With the world getting increasingly more urban and cluttered, it is easy for us to stay disconnected from nature. Biophilic design is a new approach to interior design that brings relaxing elements of nature into living spaces. Walking into your home after a long day to be welcomed by plants and natural light not only helps improve how you feel physically but also brings peace and joy to your mind as well. Biophilic design is about living in a healthier and more nurturing space that connects us to our roots and helps improve our overall well-being.
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What Exactly is Biophilic Design?
The literal meaning of the term “biophilia” is “love of life/living things”. It comes from the belief that humans have an inherent love of nature and all its living things within us. In fact, the researchers also believe that the reason for us to be thriving so well as a species can be traced to our biophilic tendencies. Humans, as biophilic animals, managed to find the most fertile lands to live and grow things and nurture new life. Therefore, it only makes sense for us to incorporate biophilic elements into the spaces that we live in even now.
Biophilic design is not simply about aesthetics. There are well-researched and proven benefits to living in a space that has incorporated biophilic design elements. Here are some of them.
Better Mental Health
It is a known fact that being in nature has the power to improve mood and reduce negative thoughts. When natural elements are integrated into our living spaces, these mental health benefits can be enjoyed even while indoors.
Better Physical Health
Plants have a natural power to purify the air and improve air quality. They actively reduce harmful toxins in the air and improve the humidity levels of an indoor space. Adding more greenery and natural elements to your home, therefore, is better for your lungs and your physical health overall.
Less Stress
For those who are working from home, or those who have high-stress situations at home, the calming effects of a biophilic design can be highly beneficial. The nature-inspired textures along with water elements have the power to reduce high cortisol levels caused by stress. This leads to anyone feeling more relaxed and centered.
Main Elements in Biophilic Design
The lack of productivity or a tendency to procrastinate comes from a cluttered mind that keeps looking for new distractions. A biophilic design creates a natural zen state that fades out many artificially created external distractions, bringing a more focus-friendly environment. For this reason, many offices are starting to embrace biophilic design since it not only encourages people to have higher productivity but also gives them better satisfaction after accomplishing their work tasks.
As a concept, biophilic design is extremely flexible and accessible. There are no set rules when it comes to it. It is simply all about bringing nature into the interior as much as possible, without disrupting the peace and the cohesiveness of its current design. Regardless of its size or type, any building can use at least some of the biophilic design elements.
There are different ways to apply the biophilic design concept depending on the room or the space. For most people, the living room is where they spend a lot of time. Something as simple as several pots of indoor plants in a living room can make a difference. As for the bedroom, getting natural and organic bedding made from materials such as cotton or linen can make a difference.
Natural Light
First and foremost, opening up a space into nature starts with letting natural light in as much as possible. This can be achieved with large windows, and skylights, switching dark blinds to sheer curtains that let natural light in during the day, and just open interior layouts in general. This helps our brain and the body start being more in tune with nature, especially regulating the natural circadian rhythm of the body. There are many disorders and discomforts of the physical body that can be healed by getting plenty of natural light and sleeping well.
Indoor Plants
Human eyes love the color green. It takes us back to a simpler time back in the wilderness when things were a lot less complicated and the concept of email did not exist! Adding lots of greenery into the space immediately elevates its look, and makes it feel more cozy. It is good to get indoor plants that are not very high maintenance when designing the living space in particular. The best plants for your indoor spaces are There is also a concept called a living wall, which is more or less a vertical garden. If possible, installing a living wall in your home will help make it feel positively alive.
Natural Materials and Textures
Wood, stone, bamboo/cork are some of the natural textures used in biophilic design. Furniture made of wooden or similar natural materials adds warmth and texture to the interiors, blending well with other natural elements. If there are concrete walls, some of it can be left bare for added texture. Even small natural additions such as bowls or cutlery made with stone accents could make a big difference.
Water
Decorative elements featuring water can soothe and contribute greatly to the natural atmosphere in a room. Some of the interior elements featuring water can be small fountains installed in the right place or even a well-ventilated mini aquarium that holds a few fish and freshwater plants.
Biophilic design principles are more than a simple amalgamation of design ideas. It is an innovative concept born out of the innate human desire to stay close to nature. It can embed nature into places that tend to remain sterile and are devoid of any biological influences. In an age where buildings and spaces are filled more with technology than plants, it’s of utmost importance to incorporate elements from nature to build a bridge between our living spaces and nature. These simple design choices can have a significant effect on improving our mental and physical health.