Biophilic Design
What is Biophilic Design? Dating back to the 20th century or as far back as 600 BC with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Biophilic Design has made a comeback within the past 30 years. A concept used in architecture and home design, Biophilic design aims to connect us more with nature while still creating a space that is functional and caters to our overall well-being.
Biophilia is the natural human need or instinct to connect with nature, which is important for people's physical, and mental health in our modern world. The Biophilic Design encourages bringing the outside indoors while also taking inspiration from the land. How and in which way the trees grow, from how the light hits in certain areas. All while creating a symbiotic relationship between us and nature.
International Living Furniture Institute shows us an amazing example of Biophilic Design with their Dessert Rain house on how to consider everything when building a home in tune with nature.
So how do we incorporate the Biophilic blueprint into our apartments, current homes, or offices when we do not have the luxury of building something from the ground up?
An easy starting point to help encourage nature indoors is plants. Incorporating plants into your space improves air quality, may improve stress, and may sharpen your attention. Choosing plants that best fit your climate and the amount of lighting in your house sets you up for easy success. It is also encouraged in the Biophilic aesthetic that fake plants can also be incorporated into your design if real plants do not fit your lifestyle. Consider choosing an air purifier as well to add to the air quality in your home. Take into consideration the cleaning products you use in your home. Using GREENGUARD GOLD-certified products like BONA, can also promote overall health in wellness in your home.
Lean towards natural materials. Keeping an eye out for furniture that uses materials that are both sustainably sourced and promotes our health, will add a huge benefit to the overall feeling of the design in your home. Minimally finished wood furniture or reclaimed wood products are an easy choice with their naturally earthy composition, tone, and texture that can add a big impact to your space. Other materials and objects you can incorporate into your design are organic wooden or ceramic bowls or vases, jute rugs, or a sustainably sourced terrazzo or vintage midcentury biophormic coffee table. If you are looking into redoing your floors, our favorite picks are our Hartwell Pebble by Impressions and Americana Powder River Series by Cascabel.
Color also plays a huge role in Biophilic design. Sticking to greens and neutral tones helps create a calming and reflective environment of the outdoors. Introducing pillows, throws, or artwork can effortlessly help elevate your space. It's important to note that Biophilic Design is more than an aesthetic. It should help create an overall feeling that is fit for each person. So remember when designing your space, choose items that fit best to your lifestyle and personality.
One of my personal favorites that are highlighted in Biophilic Design is lighting. Natural light can play a huge role in our mood and feeling when entering a space. Trying to enhance how natural light can come into your space or reflect in your space can yield a bright and airy overall feeling. Lacking natural light in your home? Consider adding extra lighting fixtures with organic elements.
So what have we learned about
Biophilic Design? It’s a concept that reflects our overall well-being, how we feel in a space, and how we can better connect to nature on a day-to-day basis even when we are indoors. How incorporating plants, and natural organic elements, and being strategic with color can elevate our space and mood in our overall space. Biophilic Design is more than just an aesthetic but a way to consider our connection to nature.
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