts to match. Fresh flowers feel right on the table, and I find myself pulling out colorful serving dishes. Even a bowl of fresh tomatoes or peppers on the counter feels like intentional decor.
This is the magic of connecting the outside with the inside: your interiors feel more alive, more seasonal, and more personal.
A Designer’s Approach to Blending Indoors and Out
When I’m working on a project — whether it’s my own home or a client’s — I always consider what’s happening outside the windows. Here are three ways I weave the two together:
1. Frame the View
I like to think of windows as free pieces of art. The trim, drapes, and furniture placement create the “frame,” while the art itself is the garden beyond. If you’re lucky enough to have a beautiful tree, flowering shrub, or even just a colorful container in sight, position your furniture so people can enjoy that.
And if the view isn’t perfect? Edit it. Add a trellis with climbing roses, plant tall grasses to soften a fence, or tuck in a big pot of flowers where your eyes naturally land. It doesn’t take much to turn an ordinary sightline into something beautiful.
2. Connect the Color Palettes
Your outdoor colors can guide what you choose indoors. A garden filled with green foliage pairs beautifully with earthy neutrals, soft blues, and natural woods inside. A yard bursting with summer flowers — pinks, yellows, purples — gives you permission to bring those shades into your pillows, artwork, or table linens.
And here’s the best part: your palette changes seasonally. In fall, when the leaves warm up, you can layer in richer tones inside. In winter, you might lean into cozy creams and textures to balance the quieter landscape. It’s an effortless way to keep your home feeling fresh and in sync with nature.
3. Think About Nighttime, Too
We often forget that the garden still has a presence after dark. With a little lighting, your outdoor space can glow in a way that completely transforms your interior.
Picture sitting at your dining table and looking out to see softly lit trees or lanterns on the patio — it expands the room, makes the evening feel inviting, and blurs the line between indoors and outdoors. Keep in mind though to have the lights turned off early to not disrupt night pollinators.
Bring the outdoors in:
You don’t need a sprawling garden to make any of this work. Even small adjustments can make a big difference. Here are a few easy ideas to try:
Reposition your seating. Angle a favorite chair toward a window with a view of greenery or flowers. Even a small shift in furniture can change your daily experience.
Hide what you don’t love. If your window faces a less-than-perfect view, use tall planters, trellises, or even sheer curtains to soften it without blocking the light.
Bring the outside colors inside. Display seasonal flowers in a vase, keep a bowl of fresh vegetables on the counter, or repeat your outdoor hues in throw pillows or decor pieces.
Work with what you have. If you live in an apartment or have limited outdoor space, window boxes, hanging baskets, or a single planter of herbs can still create that connection.
The goal isn’t to replicate the exact colors and textures from your garden indoors. It’s about echoing the feeling — freshness, vibrancy, warmth — so your home feels connected to the world just beyond its walls.
In the Garden This Month
Right now in late summer, my own garden is filled with bold blooms and overflowing vegetables. Dahlias, zinnias, and sunflowers are still going strong, while tomatoes and zucchini are making their way from the beds to the kitchen table.
This is the season where the garden practically demands to be part of your interior design. A vase of cut flowers in the entryway, a bowl of ripe tomatoes on the counter, or even just the view of tall sunflowers from your kitchen sink can shift the whole energy of your space.
Just as the colors and textures of the outdoors shape the way we decorate our homes, they also shape how we feel in them. Surrounding ourselves with greenery, fresh blooms, or even a small kitchen garden doesn’t just add beauty—it quietly nurtures our minds, helping us feel calmer, more grounded, and more at ease
Before you rearrange furniture or head out shopping for new decor, take a moment to look outside. What’s happening in your yard — the colors, the light, the textures — might be the exact inspiration you need inside.
At the end of the day, the connection between outside and inside goes far beyond color palettes or seasonal décor—it reaches into how we feel within our own walls. Incorporating plants in home décor, a vase of fresh flowers, or even a small kitchen garden is more than a style choice—it’s a form of biophilic design that supports both beauty and well-being. These natural touches invite calm, spark joy, and remind us daily to slow down and connect. When we bring the outdoors in, we’re not only creating a more calming home design but also nurturing a healthier, more mindful state of mind.
Until next time,
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