Date 02/06/2024
Learn how to incorporate biophilic interior design elements into your home.
Biophilic design is one of the hot interior design styles of the moment, and is currently the most popular result in our Online Style Quiz.
Biophilic design is all about creating interior spaces, moods and experiences that mimic the natural world. There’s more to it than filling your home with plants; well-executed biophilic design schemes use colour, texture and light to create spaces that feel peaceful and refreshing.
In this article we take a closer look at this design style, and share some ideas for incorporating biophilic design elements into your home. For some expert help bringing this style to life, book a design consultation.
Let the light in
Maximising the amount of natural light in your space instantly makes your home feel more connected to nature. Simple changes - like moving furniture so it doesn’t block windows, adding mirrors to reflect natural light, or swapping heavy curtains for blinds or sheers - can make a big difference.
If you’re planning a new build or major renovation, consider adding skylights or floor-to-ceiling windows to create bright, light spaces that are the perfect canvas for your biophilic scheme.
Silhouette Softshades by Luxaflex
Introduce indoor greenery
If you love living spaces that are overflowing with greenery, creating a biophilic interior is the perfect excuse to grow a vibrant indoor jungle. But, while indoor plants are a key element of biophilic design, that doesn’t mean you have to have a miniature rainforest in your living room!
There are plenty of options if you prefer a more restrained approach; here are some ideas to get you started.
Grow your favourite herbs in a benchtop planter
Replace bookends with eye-catching potted plants
Add moisture-loving ferns and peace lilies to your bathroom
Add a fragrant gardenia or jasmine to the main entrance of your home
Use hanging pots or kokedama (Japanese moss balls) to add greenery without taking up space
If you’re not a gardener, dried floral arrangements and decorative botanical stems are a no-maintenance way to bring more nature into your space.
Small biophilic accents
Take inspiration from natural colours and patterns
Choosing artwork and soft furnishings that mimic the tones, patterns and textures found in nature adds another layer to your biophilic design scheme. There’s a stunning range of textiles available - get inspired in our online store or with a visit to our Montreal Street showroom!
Feel free to explore beyond a traditional green and brown palette, and take inspiration from your favourite natural features. The deep blue of a glacial lake, the rich warmth of sandstone, or a moody, dusky sunset sky all create different moods - and they can all work in a biophilic design scheme.
James Dunlop ‘Atrium’ curtains, Weave ‘Richmond’ Throw, Orla Kiely ‘Solid Stem’ Rug
Incorporating organic shapes and silhouettes
Biophilic interiors embrace soft shapes and curved lines, mimicking the imperfections found in nature. While you can’t remove all the straight lines and sharp angles from your home, balance them out with carefully chosen furniture and decor.
You can keep it simple and abstract with rounded furniture and soft lines, or choose pieces that directly mimic objects found in nature, like the ‘Dune’ tables pictured below.
Baya Living ‘Fayette’ Floor Rug, Mogg ‘Dune’ Tables
Using natural materials
Strengthen your home’s connection to nature by using wood, stone, linen, rattan, wool, or other natural materials. As well as adding visual interest, natural textures are inviting to touch, creating spaces that your family and guests will be naturally drawn to.
Wood-effect ceramic tiles - like the Porcelanosa tiles pictured below - are a fantastic way to bring the warmth of timber into your home, with fewer maintenance requirements.
Porcelanosa Xtone Ewood Camel Nature (L), Weave Henley Rug (R)
If you’re feeling inspired, why stop there? Try incorporating a few small elements into your home, and if you love the results, talk to us about creating a full interior scheme.
Our interior designers can help you to create a cohesive, modern biophilic space inspired by your story. Book a design consultation to get started.
