The benefits of nature are well-documented, both on a psychological and physical level.

Sometimes, though, we simply don't get the chance to spend as much time out in nature as we'd like to. One of addressing this is to find ways of bringing nature inside. We know of the familiar ideas such as indoor-friendly plants and timber, but there are other more daring and inventive measures that can be taken. In today's blog, we look at five fantastic ways of making the inside of your home more connected with nature - be it in the literal or figurative sense.

1. An aquarium for your bed

It's always important that your bedroom facilitate a calming environment that will serve to help you relax and fall asleep. For many, watching the waves roll in or observing sea life can have a sort of hypnotic, relaxing effect. So if you've thought of having an aquarium in your room to produce a sense of calm, why not opt for an aquarium frame for the head of your bed? Granted, there may be some time of adjustment (getting used to the sights and sounds), but we assume the lights can be dimmed/turned off for a good night's sleep.

2. Indoor treehouse

With the increased presence of high-density living conditions, many families have to forego the luxury of a front and/or backyard for the sake of simply having a place to rest their heads at night. But just because you live in a unit and/or apartment complex doesn't mean your kids have to go without a treehouse. Of course, such a process may be tougher if you don't own the unit/apartment room due to rental restrictions, but it is possible to have that much-loved childhood abode on the inside of your larger family abode. 

You can read more about some outdoor treehouse ideas here.

3. A greater, connected view

There are certain restrictions when it comes to what can be put inside the average house or apartment. For example, unless you have some of the highest ceilings in the world that could allow clouds to actually form, planting a tree inside probably won't work. Furthermore, doing so would require you to account for its root system, water damage, and more.

So sometimes that means you may need to focus on changes that will allow your home to feel more natural without nature literally making its way inside. The best way of doing this is through having sections in your home that look out at nature in a more substantial way. If you couple that view with a connection between the indoor and outdoor space, you can create near seamless transitions between both areas - that way, your outdoor space feels more like an extension of your interior space, not a completely separate entity.

When we talk about a greater view, we mean the potential of floor to ceiling glass walls or even making a panoramic viewing space. That said, only do this if the view is worth the money necessary for making such changes.

4. Forest lighting

Sometimes, the sense of nature has nothing to do with nature itself, but rather an item that paints an image of nature. That may not make sense on its own, but we think you'll understand what we mean when you look at this...

This light is the creation of Danish duo Hilden & Diaz (as per the website noted in the image) and, as you can see, when turned on it creates a shadowed forest around the room. It certainly has an enchanting effect to it, but it also creates a powerful sense of nature that's perfect for those who love forest walks or just the sense of serenity nature brings to a place. If you're interested in purchasing this light, you can find out more via their Forms in Nature Facebook page.

5. Glass flooring 

Now, glass flooring on its own isn't exactly that evocative of nature, but when installed in combination with other materials, it can create something very unique. For example, you could place somesand under a section of glass flooring to remind you of the beach. Coupling this with some inside-friendly tropical plants can really help you in achieving a specific nature theme.

Alternatively, if your home is actually situated above an interesting slice of nature (e.g. a creek running below an elevated part of the home), you could replace a segment of floor with glass so you can look down and see the creek at any time. This isn't unlike travelling in a mountain gondola with a section of glass flooring that shows off the landscape as you travel above it.

Have you taken unique steps in bringing nature inside your home? We'd love for you to share them with us in the comments below.