Forest Home Designs for the Nature Lovers in Us

Living in the woods has its benefits. There is no city noise to wake you up at night, an infinite supply of clean, fresh air, and the relaxing sound of the trees dancing to the wind. For some people living in a forest is a harrowing concept. It can be difficult to imagine a life away from the modern conveniences of civilization. But for those of us who enjoy keeping our distance from all the noise and pollution, modern forest houses are perfect.

You have likely seen all manner of houses in the woods. We all know those old-fashioned cottages from horror films that look decrepit and run down. But modern woodhouses are nothing like this. They can be quite stylish and sleek thanks to a variety of design ideas you can implement. On the other hand, if you prefer more traditional designs you can always go for a rustic cottage or a quaint wooden cabin but with all the conveniences that modern technology offers.

Wraparound Deck 

Wraparound Decks Can Give You Some Peace of Mind

As much as many of us adore nature, we also enjoy the safety and convenience of our own homes. The wraparound porch combines the benefits of living in a forest, be it the fresh air, sunlight, or the relaxing sound of leaves and branches brushing against one another with the comforts of home.

You will not have to find a patch of relatively even ground to put your lawn chair and table on. Simply go outside to your wraparound deck and sit in the comfort of nature without having to stray too far from your home.

Contemporary Shapes and Forms

Backyards Can Provide Space for So Many Family Activities

Many homeowners who live in the woodlands or near a forest tend to go all out with their woodland house design. One problem that comes with living in a suburban neighborhood is that you do not always have the freedom to design your house exactly how you’d like. Many neighborhoods have community standards and restrictions for the local area to ensure that there is a homogenous style to the neighborhood’s architecture.

Forest house architecture gives you greater freedom in this regard. Woodhouses aren’t typically required to conform to a local architectural aesthetic since there are few to no other houses in the vicinity. Out of town, in some distant area out in the woodlands, you are sure to find a house that makes use of unique and unorthodox forms and shapes. These home designs would be unlikely to fly in many of the communities of a major city.

Picturesque Cottage

Prioritize Coziness and Comfort

When you think of an iconic forest home design the idea of a picturesque cottage is what comes to mind. It is that small hut that comes with all the comforts one could ask for; a little kitchen or cooking station, a place to wash up, and a soft, cozy bed to sleep in. And while these cottages are somewhat old-school they are still very popular with homeowners looking for a forest-dwelling that is as cozy as can be.

Complete with all the modern amenities, this small retreat is ideal for those homeowners looking for a little distance from the chaos of the city. Think of it as a little forest resort for yourself. It may not have the space to host huge parties but it does offer enough comfort for you and your loved ones to relax in.

Freeform Organic Landscaping

Surround Yourself With Nature, Plants, and Water

In a suburban area, the landscape is measured and divided to a tee. This does not give you much freedom to design the landscape into something unique. Sure there are ways to personalize almost any landscape, but they don’t hold a candle to what is possible in a woodland house.

If you have a little hill or even a few jagged boulders in your landscape, line the base of the boulder with stones burying some recessed lighting fixtures into the ground to brighten up the area. If there is a patch of wild grass around the house do not simply pave over it. Work with the natural imperfections of the landscape instead of working against them. By incorporating nature this way you create a more wholesome landscape that perfectly fits into the surrounding biome.

Plenty of Big Windows

Let Light Into Your House for Warmth

Whether it is the polluted air, noise, or some of the less pleasant smells, opening a window is not always an option when you live in a metropolis. But out in nature with all that fresh air and bright light, it is a great idea to include plenty of big windows in your forest house design.

Your woodland house can make use of natural light. Keep the windows open and let in as much of it as possible to brighten up your home and your life. Natural light is known to have lots of positive effects on your health and wellbeing, from reducing stress to giving you an extra dose of Vitamin D which keeps your skin and bones healthy. Having lots of big windows will ensure that you do not have a shortage of natural light energizing your life.

Seamless Transition into Nature

Blend With Nature for a Natural Feel of Your Home

Living near a forest doesn’t mean you should have a clear-cut border between your dwelling and the surrounding nature. While not having fences and gates around the house can seem a little too open for many homeowners at first, a seamless transition from an artificially built dwelling to the surrounding nature is pretty neat.

Even allowing the lawn to mix with the wild grassland that surrounds it is a great place to start. There are all kinds of great tricks to make your home more biophilic and these seamless transitions are among the easiest to implement.

Panoramic Greatroom

Panoramic Views Enrich Your Experience With Windows Into the Outer World

Great rooms combine the best of parts of several rooms into one complete package. With a fireplace, sofa, and plenty of other furniture, you can create a family room capable of hosting a wide assortment of activities. A great way to bring nature into the great room is to install a sweeping panoramic window that will allow you to see all the forest around your home.

Great rooms are perfect for a woodland house and create an atmosphere like no other. Just imagine sitting next to a crackling fireplace watching the trees sway with the wind while a symphony of wildlife sounds goes on in the background. You can have your room open up to a sprawling sea of trees much like those who own a waterfront home can get a prime view of the vast blue ocean.

Bright Sunroom

The Brighter, the Better

On a rainy day, it’s hard to appreciate the nature around you since you are stuck inside waiting for the storm to pass. But while you wait for the rain to stop, why not spend some time in the bright sunroom that you have set up to look directly out into the surrounding nature?

A sunroom is a great addition to a woodland home as it allows you to see your favorite nature visage without having to go outside into the rain. With all the necessary additions, such as heating and ventilation, you can spend countless hours in the sunroom appreciating the surrounding nature.

Vast, Open Landscape

Landscapes Are Perfect for Picnics and Outdoor Activities

A woodland house does not need to be as close to the forest as possible. If you wish to keep a bit of distance from nature and all the wild animals that dwell there you have the opportunity to create a huge landscape in your backyard.

This gives you plenty of breathing room and lots of open grasslands around the house. This is ideal for hosting cookouts, having a family picnic, or simply relaxing close to nature without having to trek through the uneven terrain of the forest.