Going organic isn’t just for food anymore. Now it’s for your whole home, too! Of all the design trends that have come + gone, the organic modern design trend may be my favorite. Striking the perfect balance of clean lines, neutrals + a bit of minimalism with the coziness of natural elements like wood, stone, cotton, linen + wool, organic modern design is as good for our health as it is for our visual senses.
Why is it better for our health? Organic modern design moves away from synthetic materials like polyester, pressed wood + plastic furniture that can contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde + VOCs. And instead moves toward natural wood + sustainable natural textiles like linen + wool which, if manufactured correctly, contain minimal amount of those harmful items + leads to improved indoor air quality. Organic modern design can also help create a space that lowers stress + anger levels by promoting a feeling of calmness (research article on Biophilic Indoor Environment on Stress + Anxiety Recovery). We can all use lowered stress levels in our lives these days!
So what are the elements of organic modern design + how can they be incorporated into your home? Let’s explore…
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Natural Furnishings + Textiles
Organic modern design has a heavy focus on incorporating more of the natural world into our homes. Things like wood tables + flooring (the kind that shows the grain), cotton, linen + wool fabrics also allow the home to feel more natural + airy. To get the most out of these items from nature, look for labels that denote sustainable products, especially ones with an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for wood. This means the wood comes from responsibly managed forests. For sustainable textiles, look for the GOTS label (Global Organic Textile Standard) + OEKO-TEX label which means they are safe from harmful chemicals.
How can you incorporate these items into your home? A natural wood coffee, end or console table; throw pillows made from organic cotton or linen are an easy + relatively inexpensive way to freshen up your space; area rugs in sisal or wool create a natural but sophisticated look (especially when layered).
If you’re in the market for a bigger purchase, like a sofa, choose one that is made with kiln-dried wood, has flame retardant-free foam cushions + uses a sustainable fabric like cotton and/or linen. For homes with young children a cotton slipcovered sofa is the best easy to care for (i.e. WASHABLE) option. On a budget? Though we typically think of IKEA as fast furniture they have been making great strides to use less chemicals + more recycled materials in their products.
Health Benefits
So what are the health benefits to using natural products + finishes? Lowered toxin levels in the home + improved indoor air quality. We think about outdoor air pollution but often overlook the importance of indoor air quality. Off-gassing of glues, varnishes, paints + synthetic materials can be just as harmful as vehicle exhaust + factory pollution is to our outdoor air (EWG: Chemicals in Everyday Products Rival Cars as Source of Air Pollution). If you can’t afford a high efficiency HEPA air filter for the home, limiting toxic materials coming into the home is a great place to start.
Neutral Colors…But Also Contrast
When we think organic chances are a lot of earthy colors come to mind like browns + greens. But there are so many more colors in nature…soft beige colors like sand, or calming blues of the ocean + a whole range of colors on the nature inspired spectrum. The trick here is to keep the softer tones as the overall base color in a space then accent with some deeper + bolder colors. For example, having the walls painted a soft white or light beige color provides a wonderful neutral base to work off of, then add in dark green or charcoal pillows or dark stone lamps.
From there you can layer in some contrast with dark browns or even black…greens ranging from sage to olive to forest…blues ranging from a soft sky blue to a deeper indigo. In the end you will have created your own natural oasis.
Minimal Decor
While nature has some spectacular decor of its own like fields of flowers + beautifully colored birds, it’s not decorated with table runners, cheeky word signs or cluttered fireplace mantels. When it comes to decorating our homes, less is ultimately more. There’s more space both visually + physically, more money (not being spent on things that won’t be in style in a year or so) + improved health because less “stuff” means less dust collecting.
And it is always possible to make your everyday items be a little more organic. Try using seagrass or wicker bins for storage instead of plastic ones. Cut geodes make great bookends. Leather or wood trays are a great way to display some books + a natural beeswax candle (instead of a chemical filled, brightly colored paraffin one). The goal is to make the space feel cozy but not overstuffed. Want to bring even more character into your home? Avoid too many big box stores for all your decor + look to purchase some local artisan items or even scour places like Etsy or Chairish for some handmade, vintage + native one-of-a-kind goods.
Don’t forget to add some plants! Not only do some of them help to clean the air (like snake, spider + ZZ plants) but honestly, what is nature without plants?!
Cozy Layering + Clean Lines
Despite its emphasis on minimalism + clean lines, organic modern design also focuses on coziness. A combination of rough edged, raw wood or even visible wood grain can lend some serious warmth to a stark-white room with clean lines. A plush wool rug over a rough sisal one creates depth + comfort. Textured stone lamps on a smooth end table provide the right amount of textural contrast. Anything with texture can add an incredible amount of coziness to a plain space.
In general, opt for furniture that has clean lines rather than a lot of detailed woodwork in the legs or arms. They don’t have to be super straight like in mid-century modern furnishings, there can be some curves, but avoid too many pieces with intricate details.
Lived-In, Laid-Back but Stylish
Ultimately, the final product of an organic modern design is to create a space that is comfortable + invokes a sense of connection with nature. Organic modern design is relaxed + stylish, not stuffy + ornate + it creates a sense of calm when entering the space. Need some inspiration? Here is a mock up of pieces I would put in an organic modern living room.
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