Discover: Can Wall Art Of Nature Combat Stress? New Evidence

I’ve outlined five reasons to decorate with large wall art elsewhere. In this blog, I’m going to discuss the potential health benefits of decorating with wall art representing nature. Countless kinds of art exist, so it can feel overwhelming to pick between them, especially for businesses, where personal taste is less important.

So, today, I’ll outline evidence that suggests wall art of nature can help create a stress-free environment, instilling a sense of calm and connection to the natural world.

Why is nature calming?

According to the Mental Health Foundation, “Nature can generate many positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity and can facilitate concentration. Nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of poor mental health, particularly lower depression and anxiety.”

Nigel Barber, PhD, speculates that nature has positive associations for us because they represent “escape from noise and crowding.” Normally, he writes, “urban landscapes are generally not good at echoing the beauty of natural scenes, or even at including enough plant life to soften their harsh impact.”

Of course, these experts are talking about nature itself, not pictures of it. Nevertheless, humans are clearly wired to live in nature, and feel calmed in peaceful, natural environments. As such, it’s important to keep greenery in the forefront of human spaces.

While images of nature don’t create the same level of immersion, it certainly makes sense why some evidence points to nature wall art benefits—especially since eyesight is so critical to our experience.

Some new evidence says art of nature can lower stress

What’s the best art to create stress-free environments? In general, evidence is favorable that wall art in general can reduce stress, according to a 2021 review.

The evidence is even stronger for wall art depicting nature. A 2025 review of the research on designing more stress-free hospitals found strong evidence that “real or simulated views of nature can produce substantial restoration from psychological and physiological stress within a few minutes.” Large wall art of nature can help calm people’s nerves and even possibly reduce felt pain, especially when combined with relaxing nature sounds.

One of the studies compared how people respond differently to pictures of urban scenes and pictures of nature. The scientists found that “nature can elicit improvements in the recovery process following a stressor.” So, in a stressful environment, nature scenes, as opposed to scenes of urban landscapes, seem to aid people’s recovery from the stress.

Why businesses should choose wall art of nature

Businesses often need to choose between different kinds of art. Large, abstract wall art can feel trendy, but research into the design of medical facilities concludes, “The majority of patients prefers and responds positively to representational nature art.” However, “abstract or ambiguous art can elicit stressful reactions in many patients.”

Another study suggests, “The buffering effect of nature could have particular relevance for the workplace where it may be beneficial to utilize nature during the lunch break, prior to a stressful afternoon, to help enhance recovery of autonomic function.”

In “5 Reasons to Decorate with Large Wall Art,” I write, “Integrating nature into your space makes you feel more connected to the earth. While plants are a great way to create this environment, some people can’t take care of live greenery.” In addition, according to some theoretical color psychology, subdued colors of greens and blues can help create a sense of calm, perhaps because of their imitation of natural colors.

Since my large wall art is mostly of nature, you can rest assured my pieces will be sure to put guests, clients, and workers at ease.

Should you buy wall art of nature?

Does all of this mean you should automatically buy wall art of nature? Not necessarily. It’s a fantastic option for homes and businesses alike, but you, the buyer, should always consider your tastes, feelings, and design needs. Different spaces work better with different kinds of wall art. Large wall art, incidentally, works well for small spaces (because it makes it feel bigger) and large spaces (because it takes up more blank space).

Some people love abstract art, and warm, exciting colors. I’ve taken several fine art pictures of canyons which capture fiery, vibrant hues, presenting a more abstract view of nature. Machinery, especially well-designed creations, can also be beautiful. The sleek, smooth design of fighter jets, for example, are maximally efficient for airflow. Pictures of them can elicit feelings of grandeur and beauty too.

So, yes, some evidence suggests that nature art can lower stress levels, or at least, make recovery from stress easier. This makes them a perfect choice for many collectors, interior designers, and businesses. But, if you dislike that kind of art, you should consider other pieces, too.

My fine art photography is where luxury meets nature, so please peruse my galleries and enjoy my art. I continually try to deliver a personal touch with my clients. Still unsure? Get in touch, and I can help you make the best choice for your needs.