We don’t have to convince our readers that time spent in nature is time well spent. Many of us build in nature-play to our weekly schedules, especially during this time of year. Sandy beaches and salty waves, canopied hikes, late-night strolls, rocky riverbanks, meadowed picnic outings… Summer was made for these. But in the flurry of getting out, let us not forget the most impactful open air space in your world: the one you call home.

A moment connecting with nature can trigger a cascade of wonderful systems in the body. As this topic grabs researcher’s fascination, the data rolling in is overwhelmingly positive. Effects like psychological well-being, elevation of mood, lower blood pressure, decrease in cortisol levels, improved sleep, strengthened immune system, and even things like community cohesion, and plummeting crime rates. The benefits extend even further for growing and developing children. It doesn’t stop at physical science either, equally there is a spiritual advantage to communing with nature. People report feelings of oneness and deep gratitude, resounding healing, spontaneous downloads, and an ability to tune-in with themselves and the Universe at large.

So it makes sense to invest in a space at home, your private access to clarity, immunity, heightened intuition, and an overall sense of wellness. With those principles in mind, eNourish is here to help guide you along the way to creating an outdoor oasis personalized just for you and your needs. Whether you’re working with a compact balcony, a backyard patio, or a sprawling expanse of property, you can apply these concepts for a guaranteed upgrade. Enhancing your living space by extending it to the great outdoors invites the elements to play and co-create with you. Let us make a comfy environment to welcome them.

To begin, a moment of contemplation. How can this space best serve you? What environments, activities, and aesthetics bring you a sense of serenity and centeredness? Who, if anyone, will be sharing the space with you. This is our north star.

With that in mind, we move forward to design a balanced environment where our inhibitions and mind chatter can melt away, leaving us to convene only with our highest self and the network in which we are of and operate from, the super conscious. How better to achieve equilibrium than through the four elements?

EARTH

Universally, the most solid way to build is from the foundation up. Flooring is a three birds, one stone kind of tool. Using a mixture of materials and textures for your base helps define different zones in your yard. For example, differentiating a place of meditation and contemplation from one of socialization and dining. Hard materials like tiles, stone, and wooden decking serve well as stability for furniture. Layer several compatible options for an individualized aesthetic. Use sand, pebbles, wood chips, and mulch beside hard slabs. Cover with outdoor rugs to infuse the space with color and coziness.

Imbue your surroundings with the lushness factor. This space is to marinate in Mother Nature after all. Plants, plants, plants! Blend towering trees with puffy shrubs beside swelling blossoms. Swim in a sea of living greens, sweetening the air that transmutes into life force. Stagger plants using stands, shelves, and hangers to play with a variety of heights and depths. Large leafed vegetation, as well as hedges and tall potted plants, can function as a privacy shield from neighbors or eyesores. Privacy gifts us a feeling of protection that then, and only then, makes space for true and complete relaxation.

* Screens and outdoor curtains also are a great option to create a safe sense of enclosure. Play with colors and textiles as a fun way to inspire a pop of personality.

FIRE

The brightest and most unavoidable component of the wilderness, our nourishing star, will be a focal point when planning for any outdoor space. Consider the sun and which kind of person you are: one who rises with him, or one who sets with him. Then if you have the room to design a viewing area pointed in that direction, do so. Use reflective balls, suncatchers, or mirrors to amplify the elemental power!

A fire pit is a centerpiece of comfort and a beacon to gather. It strengthens the fire element with passion and draws people close in the darkness, offering warmth and light. It keeps your outdoor oasis alive once night falls.

Lighting is key to cultivating an inviting ambiance. Using a fusion of several sources awakens an enchanting aura. Candles, hanging lanterns, sconces, festoons, fairy lights, solar lamps, tiki torches; Lighting is the ultimate mood setter. The element of fire extends the utility of your outside living quarters long after the sun goes down.

*remember to illuminate steps and walkways for safety!

AIR

The element air is intrinsic to the components in which we cannot tangibly grasp but those in which surround us wholly and resonate inwardly.

Think, airflow and open spaces. Being crammed in a cluttered area, no matter how stylish, will not give you the room to soften, connect within, and let go. Allow your surroundings to breathe and the energy to flow through.

Bring in aspects to dance with the air element. Hang windchimes which will sing duets with the breeze and break up any energetical stagnancy in your mind and your surroundings. Use ornamental grasses which sway in the wind and remind you too, to be rooted yet flexible. Plant aromatic flora like jasmine, lavender, wisteria, honeysuckle, and citruses which will sweeten the air on which it drifts. Install birdhouses and feeders to invite in a chorus of trill bird songs and admire the creatures, masters of air, as the flit from place to place before soaring far away. Place windmills or pinwheels to welcome in movement.

Be sure to have a spot to take shade from the sun and refuge in the breeze. If space permits, pergolas or arbors are lovely options in which you can easily incorporate fast growing climbers into your outside retreat. Shade cloths, umbrellas, and awnings are a few other ideas in welcoming shade and making a space to savour the passing breeze.

WATER

Embrace the rejuvenating properties of the water element in a variety of features. With water, the foliage we have integrated into the entire area flourishes. Without it, the environment we crafted will shrivel and drift away, taking all life with it. Water is the juice of life.

Consider installing water pieces such as a reflection pond, a coy pond, a fountain of any size, or a bird bath. These add to the tranquility of your backyard sanctuary and serve as a point of meditation. Focusing on the whirling movement of water can purify the mind. Like the fluidity of the element, so is our state of being. Ever changing, in constant flux.

Representing another facet of the energy of water, connect sprinklers to jump and twirl in on a hot day. Build a pool or a jacuzzi to drift and kick your weightless body about. Harnessing these aspects of water honors the vitality and buoyancy that the element nurtures within all of us.

Another way to appreciate and apply this element into your design is to dedicate a space for hydration! An outdoor bar cart should do the trick. Stock with pitchers, cups, and ice to conveniently quench thirst. Both you and guests alike will be grateful for the thoughtful addition.

The rest of the work

is saturating the outdoor living area with your individual style. It’s arguably the most fun part, that asks you to play with aesthetic and personal expression. It’s the love that you infuse so that when you walk in, you immediately feel at home, and when others walk in, they feel exactly who’s space they are occupying.

“Elements” to add here would be:

Comfort, comfort, comfort! Plush seating and pillows, conveniently placed tables and stools, swings or hammocks to lounge about in. If it often gets chilly where you live, store throw blankets in a dry but quickly accessible place. Use fabrics that are weather resistant and easily washable for longevity’s sake.

Self expression! Merge copious textiles and textures together till you achieve just the right quality. Add color, spice, character. Add statement pieces like sculptures or a mural. Strategically place subtle art that just barely inspires your attention. Accessorize with fence hangings and patio decor. Bring in activities that you love like an outdoor projector, a bocce ball set, or an easel. Assemble an outdoor altar adorned with nature’s gifts.

Bask in your creativity and efforts. Relish in your vision come to fruition. And enjoy the sanctuary that you have birthed for yourself. Tune in instead of zone out.