What the heck is Biophilic Design and why should I care?

...because, it just might make you feel, think and do better.

Interior Design isn't just about aesthetics. A silver lining of the pandemic is that people are much more aware that our homes and indoor environments can and should support us mentally and physically. This is a subject I probably would have dismissed pretty quickly until about 15 years ago but being diagnosed with a debilitating autoimmune disease and not reacting well to meds forced me to look beyond conventional thinking.

Dining Room with Natural Scene of Birds and Flora on Hand-Painted Wallpaper

Biophilic Design (BD), thanks to masses of new research, is a concept on the cusp of becoming mainstream. It is based on the idea that our interior environments should be connected to and/or mimic the natural world to activate neurochemical processes that reduce stress, improve cognitive function, healing ability, mood, creativity, and overall wellbeing.

Beautiful Vignette of Natural Stone Lotus Tray on Marble Table with Cut Flowers

I know from experience that it's critical to rethink our home environment if we are in a health crisis. BD is not a cure-all by any means but it's a large piece of the puzzle of human health. From experience I know we need many of those pieces working in concert to be healthy.

In creating beautiful environments for our clients, I always have, in the back of my mind, the main principles of biophilic design. It's not too much of a stretch because, to me, beauty is more about tuning into our innate human responses. That's something most of us lose as we grow up, but it's part of the gift of a chronic disease... yep, there are quite a few gifts in it but that's to be discussed another day.

Biophilic Design isn't about placing a single plant or a painting of a forest in a sterile, windowless room. It's about strategically and repeatedly using natural elements ("real" materials are best, but faux can have positive effects too if done correctly); creating vistas from space to space; disrupting perfect man-made patterns; varying sensory experiences from room to room, featuring natural elements like fire, water, animals, etc.

Here are just a few biophilic interior design concepts we incorporate:

Biophilic Dining Room Using Plants, Organic Forms in Fixtures & Art, Uncovered Windows, Grasscloth Ceiling

• Real plants are best for health benefits, but even the suggestion of plants in our decorative elements like fabrics, art, wallpapers, metalwork, etc. have been shown to have a positive impact on humans.

Luxury Biophilic Bathroom with Natural Stone, Cut Flowers, Landscape Painting and Skylight to Maximize Natural Light

• Natural light should be maximized through windows and skylights. If that's not possible, then even mimicking natural light through the use of technology can be beneficial: think fake windows in offices or basements, with natural scenes on video screens, or bulbs that mimic daylight.

• Natural materials like wood, grasses, stone, feathers, etc (or products that reference them) should be used throughout the home. Examples below.

Biophilic Sunroom with Stone Horsehead Lamp, Collected Natural Materials in Glass Side Table, Cut Flowers, Natural Scene on Faberge China, Vistas to the Exterior, Horse Pattern Pillow, Organic Fabrics

Bedroom with Natural Wood Pendant Light, Cut Flowers, Natural Patterns on Pillows, Stone, Wood and Metal Accents

Dramatic Driftwood-Inspired Wall Sconce

Kudu Core Wall Sconce Certified by Nature Conservation of South Africa

Beverly Brokaw, Principal, B3 Design

With Biophilic Design, as with all Interior Design, the whole is always much greater than the sum of the parts. When that whole happens to mean better health, all the better!

Click below for a free Discovery Call to see how we can turn your home into the sanctuary it should be.