It’s time to explore biophilic design principles and why they matter for your home décor, mental health and so much more. Have we caught your attention yet? Embracing biophilic design is so much more than creating a unique space, it’s about reconnecting with nature and improving wellbeing at home and beyond.
Defining Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is a principle that incorporates nature into both the interior and architectural aspects of a space. In a way, it’s a method of breaking down barriers between humankind and nature and bringing the two closer together, as it was meant to be! The features of biophilic design can be readily incorporated into any home, and you’ll start to experience the benefits instantly!
The Benefits of Biophilic Design
Being in nature is calming, so it’s no surprise that the use of biophilic design has a positive benefit those that are exposed to it. On an individual scale, the principles of biophilic design (we’ll explore these in more detail later!) can help foster a healthier living and working space (hello, home office!), increase creativity, productivity and create an overall happier environmental for its dwellers.
How? A ‘greener’ or more natural environment leads to less stress and improved sleep. Being surrounded by plants, water, fresh air, real sunlight – all these things make us feel calmer and more at ease. Think of how you react when constantly exposed to traffic, loud noises, chatter, or a sterile boring office space? It can weigh down on your focus and performance. As such, those working around nature are more at ease and this gets the creative juices flowing more – which in turn leads to more productivity and satisfaction at work. What a great cycle!
Employees working in a biophilic space report feeling more creative – a whole 15% more - compared to others. On a larger scale, the benefits of biophiliacan translate to a reduction in the carbon footprint of homes or buildings, decreased flooding and noise pollution and can moderate temperature more effectively. Sounds like this something good for both humans and the planet!
Why We Need Biophilic Design Today
Did you know that humans spend almost 90% of our lives indoors? This statistic is shocking, which is why we may all need biophilic design more than ever imagined. So, what are the principles that bring biophilic design to live, and how can you start using this aesthetic in your home? Read on to find out.
The Basic Principles of Biophilic Design
Vegetation:Of course! Plants, moss and other living vegetation is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about biophilic design. Maybe you’re thinking of an awe-inspiring living wall, or a green roof that hosts native plants and pollinators. Yes, plants are the major front-facing star of biophilic design.
Don’t have the personal space for a green roof, balcony, or wall? Don’t fret - there are many ways to add plants to your home that will take a bit of imagination depending on your space. Thinking about the type of plants you want and how to install or display them is a major principle to biophilic design. It’s about bringing nature to the forefront of your decorating and home design. Have fun and see where you can squeeze some life into your quarters!
Let the Light In:Without light, there would be no plants, and some say no life at all! Examine where you can maximize light in your home, to let that sunshine vitamin in! Especially after a long winter, we all become a bit more sun-worshipping. If you have too reposition furniture or create the illusion of light using mirrors – do it! You’ll instantly refresh your space by letting more light in – trust us!
Using mirrors is a well-known trick for making a space look larger, but when placed correctly, you’ll see just how much brighter your interiors will become. Place a mirror directly opposite a window and see how it instantly brightens your space. No matter how ‘soft’ your lightbulbs claim to be, there’s nothing that can beat the energizing feeling of real sunlight.
Incorporate Water:Being around water a body of water calms us. Even listening to rain or water sounds allows our body and mind to relax. Can’t exactly re-locate yourself to be on a lake or river? Add a decorative pool or water fountain to one of your interior (or exterior!) spaces.
Use Natural Materials: Keeping home décor styling ‘natural’ in terms of the materials you choose is far beyond a trend - it’s a timeless way to design your space. There’s no denying that natural materials such as wood, bamboo or straw bring texture and warmth to your home. A hand-carved wooden bowl, or unique reclaimed wood furniture can bring this trend to life.
Use Natural Colours:Think of those that mimic nature such as neutral eggshell tones, pale greens, muted orange tones and shades of watery greys. Using nature inspired materials and colours will undoubtedly create a more peaceful and productive environment.
Create More Outdoor Space If Possible! The pandemic taught us a lot about appreciating the outdoors and how important natural spaces can be for our well-being. The indoor-outdoor connection that biophilic design emphasizes is needed now more than ever. Make nature more accessible to yourself. If you can’t create it yourself, seek it in a nearby park or green space. Create a ritual about going outside to visit nature. No matter how brief the encounter, you are sure to reap benefits and bring the feeling of peace back home with you.
Biomorphic Shapes:Adding shapes or patterns found in nature is another aspect of biophilic design that will bring you closer to nature. Get inspired by trees, leaves, seashells, landscapes, rocks, gems, fossils, and more. No need to bring a whole forest indoors – fake it till you make it! Have prints of your favourite natural elements around your home or think about adding natural textures to other elements of your home – like wooden picture frames or furniture. Not into nature scenes? Abstract shapes in natural tones will do just fine and compliment your biophilic design vibe.
Humans need nature for optimal living and bringing it closer will surely improve the quality of life. It starts with small steps but is totally worth it in the end.With Spring approaching, is there a better time to dive into incorporating biophilic design to your home? May we suggest a Spring project with a focus on incorporating biophilic design to your home? Have fun with it!