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Home Beautiful
Home Beautiful
Lisa Easey

Naturally chic: Gorgeous decor crafted by hand from nature’s finest materials

Indoor-outdoor living may be a popular home design trend, but if you’re not ready for a full-scale renovation, there are simpler ways to bring the outdoors inside. Natural materials such as timber and rattan are timeless in home decor, and when paired with organic forms such as ceramics, they bring a grounded and inviting feel to any space.

There are plenty of ways to style natural homewares, but if you’re seeking inspiration, we’ve got a few tips to get you started – along with our pick of homewares to shop so you can get the look.

Three sets of patterned table cloths on a washing line.
A Blue Maisonette ‘Primavera’ cotton tablecloth (centre) in Sage and a Casa e Cucina ‘Pomegranate’ linen tablecloth in Orange (right) bring a lovely natural element to the table. (Photography: Kristina Soljo / Styling: Lucy Gough)

1. Set the table with ceramic

Entertaining is as much about creating an atmosphere as it is about serving up delicious food for your guests, and ceramic tableware adds a beautiful artisanal feel, making it truly special. Start by choosing your base, such as a linen tablecloth, and build from there.

A person holding a collection of wavy ceramic bowls.
Marmoset Found ‘Ruffle’ bowls in Chalk White and Snow White. (Photography: Kristina Soljo / Styling: Lucy Gough)

You can opt for a matching set of ceramic plates for a cohesive look, or mix and match different styles for a burst of personality. Layering plates is always a good choice, topped off with a linen napkin and napkin ring. Don’t forget to place a few vases with flowers along the table for added freshness.

A table setting with a blue floral plate and scalloped napkin.
A Blue Maisonette ‘Wish Me Luck’ dinner plate fits perfectly with casual or formal occasions. (Photography: Kristina Soljo / Styling: Lucy Gough)

2. Add a touch of texture with rattan

Rattan is always on trend and for good reason. Both durable and sustainable, it’s hard to resist the charm of rattan, not to mention the textural beauty of wicker weave homewares. While rattan is a natural fit for coastal and beach-style homes, it can complement almost any home aesthetic when used in moderation. Whether it’s a rattan armchair as an accent piece or rattan placemats adding a textural element to the table, it has a warm and organic appeal.

A rattan console with decorative vases and bowls on top.
For a similar cabinet, try the Living Fusion ‘Holly’ 3-door sideboard. (Photography: Kristina Soljo / Styling: Lucy Gough)

Other natural materials such as linen and timber always work well with rattan, and when placed among cool colour palettes, rattan offers a balancing warmth. In short, what’s not to love?

A scalloped rattan tray holding serving items.
A Blue Maisonette ‘Amari’ scalloped rattan tray adds warmth and texture. (Photography: Kristina Soljo / Styling: Lucy Gough)

3. Go natural in the kitchen

Styling your home doesn’t have to end when it comes to cleaning essentials. In fact, functional items such as a dish brush can enhance the look of your space with beauty and sustainability in mind. Natural materials such as timber and bamboo serve as excellent alternatives to plastic in the kitchen, while also evoking the allure and charm of the outdoors. As seen below, an antique-style dish rack and dish brush feature carved wooden handles that feel rustic and made to last.

An antique-style dish rack holding a collection of ceramic plates.
Kinfolk and Co natural dish brush paired with a Quality Products Direct antique look dish rack. (Photography: Kristina Soljo / Styling: Lucy Gough)

4. Embrace the warmth of timber

If you’re looking to foster a sense of connection with the outdoors, using timber is an absolute must. Durable, versatile and easy to maintain, timber effortlessly creates an inviting atmosphere in the home with its earthy warm tones. But as with everything, it’s best not to go overboard. Light and dark-toned wood can work with a few carefully chosen pieces, but can also be layered with ceramics and other homewares for a sense of cosiness and cohesion. As with the coat rack below, warm-toned ceramics paired with art adds the final stylish touch.

A timber coat rack with a landscape artwork and ceramic vessels on top.
A Woodyoubuy coat rack entryway organiser shelf is the ideal spot for ceramics and art. (Photography: Kristina Soljo / Styling: Lucy Gough)

Shop natural homewares

‘Pomegranate’ cotton tablecloth in Beige

$144, Casa e Cucina

Best for: Pattern play

Crafted by interior brand Chamois, this tablecloth blends European and Indian design influences, as seen in its elegant woodblock print. Made from cotton and available in five sizes, it’s impossible not to love with its delicate pomegranate pattern, ideal for curating a vibrant tablescape. Simply pair it with patterned napkins to complete the look.

Sizes: Small up to extra long

Colours: Orange, Blue and Beige

Material: Cotton

Key features:

  • Handprinted
  • Made from 100% cotton
  • Detailed pattern

‘Ruth M’ landscape sugar bowl

$48, Elevate Design

Best for: The perfect table topper

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, including this porcelain sugar bowl by Danish designer Anne Black. Designed in Copenhagen, the sugar bowl features a delicate landscape print and is offered in two stylish colour options – blue and brown. Inside, a cute printed quote reads, “I haven’t told my garden yet.” While ideal for sugar, this bowl can elegantly hold any small item.

Size: 9cm x 5cm

Colours: Blue and Brown

Material: Porcelain

Key features:

  • Fair Trade collaboration
  • Handmade
  • Dishwasher safe

‘Ruffle’ bowl in Chalk White

$152.50, Marmoset Found

Best for: An artistic statement

Like the waves of a gentle ocean break, this ceramic ‘Ruffle’ bowl by Marmoset Found has a fluid and captivating look. We love the three sizes that nest within each other alongside classic and playful colourways such as Chalk White and Icy Pink. It’s lovingly hand cast, and with gift wrap also available, we have a feeling you’ll love it too.

Sizes: Small, medium and large

Colours: Chalk White, Light Blue, Icy Pink and Snow White

Material: Ceramic

Key features:

  • Subtle waved shape
  • Made by hand
  • Classic neutral colours

‘Wish Me Luck’ dinner plate

$87, Blue Maisonette

Best for: Casual to formal entertaining

Elevate your table setting with this ceramic dinner plate by Blue Maisonette. Each plate is handcrafted in Portugal and painted by artisans with intricate blue flowers, ensuring it is unique. Use on your table settings for a glorious garden feel or as a timeless accent piece.

Size: 27cm

Colour: Blue

Materials: Ceramic and fully glazed

Key features:

  • Sold individually
  • Hand wash recommended
  • Handmade

‘Alston’ bud vase

$50, Kinfolk and Co

Best for: Handcrafted elegance

Handmade pottery is made to stand out, such as this vase from Kinfolk and Co with an unexpected shape and finish that will bring beauty to any space. Though petite, this vase is ideal for small flower arrangements, with a white spotted glaze for a charming, handcrafted look. Dishwasher-safe and water-tight, there’s much to love about this vase.

Size: 9.5cm x 7cm

Colour: Speckled gloss finish

Material: Handmade pottery

Key features:

  • Smooth finish
  • Locally sourced materials
  • Handcrafted in limited amounts

Embroidered scalloped linen napkin in Sky Blue

$106/set of 4, Blue Maisonette

Best for: Elevating your table setting

Looking for the perfect napkins? These napkins from Blue Maisonette add a subtle hint of colour to the table with a light blue shade and a lovely white embroidered trim which shows that beauty lies in the details. The set includes four linen napkins with soft scalloped edges. Just add a stylish napkin ring to finish your tablescape.

Size: 40cm x 40cm

Colours: Sky Blue and Amalfi

Material: 100% Linen

Key features:

  • Machine wash cold
  • Pair with Blue Maisonette napkin rings
  • Soft blue colouring

‘Tulip’ basket in Seashell Pink

$138.95, Olli Ella

Best for: Stylish storage

Whether used as a storage basket, toy holder or flower pot, this basket is made to add joy to the home. The handwoven rattan makes it a sturdy choice, enhanced by a metal base, while the seashell pink shade is soft and natural. Match with the Rattan Lily Basket set to put one in every room.

Sizes: Basket and carry basket

Colours: Seashell Pink and Buttercream

Material: Rattan

Key features:

  • Handwoven
  • Natural rattan
  • Available as carry basket

‘Palm Cove’ towel in Burgundy

$99.95, Mayde

Best for: Comfort and softness

The ‘Palm Cove’ towel is a delightful blend of linen and cotton for a luxuriously soft feel. The towel also doubles as a picnic blanket or throw with a classic stripe design in burgundy that will look beautiful whether at home or outdoors. Not to mention the tassels add a tactile and decorative touch.

Size: 100cm x 180cm

Colour: Burgundy

Materials: Natural cotton and linen

Key features:

  • Made in Turkey
  • 50% cotton and 50% linen
  • 380g

Natural dish brush

$24, Kinfolk and Co

Best for: Sustainable and natural cleaning

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly dish brush, this one from Kinfolk and Co is handmade from beechwood with natural bristles that will effortlessly tackle your dishes. Whether hard plates or delicate ceramics, the bristles can handle a variety of wares, complemented by a wooden handle for a comfortable grip.

Size: 5cm brush head with 23cm handle length

Materials: Tampico fibre and beechwood

Key features:

  • Made in Germany
  • Hard-wearing
  • Hanging loop on end

‘Holly’ 3-door sideboard

$299, Living Fusion

Best for: A dose of organic texture

The ‘Holly’ sideboard is the definition of natural elegance, with rattan panel doors, oak wood legs and a mid-century design with plenty of storage space. The rattan makes it an ideal centerpiece for a living room or a perfect addition to the bedroom for an added textural element. Enhance its natural appeal by placing a few ceramic vases on top.

Size: 73cm x 140cm x 40cm

Materials: Rattan, particleboard and oak wood 

Key features:

  • Sturdy design
  • Shelving included inside
  • Natural rattan panels

This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.

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