How to Incorporate Biophilic Design into Your Home
What is Biophilic Interior Design?
Biophilia means means a love of nature and everything that is alive and in design, plays off your innate attraction to the natural world. It’s easier than you might think to apply core principles of biophilic design in your home.
Let there be Light!
Choose window treatments that help you maximize natural light. Select sheer treatments or shades that can be pulled up during the daytime and let the light flood in.
Invite Natural, Layered Lighting into you home.
Make your home’s environment feel more natural through lighting that simulates nature. Arrange your space in a way that celebrates the different lighting throughout the day; perhaps you want your sofa to bask in the afternoon sunlight or for your breakfast nook to catch the morning light.
You’ll also want to keep layered lighting in mind—from overhead lighting and floor lamps to a variety of candles, sconces, and table lamps. You can also use reflective surfaces like glass tables and mirrors to bring more reflection of light into your space.
Green is Good.
Incorporate Houseplants and Flowers. Let in Some Fresh Air.
Bring in a Water Feature.
Some people feel strong connections to water. Consider ways you could incorporate this element into your home. The use of a water feature, like a tabletop fountain, or a saltwater aquarium not only bring water into your space, but they also bring in the sound of flowing water!
Display Images of Nature.
Incorporate Natural Materials.
Use natural materials in your decor and furniture, and even the finishes throughout your home. This can be really simple—a wood dining or coffee table, a jute rug, a stone side table. But don’t stop at wood; explore other natural materials like stone (think: granite, marble, concrete) as well as woven natural fibers like wool, jute, cotton.
Embrace Earth Tones.
What Are the Benefits of Biophilic Design?
As humans, we crave a connection with nature. And a strong connection improves our well-being. That’s why biophilic design has risen in popularity. Architects and designers are embracing biophilic design to increase that connection, especially in urban areas where access to nature is more limited. Here are some of the benefits people say biophilic design brought them!
- Increased productivity
- Improved mental health
- Cleaner air
- Reduced stress levels
- Feeling more creative
