Biophilic Interior Design: A Dive Into Nature-Inspired Decor

The biophilic design concept has been around since the 1970s. While it was biophilic architecture that pioneered this trend, biophilic interiors are becoming increasingly common.

Biophilic design elements are a staple of many commercial spaces, with the ultimate goal to bridge the gap between everyday interiors and the natural environment. When executed well, biophilic design can promote a sense of well-being and boasts many mental and physical health benefits. 

It’s also incredibly easy to incorporate biophilic design into your home. You can keep things simple with green room schemes and earthy tones, or play around with organic shapes and living walls to create a multi-sensory experience. Whether you’re looking to bring a sense of tranquillity to a busy home or turn your bedroom into a more calming space, biophilic design is definitely worth thinking about. 

At Tikkurila, you’ll find a huge selection of paint colours inspired by the natural world to make your biophilic design dreams a reality. 

What is Biophilic Interior Design?

Biophilic interior design is all about incorporating the natural world into everyday environments. Whether it’s a living room makeover or a complete home overhaul, this design trend aims to create a direct connection with nature. This can be as simple as using an all-natural palette or bringing natural patterns and organic textures into play. 

The more natural elements you introduce, the more health and well-being benefits you unlock. It’s a popular choice with companies looking to boost employee engagement, but there’s no reason why you can’t use it just as effectively in your own home. While interior designers have been championing this decorating trend for a while now, you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy the full range of biophilic design benefits. 

Tips for Introducing Biophilic Design Into Your Home

Do your energy levels need a boost? Tired of coming home to a cluttered space that has no connection to nature? Below are just a few ways you can bring the beauty of biophilic design to your interiors. 

Incorporate Plants

Adding ample greenery to your rooms is a tried and tested way of boosting the biophilic credentials of your home. As well as bringing in those visual cues that tie the indoors to the outside world, enough indoor plants can dramatically improve air quality. 

What’s more, the colour green itself is a powerful mood booster. If you’re prone to distraction or your energy levels are off-kilter, plenty of greenery is an effective remedy. 

If you have more space to work with, don’t be afraid to go big with greenery. Indoor trees can elevate an interior and provide an eye-catching centerpiece for open-plan arrangements. If your home is more contemporary, you can even think about installing green walls to create visual interest. 

Maximise Natural Light

There’s no point in going all in with biophilic design if your interiors are too dark to enjoy your surroundings. In biophilic architecture, daylighting is incredibly popular. This design approach involves the precise positioning of windows and skylights so that interiors are fully illuminated with more natural light. This natural lighting style means there’s less need for table lamps and floor lights.

However, most people aren’t going to be in a position to consider a rebuild of their property. This doesn’t mean you can’t overcome the challenges posed by small windows and undesirable aspects. Swapping out heavy curtains for lightweight window treatments is one way to brighten up your interiors. You can also mount mirrors to reflect natural light.

Choose Natural Paint Colours

When choosing a colour scheme for your interiors, take your inspiration from the natural world. Green paint is the obvious choice, but your design plans shouldn’t start and end with it. Any hue you can encounter in nature can be used here. For a more refined interior, use staple shades like brown or earthy tones. If you want to evoke a feeling of cloudless skies and calm oceans, experiment with a tonal blue palette.

Consider Water Features

Water is another fundamental principle in biophilic design. Indoor water features are relatively inexpensive and can be found in a variety of styles. Whether it’s a large indoor foundation that will take centre stage in a larger room or a desktop aquarium, embracing the water element will help relieve stress and enhance your mood.

Hang Nature-Inspired Artwork

Sometimes, bare surfaces can work well in a biophilic interior. Other times, you might want to make your space feel more personal. If you want to mount artwork in your home, you have plenty of options that will make a welcome addition to a biophilic interior. Abstract pieces with natural shapes and colours are a good idea. For something more understated, think about mounting some vintage botanical prints.

Bring in Biomorphic Design Elements

Something else to think about is biomorphic design. This artistic design movement is inspired by patterns in nature, be it branches of trees or clusters of cells. These naturally occurring patterns are a perfect fit with biophilic interiors. You can incorporate them in the form of artwork, sculpture or soft furnishings.

The Benefits of Biophilic Design

As well as looking great, biophilic design can drastically improve your quality of life. No matter what corner of the home needs a makeover, biophilic design is an easy way to create happier and healthier living spaces. 

Improved Mental Health

There have been studies into the psychological effect of biophilic design. When people have a more direct connection with the outside world, they’re generally happy. A biophilic interior can keep stress levels in check and help people keep a clear head. If you find it impossible to switch off at the end of a day, reimaging your home with biophilic design is a surefire way of leaving the stresses of work behind. 

Enhanced Productivity

Biophilic architecture and interior design has been used in the commercial sector for decades. By providing employees with more natural light, scenic views and organic surroundings, productivity levels enjoy a significant boost. If you’re someone who works remotely, it might be time to refresh your home office with a few biophilic design principles. 

Improved Air Quality

We hear a lot about air pollution in the news. However, it’s not just outdoor air quality that you need to worry about. Gas-burning appliances, cleaning products and even the materials furniture is made from can release harmful pollutants into the air. This can prove particularly harmful for people suffering from respiratory disorders. By adhering to the key pillars of biophilic design, you should be able to mitigate most of the common causes of poor indoor air quality.

Additionally, consider choosing eco-friendly, VOC-free paints when decorating. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted by paints containing solvents, that can be harmful to human health. As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we offer a wide range of premium eco-friendly paint products that are free from fragrances, irritants, and other allergy-inducing agents. This makes it easier for you to select products that promote a healthier home environment while contributing to the well-being of our planet.

Is Biophilic Design Here to Stay?

Now more than ever before, people are looking for ways to live sustainably. While some interior design trends have come and gone, biophilic design has remained a favourite for many years. What’s more, with an increasing number of people working from home, creating a productive environment is crucial for nailing the perfect work-life balance. Biophilic design is the obvious choice for anyone keen to create a space that’s conducive for working, but can still be used as a place to kick back and relax.