Biophilic Design Ideas

What if you could arrange your home to make you happier, healthier and less stressed? What if this arrangement is not only beneficial but also one of the top interior design trends 2024 will have to offer?

There is such a trend, and the trend is biophilic design.

What Is Biophilic Design?

Biophilia is a relatively new word – it was coined in the 1980s – but the concept is as old as humanity. It’s the inborn tendency of people to want interaction with nature. Biophilic homes have been around literally for ages. Consider not only the stately mansions of recent centuries with their large windows, porches and gardens but also ancient structures with elaborate sun-loving central courtyards.

For today’s interior designers, biophilic design means creating a harmony between a home and the world around it. It means opening up the living space to nature and also bringing nature into the home. It emphasizes views of the outdoors, natural light and greenery. It promotes the colors, shapes and textures of the natural world.

Why Design a Biophilic Home?

There are lots of reasons that biophilic design is a hot topic right now, and style and beauty are certainly part of the conversation. A home that centers on natural decor looks great, encompassing a healthy assortment of house plants and an ambiance that’s bright, cheerful and attractive. Top biophilic designs include plenty of natural light and often sweeping views of landscaping and surrounding scenery. It’s a welcoming sight when you step in the front door. It’s a striking treat for guests when you open the doors to them.

But the nature-influenced home is more than a stylish setting. It induces a sense of peace and calmness, qualities we could use more of in today’s world. We were built to be surrounded by the world’s greenery, and modern society has too often pushed us away from that. There’s evidence that biophilic design is good for our physical well-being as well as our mental health. It may reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Some experts believe it even lowers blood pressure and heart rate. It might increase alertness during the day and lead to better sleep at night.

The last few years have been stressful for most people. Many of us have spent too many hours bent over laptops and anchored to our phones. We’ve been forced to spend more time indoors than is good for us. Biophilic design is coming along at just the right moment.

Another reason that Mother Nature is taking center stage in our indoor spaces and not just our outdoor space is the increased focus on green living. Sustainability goes hand in hand with many practices of biophilic design, including a focus on natural materials and the desire to connect with our natural environment.

How To Make Your Home Biophilic

You can get started on your biophilic makeover simply by opening your curtains more often and adding a few house plants. However, a professional interior designer can show you how to take full advantage of this refreshing new design direction.

Let the Outdoors In

A nature-centric design not only immerses you in the world outside your walls but also brings that world inside your home. Your interior designer can help you do both.

A first step is to frame the view of what’s outdoors. Your home may overlook a lake, have a view of distant hills or just peer out onto the yard. Whatever your environment is, a big, clear window is your ally, especially one without grills or sashes. Make a habit of opening the shades and pulling back the curtains as often as possible. If the weather is suitable, open the window and take in the sounds and smells of nature as well as the sights.

The light that comes through is as important as the view. It elevates your mood. It helps to keep you alert in the daytime so that you sleep when the stars come out. Also, the right arrangement of furniture can maximize the effect of light and make a room feel brighter and more open. Avoid putting large pieces where they block sunshine into the room, but consider positioning sofas and chairs where you can look out and relish the scenery and the shower of sunlight.

A designer can also help you make the most out of the natural light that you have available by incorporating design strategies such as using sheer curtains and positioning mirrors strategically to reflect the light in your space.

Indoor-Outdoor Connections

People gravitate to areas of the home that feel like both indoors and outdoors. Porches and enclosed patios, built for either summer or year-round use, are ideal. Another ploy is to connect inside and outside by installing clear sliding doors. The outdoor space could be a patio next to the living room, a deck that steps out from the kitchen or a balcony attached to a bedroom.

Greenery

It comes as no surprise that greenery is an important part of biophilic design. Just a few plants will make your home more cheerful and nature-focused, but the biophilic home has lots of them, and they’ll be in every room.

You can display anything from prim succulents on a desk to small trees in floor pots. Plants go nicely on tabletops, countertops, shelves and mantels. You might fill an entire wall with hanging plants and potted ones on shelving. Greenery can make a garden out of an entryway. If you don’t have a green thumb, consider high quality faux plants that can have a similar visual appeal without the maintenance.

If you work from home, be sure to include a few plants in your office. While you’re at it, position your desk so you can look out a window. Biophilia is good for productivity, too!

Colors, Patterns, Textures, Shapes

The effect of nature on the mind and emotions is strong. It’s so strong that anything that reminds us of nature inherits the biophilic effect. When items like this are used in conjunction with plants, they multiply nature’s impact. For example:

• Green is an obvious interior design color choice for walls, upholstery and decor, not only because it’s nature’s favorite but also because it promotes peace and comfort. Other biophilic colors are sky blue, sunny yellow and earthy browns.

• Wall art is one of the most versatile ways to bring nature inside, whether it’s close-ups of plants or broad views of landscapes. Pair nature-themed art with live greenery; they work synergistically.

• Some contemporary interiors emphasize straight lines and right angles, but that’s not what’s found in nature. Rounded sofas and chairs are more organic and will look more at home in a nature-inspired setting.

• If you purchase patterned areas rugs, upholstery, wall art and even table sculpture, bypass the geometric motifs and choose natural options such as scalloping and branch and leaf patterns.

• Favor natural materials such as wood, leather and stone. Consider sisal or jute for area rugs. Add natural decor such as pottery, rattan baskets, pillows and throws.

• Synthetics can work in a biophilic room if they have a natural color and texture. Area rugs or pillows that are rough, fringed and fluffed give the space more character of the outdoors.

Enjoying Your Biophilic Home

As your biophilic design takes hold, it’s time to relax and enjoy the benefits. Take some minutes each day to look up from your chores and drink in your environment. When you center on something that’s natural and calming, it can reset your entire day. You’ll be reminded of how pleasant it is to live in a home that’s not only beautiful but also good for you.