What is Biophilic Design And Why is it so Popular?

Trend cycles ebb and flow, but one trend that has shown tremendous staying power, and has paved the way for multiple sub-trends, is biophilic design.

At the heart of biophilic design is a growing awareness of the link between how we design and decorate our built environments and how we feel and function in them — including health and wellness, productivity and mood.

Based on the biophilia hypothesis, biophilic design brings us back to basics, by replicating nature-inspired elements that calm, inspire and create safe, nurturing spaces, ideal for the concept of comfort at home.

What is the Biophilia Hypothesis? How Does it Relate to Interior Design?

In the 1960s, while studying evolutionary psychology, American psychologist Eric Fromm introduced the concept of biophilia, which explored the relationship between humans’ physical reliance on nature (i.e., for water, air, etc.) and the happiness that is derived subconsciously from accessing those benefits.

In the 1980s, American biologist Edward O. Wilson, best known for his ground-breaking work in biodiversity, put forth the biophilia hypothesis, which explored in greater detail the complexity and the strength of the human connection to natural surroundings.

This connection strikes a balance between a primitive desire for protection from nature (i.e., from predators in the natural world) and the yearning to be immersed in the restorative aspects of nature.

Wilson proposed that, even indoors, humans will innately gravitate towards nature because of the safety and pleasure derived from the experience.

From a design perspective, the built environment creates safe, albeit sterile, shelter from the world outside, while biophilic décor and design re-introduce the soothing elements from the outdoors in a measured, but restorative way.

Mother Nature is Biophilic Design’s Interior Decorator

At the base of biophilic design are plants, animals, soil, water, air, fire, and light, whether physically included in the home or replicated through design and décor choices, such as nature-inspired patterns, colors, textures, and materials.

For example, hard angles and straight lines are the construct of the built environment and typically aren’t seen outside. Curved lines and spirals are more prominent. Think of rolling hills, eggs, pebbles, seashells, flowers, raindrops, waves, and so on.

Fractal patterns (i.e., a simple pattern that repeats itself repeatedly) are found everywhere in nature and are often used in biophilic design. Examples of fractal patterns can be found in snowflakes, honeycombs, leaves, seeds, clouds, etc.

The theory behind fractal patterning is that its predictable repetition is reassuring to humans, tying into the comfort that nature supplies.

Similarly, integrating patterns and colors that are varied in texture and appearance is truer to nature, with sensory variability.

The presence of natural light is a major component of biophilic design. This can include incorporating the free flow of natural light into a space and the use of shadows, reflective, or filtered light, as would occur naturally outside.

Two oppositional relationships in nature inspire biophilic design: calculated risk in the face of peril and prospecting (i.e., for food or opportunity), but with the safety of refuge. These relationships stretch back to our hunter-gather ancestors and their duplicitous relationship with the outdoors, which simultaneously offered their greatest comfort and most significant threats

Leveraging these relationships for biophilic design means balancing perceived opportunity and safety.

Biophilic Design Tips For Homeowners

For homeowners, incorporating biophilic design begins with a mindset and opting for décor and design choices that will combine to evoke the kind of calm experienced when immersed in nature.

Here is some guided inspiration on how to include biophilic design at home:

Plants

The easiest and most obvious way to bring the outdoors in is to include plants at home. This can be as simple as placing potted plants in rooms to add greenery. Or if you have space, a living wall will accomplish this on a larger scale.

Plants add color and texture and offer health benefits by cleaning the air.

Water Features

Indoor water fountains add a multi-sensory dimension to biophilic design, which lends authenticity to the overall experience. Not only is the sight of running water pleasant, but the sound is also calming.

A tabletop water fountain is a good choice, or make a bolder statement with a full-sized water wall. Also popular are koi ponds or a built-in aquarium with various fish.

Choose Natural Materials

Choosing natural materials in home décor will help evoke nature’s calm. Opt for wood, leather, rattan, wicker, jute, organic cotton, cork, or bamboo.

These materials are versatile, and there are many options for furniture, flooring, accents, counters, and more.

Mimic Nature’s Patterns and Lines

A home’s physical design can easily incorporate the linear philosophy of biophilic design, such as having arched doorways instead of hard, right angles.

Fractal patterns in artwork and accents are an effective way to infuse nature. Stacked, textured wood tiles, a honeycomb-shaped wall mosaic, a rippled accent wall that uses a wave pattern, textured columns, and animal prints are all great ideas.

Translucent, water-themed light fixtures that look like raindrops are effective too.

Nature-Inspired Colors

Biophilic colors tap into the psychology of color, to create a serene environment.

Earth tones have expanded from the traditional soil and stone colors (i.e., the browns, beiges, and greys) to include more of the natural world, with blues, whites, oranges, reds, and corals, many of which are seen in trending paint colors.

When deciding on colors, rather than selecting a specific shade, think of something in nature that most appeals to you, like the ocean, a sunset, clouds moving through the sky, or a starry night. Work backward to consider colors that replicate those natural events and build the palette out from there.

Both greens and blues are popular in kitchens and baths right, trending for cabinetry in the kitchen, and soft green and blue paint colors help with a calming natural vibe in the bathroom.

Introducing Light and Air

An absolute must when it comes to biophilic design is abundant natural light. Light that flows freely and is varied, is what you’d experience outside, so having multiple exposure points is ideal. This helps the light move naturally within the space throughout the day, which is how it would occur outdoors.

In addition to letting in light, windows frame the view outdoors, which fulfills another essential element of biophilic design: wide open vistas, but with the safety of shelter.

Skylights are a good design choice because they offer variety in the direction and distribution of light. It’s also a great vantage point for stargazing at night, from the comfort of your home.

Open windows and allow the breeze to flow through. Introducing fresh air to the indoor environment is another important aspect of biophilic design.

Balancing the Risk/Peril and Prospect/Refuge Dynamic

Support the prospect/refuge principle of biophilic design with wide sightlines, like those offered in an open-concept floor plan.

Remember, to create a sense of safety, the idea of refuge must be presented simultaneously. Design-wise, in an open-concept floor plan, this could mean having a lower ceiling in one room or a moveable divider that doesn’t impede sightlines.

Curved walls work well to balance this relationship out in an open concept, with the added benefit of provoking curiosity about what lies around the bend.

For the risk/peril relationship, a balcony offers a calculated risk to take in the vistas. Clear railings or a shade structure can add to feeling secure.

A glass floor on an upper level is another idea.

Include Natural Scents

The strongest sense in eliciting an emotional response is smell, so introduce natural fragrances into your home.

Place a spring of eucalyptus on top of the showerhead in the bathroom. The steam from the shower will release a pleasant, earthy scent.

A bundle of freshly chopped cedar wood placed next to the fireplace or simply as a table accent is aromatic.

Essential oil diffusers or gently scented candles can also be effective, particularly with lavender, vanilla, rosemary, or an orange blend.

What Are Some of The Hot Interior Design Trends Inspired by Biophilic Design?

Inspired by natural materials, designs and colors, several sub-trends, built on the experiential focus of biophilia are popular.

Wood Details in Decor

From fluting to natural wood cabinetry, live-edge furniture and textured, wooden accent walls, natural wood is trending heavily in interior design, replicating the rustic warmth seen in the great outdoors. It’s also one of the key ingredients in creating a cozy home, yet another trend springing from biophilic design.

Japandi Design

With earthy colors, natural stone, plants and lots of wood, Japandi style is a soothing and sustainable trend with biophilic roots. It’s a cross between Japanese minimalism and functional Scandinavian design, including Scandi and Hygge styles.

Indoor-Outdoor Connection

Trending is fusing an indoor-outdoor connection, with many floor plans evolving to include an extension of living or dining areas from inside out.

Sliding glass doors, floor-to-ceiling windows or retractable walls all help to foster the indoor-outdoor connection. A good design trick is to keep flooring and colors consistent, so the eye consumes the whole space equally.

For a true biophilic experience, have little or no window treatments so that the view and the light are front and center.

Spa-Like Bathrooms

The healing power of nature is leading the spa-like bathroom trend, where rainfall showers, water features and nature-inspired scents are prominent. Color plays a role here too, with spa-like shades, such as calming blues and greens.

Botanicals

From palm fronds to florals to leafy trees, botanical prints leverage two current trends: biophilic design, and maximalism. They add a touch of nature, popular with textiles and wallpaper.

Curves

Nature is filled with curved lines, and curves are trending, especially with furniture, accents and architectural features