The benefits of a biophilic living space

Do you love the great outdoors? If so, you can invite nature into your home by harnessing biophilic design. You'll enjoy stunning aesthetics and a relaxing environment, creating a peaceful sanctuary in your home.

There are many benefits to creating a biophilic living space and it can be done in various ways. Our guide offers you a deep dive into biophilic design, so you can add it to your home.

What is biophilic design?

Biophilic design connects your home with the outside world to enhance its style, while boosting your mental health. It's brought to life through natural materials and light, and can be utilised in bedrooms, studies and lounges.

The biophilic design idea was popularised in E.O. Wilson's book, Biophilia, released in 1984. From then on, it found its way into homes and workspaces. However, the COVID-19 pandemic saw a surge in its popularity as people began to choose home décor that could also improve wellbeing.

What are the benefits of the biophilic design?

While a stylish look is great in itself, there are other intangible benefits.

• Improved wellbeing: Nature and mental health go hand-in-hand. Research has shown that being in nature is good for our minds and incorporating it into your home can turn your space into a peaceful haven.
• Increased productivity: Many people work remotely and creating the perfect home office can lead to more productive days. Increased daylight and vibrant plant colours can help with creativity and attention span. Biophilia can also reduce stress levels, allowing you to focus on tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
• Physical health boost: Plants and flowers can purify the air and reduce pollutants that can harm us. Some research suggests that being in green spaces is even linked to lower mortality rates.

How can I achieve biophilic design?

Plants

Plants are one of the easiest ways to bring nature inside. They support your wellbeing by purifying the air and creating a calm atmosphere. Some popular choices include pothos vines, spider plants, areca palms and money plants. Adding a Hammonds fitted bookcase can be an excellent way to showcase your greenery. Place your trailing plants at the top and little ones at lower levels.

If you're worried about looking after plants, you can opt for artificial alternatives. These are typically cheaper, and while you won't get the physical health benefits, their green hues can still boost your mood.

Natural materials

Adding outdoor elements improves the texture and warmth of your home.

Consider wooden floors, stone dining tables or marble countertops to incorporate the natural world into different rooms. These materials can be included on a smaller scale as well. From coffee tables to fruit bowls and water features, there are numerous options.

Natural lighting

Creating bright spaces helps to achieve a biophilic design. Adding larger windows is a great idea if your budget stretches to it. This lets in lots of daylight, maintaining your circadian rhythm, which can improve sleep quality and mood.

Take advantage of mirrors. When placed directly across from windows, a mirror can make the space brighter and even trick the eye into thinking it's bigger.

Colours

Colours play a crucial role in evoking an outdoor feeling within your home. Earthy, natural hues like red, brown and green are brilliant choices. You can easily add these by painting your walls or adding vibrant accents in each room.

If you want to go a step further, biophilic design principles also encourage patterns found in nature. Consider floral or woodland-themed decoration ideas.

Let us bring your biophilic design ideas to life

If you need assistance incorporating biophilic design elements by using fitted furniture in your home, we can help. Book a free design visit today and one of our experts can assist you.