Bringing the Outdoors In During the Winter Months
By Jennifer Brush
Recently my husband and I designed and built a new home. The main focus of design was to create a house that was connected to nature. We wanted to feel outside when we were inside, to have forest views from every room, and to feel truly in nature throughout all of the spaces. The color choices and the furnishing we chose all reflect natural materials. We live in the woods, so of course, it made our task much easier.
But what if you don’t live in the woods? What if you live in a city or have just a few small windows? What if your space is confined mainly to one room or a bed? There are many challenges that can make it more difficult to connect to nature, but here are some suggestions that you might be able to try.
1. Create Seasonal Displays
Arrange moss, pinecones, acorns, leaves, ferns, stones, sea glass, driftwood, leaves, feathers, and other small items on tables, or in bowls, trays or baskets. On my recent trip to Finland, one care home displayed local edible mushrooms, apples and berries that were in season.
Care For Plants & Herbs Indoors
Fill the room with many live plants of different colors and textures. Try growing an herb garden on a window sill. Caring for indoor plants can be a meaningful role for someone who enjoys gardening.
Be Creative With Paint Colors
Paint the ceiling of a room sky blue and the walls sunny yellow.
Create Living Wall Art
Make living wall art with preserved moss.
Create Bird Watching Areas
Attach bird feeders with suction cups to the windows. You can create a bird watching table complete with a large print book of backyard birds and binoculars. Filling the bird feeders can be a meaningful role for someone who enjoys birdwatching.
Hang Mobiles
Hang a mobile featuring birds or butterflies from the ceiling.
Install a Mural
Install a large mural of trees or flowers on one wall. Search for wallpaper mural on the internet and you’ll find hundreds of options.
Listen to Sounds of Nature
Play music of nature sounds such as waves, birds, birds, or the wind through the trees.
Add a Water Feature
Add a water feature like a fountain or aquarium.
Stimulate the Sense of Smell
Use diffusers or aromatics in natural scents like pine, eucalyptus, citrus, oregano, lavender or lilac.
From Payal Thatte
A Montessori Elder Care Practitioner Certification student in Uttar Pradesh, India
I have found the idea of bringing the outdoors in to be truly meaningful, as no one in a care setting should miss out on the richness of life’s experiences. Nature has a beautiful way of lifting spirits and stirring memories, and creating these moments indoors can bring comfort and joy. Some gentle ways that I could think of include the below:
1. Nature-inspired cooking sessions: One can invite the elders to join in making cozy winter treats like hot chocolate, or cinnamon rolls. The scents and warmth of these simple foods evoke memories of gathering around a warm kitchen.
2. Seasonal recipe book: One can encourage elders to share their cherished winter recipes or maybe memories also. Compiling these stories into a recipe book is a beautiful way to honor their past and keep traditions alive.
3. Portable window garden: Small, movable window gardens with plants and winter flowers to bring nature indoors.
4. Pressed flower and leaf art: Help elders create pressed flower or leaf collages.The creations can be framed and displayed. These creations brings color and life into the room, and each piece will become a memory to cherish.
5. Nature journaling: For those who love to reminisce, a nature journaling activity can be set up where elders can reflect on their favorite winter memories. Gentle prompts can help spark their creativity, creating a moment of quiet reflection.
These small touches can mean so much, bringing a bit of the outside world in and filling the space with warmth, beauty, and a shared sense of wonder.
Thank you, Payal, for sharing your ideas and photos with us!
