Have you heard about biophilic design? It could be the secret to a happier home
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It always amazes me to watch the interior design industry evolve and become shaped by the ever-increasing demands modern life throws on us. I see the industry change in a way that responds to new ways of living.
The increasing limitations of building space in cities drove a tiny homes movement. The desire for freedom and travel drove a demand for van conversions.
In recent years I’ve watched a movement called biophilic design evolve – which, actually, you may be practicing in your home already given the huge trend for plants in the home.
It was upon discovering a local and globally renowned designer, Oliver Heath, where I heard about the concept.
Biophilic design: is a concept used in architecture, construction and interior design. It places emphasis on creating environments directly and indirectly associated with nature. In doing so, resolving humanity’s conscious or subconscious desire to connect with nature.
Offices, healthcare centres, retail properties and now, more and more domestic homes, are inviting nature into the design schemes as a direct response to people’s need for mental and physical restoration through our innate longing for nature.
What will surprise you is the impact biophilic design has on people’s health
There have been extensive studies done on the effectiveness of bringing nature into the home.
For example, did you know?
A biophilic designed office increases productivity by 8%
In learning environments, biophilic design increases concentration and learning levels by 20-25%
In healthcare environments, just by designing the spaces to be closer to nature, using more plants, improving air quality, post-operative recovery times can be reduced by 8.5%
…and to think we can’t bring flowers or plants to loved ones when they are in hospital. It could actually improve their recovery.
It’s certainly got Neil and I buying and propagating more plants and getting more fresh air into our house.
You might think it’s all about plants, but actually there’s a lot more to it:
Biophilic design looks at:
The use of light
Maximise natural light and/or opt for artificial lighting that is closer to natural light on the Kelvin scale
Air purity
Minimise toxins and provide adequate ventilationHeat levels
Ensure temperatures in rooms are comfortable at various times of the dayNatural views
Installing large windows or doors to create long-distance views to gaze at
Tips for incorporating biophilic design principles without doing any heavy lifting design or structural work
I mean, in an ideal world we’d all be able to open up the back of our houses and install large bi-folding doors that look out onto a landscape of rolling hills! But when that’s not within reach, you could try simple design practices like:
Our living room channelling biophilic design principles
Open the windows in your house daily to replace the stale air with fresh air
This is particularly important if you work from home. Get fresh air circulating where you’re about to start work for the day and it will increase your productivity levels.Clean your windows to increase the natural light entering your home
It’s amazing how thin layers of dust can block daylight from entering your rooms. Natural light improves your intake of Vitamin D and happiness levels.
Choose window dressings that don’t block light
Similarly, swap your window dressings for options that prevent light being blocked. This might mean lighter curtains that push easily to either side of the window, not obstructing the glass.
Pot plants in every room you can
Studies show plants improve air quality and lower stress levels. Ferns thrive in darker rooms with no natural daylight, whereas money trees love a bit of ambient natural light. They’re both plants that can be propagated so you can grow one for every room! Even the process of feeling, watering and pruning plants is known to improve your psychology and wellbeing.
Optimise your light bulbs
If you need to use artificial lights during the day in some rooms, switch the bulbs to one that is eco-friendly and closer to natural light on the Kelvin scale. Here’s a guide for what to look for.
2500K - 3000K | warm white (great for areas you want to be cosy and wind down in. 2500K is pretty yellow so go for closer to 3000 Kelvins)
3500K - 5000K | cool white (great in bathrooms or contemporary homes)
5000K - 6500K | the most similar to natural daylight supposedly. (Good for dark rooms that don’t get much sunlight through the day)
6500K - 10000K | starts to look bluer so I’d probably say avoid it
Decorate with nature photography or art
If you can’t have a view, bring the view to you and hang artwork with green landscapes or coastal scenes on to inspire you.
Biophilic design is fascinating to experiment with around the home. The more I studied this, the more I noticed just how inspired by nature Neil and I have continually been since renovating our home, from the colours we use to the materials we choose. We look around and almost everything is inspired by nature.
More recently we noticed that as soon as we dotted plants all around our living room we instantly felt calmer, uplifted, and the air felt purer. They’ll eventually be re-homed onto a plant wall in our Master bedroom when it’s complete and we are already trying to propagate a few for other rooms in the house.
What do you think about biophilic design? Had you heard of it before now? Do you think you’ll give any of these ideas a go? We’d love to hear if any impact your health and wellbeing so please do share in the comments.
If you found this post useful, like it and share it with friends who may benefit from it too – and finally, if you’re in need of some interior design help with your home, check out my interior design services page for information.
Thanks for reading,
Fifi (& Neil) x
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