What Is Biophilic Design and Why Is It Trending for 2023?

Embracing the movement will result in a more restful and restorative home.

In the last decade, an increasing amount of designers and architects have embraced the approach of blurring the indoors with the out. Biophilic design is becoming more popular and is projected to be one of the most significant looks of 2023, connecting homeowners and office workers to nature.

At this point, we can safely consider it less of a 'trend' and more of a movement – as the world continues to urbanise, the qualities of biophilic design become increasingly important. The movement is likely a result of the increased amount of time we have spent at home over the last few years, an awareness of the impacts our immediate surroundings can have on our well-being, and the growing concern for our climate.

But what actually is biophilic design and how can we incorporate some of its features into our own homes? Below, we explore the design concept in further detail.

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What is biophilic design?

The concept comes from the term 'biophilia', which Harvard naturalist Dr. Edward O. Wilson described as humanity's "innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes." Basically, it refers to the human tendency to interact with other forms of life. In design, biophilic design is all about bringing the outdoors in to enhance connectivity to the natural environment.

The overall goal is to enhance well-being, health, and productivity by creating a relaxing environment with a visual link to nature. It aims to create harmony with nature and resonate with humans' inner desire to connect with it.

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How can we embrace biophilic design in our homes?

Achieving a biophilic design aesthetic in your home can be attained through both direct and indirect elements. If you're considering introducing the look to your home or workspace, consider the below:

Direct

Indoor plants.
Green walls.
Water fountains or ponds.
Plenty of natural light.
Natural elements that tie in with the surrounding landscape.
Natural scents.
Plenty of natural ventilation.

Indirect

Nature-inspired tones.
Statement wallpaper that replicates greenery and natural materials.
Natural shapes and forms.
Nature-inspired artwork.
Playing sounds from nature.

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Benefits of biophilic design

Being immersed in nature can bring both clarity and tranquillity to our minds. But the vast majority of us spend a significant proportion of our lives indoors. This is where biophilic design can help give us the best of both worlds.

Biophilic design goes beyond aesthetics. Whether it's at home or in your workspace, the advantage of it is that it can reduce stress, enhance creativity, and ultimately help the well-being of its occupants. A study published in Environmental International found that biophilic environments had larger restorative impacts than non-biophilic environments in terms of reducing physiological stress and psychological anxiety level.

Embracing green building ideas has the potential to reduce the effects of CO2 emissions, increase the biodiversity of plants and wildlife, and help regulate indoor temperatures. This is not to say that adding a few indoor plants and some nature-inspired wallpaper will remotely assist the climate crisis!

When you consider whether you'd prefer being in a room that had a lovely view outdoors, plenty of greenery within, and made you feel connected to the environment in some way, versus a room with low natural light and few natural elements, the vast majority of us would pick the former. Not all of us have the luxury of sweeping views, large gardens or balconies, but implementing some of the aforementioned elements can boost our mood and make us feel more connected with life outside our homes.