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Biophilic design is a concept in architecture and interior design that is all about feeling more connected to nature and embracing the excellent health and environmental benefits that come with it. You may not be familiar with the word. It is derived from the term biophilia, which refers to a love of nature and all things alive.
Direct and indirect encounters of nature in your house are among the core principles of biophilic design. Direct experiences include things like recognizing natural light, being aware of airflow, temperature, and humidity, and incorporating water, plants, and animals into your home. Indirect nature experiences are more about how nature is represented in your home. This can take many forms, from the literal, such as landscape paintings and natural materials and colors, to the abstract, such as natural shapes and patterns in furniture and decor.
How to Add Biophilic Design to Your Home
Have natural, layered lighting.
Using lighting that mimics nature, you may make your home feel more natural. Begin by measuring the amount of natural light in your room and considering how to make the most of it using windows and skylights. Next, arrange your area to take advantage of the changing light throughout the day. For example, you could want your sofa to catch the afternoon sun or your breakfast nook to capture the early light. Finally, take some time to evaluate your home’s light patterns and adjust your layout correctly.
Allow some fresh air in.
An important method to incorporate biophilic design into your house is to consider how air moves in your area. In its most basic form, this entails increasing airflow. The most natural approach to do this is to open a window and allow some fresh air in. You can use a fan to create a mild breeze in areas without windows or on days when you don’t want to crack a window.
Temperature and humidity are also important factors to consider when it comes to the air in your place. It’s entirely up to you how you go about doing this. Some people enjoy the heat and humidity, while others do not. On the other hand, humidifiers and diffusers are two ways to influence air quality and your experience in your room.
Include flowers and houseplants in your decor.
Have you ever wondered why so many people claim that plants make them happy? This concept is right out of the book of biophilic design. If nature photographs are good, the real thing is even better. To put it another way, the more plants you have, the better. This is an easy way to bring nature immediately into your home; you can easily place one beside your cozy two-seater sofa. However, there are some additional advantages: certain houseplants can help clean your air, and caring for and nurturing plants can provide a sense of purpose.
Have photos of nature.
Images of nature have been found in certain research to be emotionally and intellectually gratifying. You can hang landscape paintings or photographs from your travels on the walls to bring images of nature into your home. Photos or artwork of places with special meaning for you are a practical approach to bringing this concept to life.
Try alternative nature-inspired art, such as floral prints or animal paintings, if you don’t want to be as literal with your landscapes.
The key is using natural materials.
Is there a quick and painless way to join the biophilic design bandwagon? You should incorporate natural materials in your home’s decor and furniture, as well as the finishes. For example, as simple as a wood dining or coffee table, a jute mat, or a stone side table would suffice.
Finished and manufactured woods will give you a more natural sense than live-edge and raw, unfinished woods. Still, both will provide visual richness and depth to your room. But don’t limit yourself to wood; experiment with other natural materials such as stone and natural woven fibers such as wool, jute, and cotton.
Compared to manufactured materials’ uniformity, visual complexity and lack of uniformity, which are abundant in nature, make environments more visually appealing. This effectively provides your brain with extra material to chew on.
Embrace earth tones to your advantage.
Bringing nature into your house by using a neutral or earth-tone palette is a gentle way to do it. Consider hues present in nature, such as brown, green, and blue in muted tones. While still seeming vibrant and saturated, these earth tones provide soothing sensations and work as neutrals throughout your room. These colors can be incorporated into your home through furnishings and finishes such as flooring and paint colors. On the other hand, you should use brighter colors sparingly to maintain a relaxing balance in your home.
Experiment with mismatched furniture.
You won’t find two similar shapes in nature, just as you won’t find straight lines. By avoiding matchy-matchy furnishings, you may bring this idea of variety into your home. Instead of buying a whole living or dining room set, mix and match accent chairs, dining chairs, and nightstands to create a unique look. This adds interest and variety to your room and gives it a distinct aesthetic that is entirely your own.
Bohemian style is known for its eclecticism and mismatched furniture. This is one reason why this design style is often described as “earthy” or “in touch with nature.”
Vary the heights and scales you use.
Perfectly straight lines and symmetry are uncommon, as we just mentioned. The same may be said for height. In nature, you’ll see trees and plants of various forms and sizes coexisting. When arranging your space, one abstract method to transfer this idea into your home is to change the height of your furnishings.
Having things that are all the same size, shape, and scale will feel forced and artificial. In contrast, diversity resembles nature’s randomness and is visually pleasing. Vases and bowls of various sizes, shapes, and fullness are displayed on the console depicted above (as are the plants in the vases). It achieves an attractive and straightforward visual balance.
Create an easy traffic flow.
The capacity to walk freely within an area enhances our emotions of safety in a location. As a result, making sure your property has clean walkways is crucial! Make sure your routes are clear, there’s enough space between furniture, and there’s a distinct feeling of entrances and exits when you’re designing a room. Essentially, traveling about your area should be comfortable and straightforward. According to Feng Shui, unblocked entrances promote energy flow in your home, and clear passages maintain that good energy circulating throughout your home.
Lisa has a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Arts. She is an experienced blogger who enjoys researching interesting facts, ideas, products, and other compelling concepts. In addition to writing, she likes photography and Photoshop.