Biophilic design – how to use it in your home

Biophilic design is one of the most valuable interior design trends in recent years. It plays on our evolutionary need to be close to nature, and is often described as 'architecture of life'. Incorporating biophilia into our homes and work spaces by bringing elements of the natural world into them is said to improve both physical and mental health, besides encouraging productivity.

Here’s how to incorporate biophilic design elements into your home: Maximizing exposure to natural light : The first thing to consider is your windows and the amount of natural light coming through them. So start by clearing obstructions from windows, be it plants outside, cleaning dirt from the glass, or removing curtains and drapes to let the light flood in. Moving furniture closer to windows: To maximize your exposure to light, move furniture, be it a sofa or armchair and position it next to a window overlooking a garden or any greenery outside. Indulge in green scheme: Biophilic design favors green in all its forms, whether it's accessorizing your home with plants or using green paint. Interestingly, even if you don't want house plants in your home, just looking at the color green has been proven to be beneficial. It is said to create a calming space that recreates the beneficial effects of being outdoors. Get inspiration from natural forms: It is believed that curves in our built environment or furniture evoke a positive human reaction because of its resemblance to the natural shapes found in nature. Therefore, such designs decrease stress levels, and encourage a sense of well-being. Other than curved design elements, you may even opt for scalloped detailing, botanical leaf motifs, and other details that take inspiration from fractal patterns.

Biophilic design, quite simply, makes us happier and healthier by increasing our connection with the natural world, even indoors. Biophilic Design in Architecture Buildings designed with biophilia in mind will have good natural lighting and ventilation, rather than a dependence on artificial lighting and air conditioning, while landscaping both visible from within the building, and within the building itself will be an important element. Biophilic Interior Design It is all about embracing the rules of biophilic architecture, with rooms benefitting from good natural daylight, natural color schemes and, of course, lots of houseplants. The idea is that whichever room you are in, you can see or are surrounded by house plants.