Forestcore: What is it and how can you apply it?

Interior aesthetics are forever changing. New trends come and go, words we’ve never heard of before suddenly become a big part of our vocabulary, like hygge and greige.

Welcome to 2023’s newest trend: forestcore.

With over 345,000 uses of #forestcore on Instagram and 275 million views on TikTok, the growing forestcore aesthetic is quickly becoming a go-to for interior design, but what are the best ways of recreating it? And can an aesthetic like forestcore affect our mood?

Incorporating the beauty of nature into a home not only creates a stunning environment, but it can also improve a mindset. In fact, searches for ‘calming interiors’ are up by 50% since last year, prompting carpet and flooring specialists Tapi to team up with psychologist Dennis Relojo-Howell to explore just how forestcore can be a gamechanger for home decor.

Blending mossy greens, foliage and wood textures with intricate design details, earthy colour palettes and idyllic lighting is the key to creating a still, calm and relaxing home, and Tapi has shared four essential tips on how to achieve the look, as well as advice on how each can have a positive impact on a mood.

Tips and expertise from Johanna Constantinou, Brand and Communications Director at Tapi, and Dennis Relojo-Howell, Managing Director of Psychreg.

1. Use earthy colours

To achieve the ultimate forestcore theme, start with an earth colour palette. This could include sage, brown, beige, olive and eucalyptus paired with herbaceous greens.

Joanna says: “The trend is a nod to our natural surroundings and can be used in all rooms of the home. For bedrooms, having a touch of green and outside can be beneficial in helping you wind down before the end of the day. In bathrooms, it can help to create a calming atmosphere, perfect for when you want to relax during a bath.”

Dennis explains: “The gentle and soothing shades of greens, browns, and greys, often found in nature’s earth colour palette, can bring tranquillity to the mind. These colours create a harmonious environment that calms the senses and promotes feelings of balance and renewal. Surrounding ourselves with these hues allows us to connect with the natural world, fostering serenity and well-being.”

2. Introduce plants

It sounds obvious, but the quickest and easiest way to start the forestcore look is to fill your home with lots of houseplants. If you’re a plant killer, check out my guide to houseplants you can’t kill and choose shrubs of varying heights to create contrast and depth. Put some plants in pots on the floor, hang them from the ceiling, wrap trailing varieties around your home and put some on tables, stools and windowsills.

Johanna says: “Sometimes one large monstera or palm tree is enough to turn the entire interior into a home jungle. Research from NASA found that house plants purify the environment and remove up to 87% of the amount of toxins in the air.”

Dennis says: “Introducing plants into our living spaces not only adds a splash of life and colour but also significantly uplifts our mood. Research has shown that plants are known to reduce stress, increase feelings of happiness, and enhance concentration and creativity. Their presence creates a living connection to nature, a calming influence that heals and invigorates the soul.”

3. Choose natural flooring

Keep the whole forestcore aesthetic as natural as possible, and this includes your flooring too. Use natural materials like wood to connect your home to the outdoors, and applying the same flooring throughout multiple spaces will give a fluid effect.

Johanna says: “If you prefer carpets, a light green carpet will brighten darker rooms with a natural earth tone, especially when paired in rooms with less natural light.”

Dennis continues: “Natural materials such as wood and tiles in flooring offer an aesthetic appeal that resonates with our innate connection to the earth. Walking on these materials can evoke a sense of grounding, and their textural richness enhances our sensory experience. By embracing nature’s beauty underfoot, we create a space that is both energising and soothing, aligning our inner selves with the rhythms of the natural world.”

4. Build up layers and textures

Texture is the key finishing touch if you want to achieve bringing the outdoors in. It connects the rough with the smooth, adds contrast to colours and builds visually pleasing layers throughout. Use a range of fabrics, work with wood, metal and tiles, and create accents with mood lighting and mirrors to complete the look.

Joanna concludes: “Layer your approach by using macramé hangers from the ceiling with pots of ferns, arching stems and then utilise any shelves to showcase a selection of pots and textures. This allows you to use all the space that you’ve got to fully immerse any room into the trend.”

Dennis concludes: “Incorporating various textures and materials such as throws, woods, tiles, mirrors, and strategic lighting in our interiors is akin to crafting a multisensory experience. These contrasts and complements mimic the complexity and richness of the outdoors. By building up these layers, we are not just designing a space; we’re creating an environment that resonates with our primal connection to nature. This tangible connection influences our emotions and mood in profound ways, allowing us to feel both sheltered and expansive, comforted and invigorated, all at once.”