As humans, we’re part of the natural world – but it can be easy to forget, seeing ourselves as somehow separate from it. After all, consciousness, clothing, and concrete distinguish us somewhat from the rest of the animal kingdom.
And while most of us are grateful for the incredible feats of human progress and achievement that allow us to live the way we do, there are downsides. Moving away from nature and more deeply into an indoor world made of bricks and mortar can significantly impact mental and physical health.
In fact, research has repeatedly shown that we have a fundamental human need to connect with nature, so much so that those who maintain that close connection may live longer, healthier, happier lives. Luckily, there’s an easy way for us to stay connected, even in terrible weather!
By bringing nature indoors using biophilic design and decor, you can transform your home and, in turn, your well-being. Biophilic design (incorporating natural elements into your home and decor) has been found to stimulate the brain, reduce stress levels, improve concentration, and nurture a calmer, more creative and productive living space.
Sounds good? Here are nine simple and effective ways to incorporate biophilic design into your home.
1. Maximise natural light
You don’t necessarily have to buy or add anything to your home to incorporate biophilic design. Biophilic design means prioritising and incorporating natural elements, of all kinds – including natural light and fresh air – into your home. Letting as much natural light flood your home as possible is probably one of the easiest things you can do to bring the outside in.
One quick way to optimise the light entering your home is to remove dark, heavy curtains and blinds, and make sure your windows aren’t obscured by furniture. Keep your walls a light, bright shade that reflects natural light, and you can even use mirrors to cleverly bounce light around a room.
If you do want to splash out and invest in some biophilic design that’ll make a dramatic difference to a home that needs more natural light, roof windows are the way to go.
2. Pay attention to patterns
It might seem obvious but simply reflecting nature in the patterns of your textiles, tableware, furnishings, and fixtures is a powerful way to feel closer to nature. From your wallpaper and bedding to your rugs and anything else, choose patterns that feel natural, embrace the natural world, and pay homage to the beautiful world outside your door.
We particularly love Voyage Maison’s beautiful biophilic homeware, including cushions, lampshades, and throws.
3. Embrace plant life
You might recall that during the lockdowns of 2019/20, when we were compelled to stay indoors, one of the most popular ways people compensated for being outdoors was by filling their homes with plants. You don’t have to go overboard, but keeping plants throughout your home is another simple and beautiful way to honour nature within your four walls.
Plants have been found to help purify the air in your home and have been repeatedly linked to improved focus, better moods, and even faster recovery from illness and injury. We love UK plant delivery company Hortology for their superb selection, including a huge range of air-purifying plants.
To take this to another level, you might consider creating what’s called a ‘living wall’ – The Den & Now have a gorgeous range of vertical wall planters that’ll create a beautiful, lush effect in your home.
There’s plenty to be said for the process of nurturing and caring for plants, too. It’s a mindful, calming and meditative process, and the rewards we get from keeping living things alive, watching them grow – and even propagating them – can’t be overstated.
4. Choose natural materials
Not only do natural materials like wood, stone, rattan, bamboo, cork, linen, cotton, and leather look and feel fantastic, but they all contribute to a naturally connected environment and a more sustainably furnished home.
The texture, colour, and even the scent of natural decor and textiles reflect the outdoors and can encourage the same grounded and peaceful emotions that nature does.
You don’t have to break the bank to introduce natural materials either – in fact, you can get sustainable with it, and find pre-loved pieces at auctions and second-hand shops all over the UK. The idea is to swap the sheen and shine for natural, raw, and elemental materials.
If you’d rather avoid trawling through auctions or second-hand stores, and prefer to have natural beauty delivered to your door, try Sklum’s beautiful collection of biophilic furnishings and textiles.
5. Let things take shape naturally
Nature is about curves and flows, rough textures and smooth edges, and perfect imperfections. You can reflect this in your home in so many ways. Choose round and curved shapes and natural textures, from your tableware – check out these beautiful designs by Anthropologie – to your lampshades – Nordic Nest do a stunning range of textured, natural, elegant shades.
Hand-crafted pottery that has an organic look and feel is another simple way to infuse your home with a natural, earthy atmosphere. We love the collection at Home Barn, which is textured, curved, and sometimes a little bit wonky – but always natural.
6. Feed the birds
Your feeder might be outside but you don’t have to be. Set up some nice bird feeders outside your kitchen or living room window – where you like to sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee or a book. Suet, fat balls, nuts, seeds, and mealworms will attract a variety of beautiful birds to your garden, and give you such a joyful display to enjoy from the comfort of your kitchen table or couch.
For a close-up experience, you can attach a window feeder to the window of your choice and watch these beautiful little creatures flit and flap around as they feast upon the buffet you’ve laid out for them. This requires patience; it’s important not to expect too much too soon. Once the birds relax and feel safe to come to the window feeder, the wait will be worth it.
We like to call it ‘Bird TV’; the comings, goings and interactions of the birds who come to your feeder can help you forget all about screens and get lost in their activities. The best thing about doing this, though, is that you’ll be helping to sustain local wildlife – especially in the harsher winter months.
7. Use scents
The natural world is a truly sensory place; sight, sound, texture, taste and smell come together in a way that’s difficult to describe. Picture a waterfall in a pine forest on a sunny day – from the incredible sound of rushing water and the smell of pine to the tiny splashes of water gently landing on your skin.
You can invoke a truly sensory natural experience in your home using scents. The trick to do this in a biophilic way is to stay as natural as possible. This means that, for example, at Christmas, you choose a real pine tree rather than a spray can of ‘real pine scent’.
Natural and organic potpourri, natural oils in a burner, fresh flowers, or sweetly scented plants will allow natural fragrances to float through your home and truly bring the natural world to your living room. Alternatively, Norfolk Natural Living is a great place to get some truly outdoors-inspired scents and sprays.
8. Add a water feature
Whether inside your home or in the garden, using water is a fundamental principle of biophilic design. From indoor fountains to ponds, water creates a famously serene atmosphere, promotes stress reduction and helps us to feel more connected to the earth.
Even the sound of running water can add sensory pleasure – not only masking unwanted noises but actively creating a sense of peace and rhythm that’s soothing and meditative. If installed outdoors, you’ll also provide a habitat for plants and animals, further bringing the natural world into your space.
Effective and beautiful as water features are, they do need maintenance so look before you leap, and be ready to put some effort into this fabulous biophilic home addition.
9. Choose your colour palettes carefully
Whether you choose warm and earth tones of terracotta and fern, or something cooler like alabaster and sea green, your home’s colour palette is a powerful and immediate way to invoke a sense of nature indoors. Palette chosen, you can match your textiles and decor to create a distinct and natural atmosphere.
What’s also fun about this biophilic approach is that you can create a unique atmosphere in each room, from a fern forest in the bedroom to deep sea serenity in the bathroom.
For inspiration, take a look at how colour has created the serene woodland feel throughout actress Dakota Johnson’s stunning L.A. home.
Final thoughts…
It’s quite natural (excuse the pun) for us to be drawn to the earthy, natural, and organic. That said, it isn’t always easy to know how to reflect that throughout your home.
Perhaps these ideas have given you some inspiration for how you can embrace a little biophilia in your home’s decor and design, and bring a little nature indoors. With some time given to nurturing nature in your living space, you should feel the benefits of connecting with the world around you, even without going outside.
For more nature-inspired inspiration, why not check out our article: 32 ways to connect with nature and feel inspired?
Have you used any of these tips to create a more natural atmosphere in your home, or do you have any ideas you think we should know about? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.