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20+ Ways to Get Your Nature Fix Indoors

Are you looking for ways to get a nature fix indoors? Check out this list of how to bring the great outdoors into the comforts of home.

Are you looking for ways to get a nature fix indoors? Check out this comprehensive list of how to bring the great outdoors into the comforts of home.

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Do you love spending time outdoors in nature? I definitely do. And, since you landed on this blog post, I’m going to assume you do too. When I’m at home in my house, sometimes I miss my nature fix that being outdoors provides, especially in those months when the weather doesn’t lend itself to getting outside much.

In this blog post, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list with a bunch of ways you can bring the outdoors inside, so you can continue to get your ever-so-important nature fix in your home on a daily basis.


How to Bring Nature into Your House

1. Start an Indoor Herb Garden

Herbs are super easy to grow and don’t require much work. Most herbs do best with direct light, so if you plant them in small containers you can move them around your house depending on how much sun they need.

2. Place Potted Plants throughout Your House

A lot of plants do well indoors, and having some greenery in your house is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get your nature fix indoors. Depending on where you’ll place them, choose plants that thrive with the amount of light they’ll get. Look for plants that are low-maintenance and adaptable. For an extra dose of the outdoors, get plants that are known for air-purifying, like a pothos, snake plant, or peace lily.

Potted plants sit on a window sill inside

3. Decorate with Nature Scenes

Studies show that just looking at nature can improve brain function and induce a more positive mental state. So, start integrating more nature scenes into your decor. Hang photos and paintings of natural scenes and make time throughout your day to look at them, instead of just walking by. Don’t have your own photos? You can download free nature photos from stock sites like Unsplash and Pixabay.

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    4. Organize & Edit Your Outdoor Photos

    …and then hang them on your walls! Having downtime at home is a great opportunity to look back through old photos from trips you’ve taken and the adventures you’ve embarked on. I suggest organizing photos by location and year (I have a separate folder for each month or trip and I title it as such: 2019_09_Colorado). Then, edit them if needed, and get some printed. Place them in corners throughout your house to bring nature into your house.

    Editing your photos from your past travels is a great way to get a nature fix when you are stuck inside.

    5. Let Fresh Air In

    Open the blinds and windows and let the fresh air circulate through your house for the ultimate nature fix. This is a simple one that can make a big difference. Let the natural light in and take a moment to breathe the fresh air (even if it’s cold outside).

    6. Learn about Wild Plants & Medicinal Herbs

    Studying wild plants and plant medicines is a nice way to feel close to nature even when you’re indoors. It’s something I’m getting more interested in, as I am researching ways to boost my natural immune system.

    Learn about the types of herbs you’d like to grow for your herb garden and start to study them more closely. Start small, and then let your studies grow from there. That way, next time you’re out on a hike you’ll be able to identify plants you encounter. Here are some resources I’d recommend to jumpstart your studies:

    Shop Wild Edibles: A Practical Guide to Foraging at:

    Shop Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide at:

    7. Get Up to Speed on Public Land Issues

    What better time than now to research what’s going on in your favorite places? Here is a list of some of our favorite environmental non-profits that you can learn from.

    8. Plan Your Next Trip

    This one’s a no brainer – you’re probably thinking about all of the places you want to be visiting right now. Bust out the map and study it! Maybe there are some places you hadn’t thought of visiting. Our travel blog destinations page is a great place to start to plan your next adventure!

    9. Get Your Nature Fix with Wildlife Webcams

    One easy and fun way to get a real life nature fix in your home is to leave wildlife webcams playing on the TV. It’s great for kids, and you’ll definitely learn a few things too.

    Some of my personal favorites are the American Eagle Foundation’s webcam in the nest of bald eagles (yep, in the nest!) and The National Park Service webcams. You can even tweet in questions and they’ll answer them live. These are great activities for kids when you’re stuck indoors and the ultimate way to bring nature into your house.

    Get your indoor nature fix by watching nature webcams.

    Photo source: National Park Service

    10. Camp Indoors or in Your Backyard

    Another great one for kids. Set up some string lights and create a starry night sky scene in your living room. If you’ve got a backyard, even better. Camping doesn’t have to be in a majestic place; sleeping outdoors under the night sky can be just as enjoyable in your own backyard. Make s’mores in your kitchen for the complete camping experience.

    11. Study & Identify the Birds

    Birding is a really simple way to bring us closer to nature. By sitting and observing birds in your neighborhood, you get the opportunity to be more in tune with nature without even leaving your house. Having a handy pair of birding binoculars is helpful in identification as well as a North America bird pocket guide.

    Shop Nocs Provisions Binoculars at:

    12. Hang a Hammock

    Inside or outside. I bought this hammock a few years ago when I lived in an apartment and had a small balcony. The stand (which breaks down) makes this hammock super portable and can be easily set up inside your house for that lazy afternoon nap.

    Shop Vivere UHSDO9-24 Hammock at:

    13. Learn Wilderness Survival Skills & Brush Up On Leave No Trace

    Study up and hone your skills for when you’re back outside and doing things you love. Our blog has hundreds of resources to help you learn more.

    14. Start Training for Hiking

    Ok, so this isn’t really a nature fix, but it will ensure you’re prepared to hit the trail as soon as you get the opportunity. If you’re used to staying active outdoors, you can still keep moving and get the physical benefits by exercising indoors. Check out our blog post for tips on how to train for hiking and backpacking.

    Learn ways to stay active at home so you are prepared to get on the trail

    15. Listen to Nature Sounds

    Bring nature into your house by listening to nature sounds or nature-based meditations. The Insight Timer app is a popular one for guided meditations. Just listening to nature can be really soothing and help declutter your mind.

    16. Slow Down with a Nature Puzzle

    Pick out an outdoorsy puzzle and spend some time building it. Puzzles are a good time to practice mindfulness and can be fun for the whole family.

    17. Study Maps & Practice Using a Compass

    Compass reading is critical to backcountry navigation, and it could mean the difference between surviving, or not. Use some free time to learn how to read topographic maps, if you don’t know already, and practice using a compass.

    18. Breathe in the Smells of Nature with Aromatherapy

    You might not be able to walk through a cedar forest right now, but you can still breathe in the cedar smells with essential oils. An aromatherapy diffuser is a soothing way to bring nature into your house. Take your pick of scents and breathe deeply. Plus, they can help you feel calm or energized – whatever you need.

    19. Get Crafty

    Now’s the perfect time to start (or finish) those craft projects you’ve been wanting to do for a long time. For example, consider making terrariums and hanging them throughout your house for a beautiful way to bring nature into your home. And, if you’re into coloring, check out this National Parks Coloring Book.

    20. Read an Adventure Book

    Use the power of your imagination and get stoked by reading books about the outdoor lifestyle.

    A list of 12 of the best adventure books and inspiring books about the outdoors for anyone who wants a little more adventure in their everyday life.

    21. Watch an Outdoor Enthusiast’s Movie

    This is one of my favorite ways to get my nature fix when I’m stuck indoors. Movies and documentaries are a great way to find outdoor inspiration and learn.

    22. Bring Nature Into Your House with Outdoorsy Podcasts

    Podcasts are awesome, especially in a time like this where you may be feeling isolated with fewer social encounters. Listening to a podcast about things you enjoy can feel like you’ve got a community around you. Here are some of our favorites: She Explores: Women in the Outdoors, Dirtbag Diaries, Adventure Bound, and Outlandish. Here are some more of our favorites outdoor podcasts.

    23. Take an online Leave No Trace course

    Want to have a better understanding of the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace? We have some resources here, and to further your knowledge, you can take an official online Leave No Trace course.

    23. Make a Dutch Oven Meal

    If you’re craving a tasty camp meal, consider bringing your dutch oven into your kitchen. My friends over at Fresh Off The Grid have tons of amazing camp recipes that you can practice at home, so you can become the ultimate camp chef when you are back on the road.

    I hope this list inspired you to integrate what you love about being outside into your life at home. What are your favorite ways to bring nature into your house? Give us some ideas in the comments below.

    Bearfoot Theory | Looking to get your nature fix even when you're stuck indoors? Our latest blog post has got you covered! Discover practical and easy tips for bringing the great outdoors inside from incorporating natural elements into your decor to creating your very own indoor garden. Whether you live in a city apartment or a suburban home, these ideas will help you create a peaceful and rejuvenating space that will nourish your soul and reconnect you with nature.

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    3 Comments

    1. Great outdoor book – One Man’s Wilderness. The audiobook is even better. It is about the man who lived off the grid in Alaska for 9 months (which, spoiler alert… he survives and stays for another 20+ years). Amazing book.

    2. Please give me suggestions for photo editing sites. Also sites to create photo hardcover books. I’m very computer illiterate.

      1. Hi Gisele, Lightroom is our preferred editing software, and Artifact Uprising and Google Photos are two places to look for easy photo books.