Biophilic Design
What is biophilic design and why is it a good idea?
Biophilic design is fun, fresh, and full of benefits. To help you get familiar with this flora-centric trend, Nicola Wilson, Design Manager at Denby, has put together some tips.
Plants have long been known to have calming, soothing effects. We all know that interacting with nature can have a whole host of physical and mental benefits. Our daily walks were a treasured aspect of lockdown life. In fact, studies have even been done to try and quantify these benefits (nature.com). So, if you’re looking for a fresh new trend or trying to improve wellbeing even when indoors, you may be interested in biophilic design.
Biophilic design is one of the most creative and exciting interior design trends to happen in recent years, and it’s easy to add elements of it in your own home. Below, I’ll explain a bit more about the biophilic movement, plus I’ll share a few tips for incorporating it into your interiors.
Biophilic design takes inspiration from nature and gardens and brings landscaping indoors. Plants and flowers become the focus of your interiors. Houseplants have notably boomed in popularity over the last decade or so. With the rise of the sustainability movement, it’s no surprise that something as natural as nature itself has become our design inspiration!
Perhaps the best use of biophilic design is when it’s used in areas that are unexpected. For example, living walls and ceilings are not only beautiful to look at, but they can also muffle noise. This creates a calming atmosphere akin to a tranquil forest. Similarly, staircase gardens are a fresh new trend that can be reminiscent of mountains and cliffs. These can even represent nature reclaiming man-made structures.
Biophilic design ideas
If you’re looking for ways to use biophilic design in your home, read on for three tips on planning a design based around plants.
Incorporate plant-first design into your interiors
Plant-first design means just that — making plants the focal point of the space. Houseplants are essential for this style. From large potted plants on the floor, to trailing greenery in hanging baskets or on shelves, and tiny succulents dotted around the room. You can also consider elements of design more traditionally used in landscaping, such as herb gardens, rockeries, and even water features.
Biophilic design encourages you to be creative when displaying flora. Use unusual pots and vases such as our striking Denby mugs, jugs, bowls, and other containers. To create pockets of interest in your design, try clustering your plants into groups. You can play around with different heights, coloured foliage, and textures. It’s worth taking time to move things around and find the right arrangement for the atmosphere you want to create. This is where the Signaturize Room Creator App is super helpful, as you can have fun planning and creating perfect virtual arrangements.
Use soothing and uplifting colours inspired by nature
Your plants and other natural elements can also serve as an influence for the colour scheme of the room you’re decorating. Green is a naturally calming colour, bringing to mind feelings of harmony and balance. In fact, in colour psychology, it’s considered to have healing benefits! Similarly, other natural shades such as slate greys, ice blues, and neutral whites are ideal colours for a calming oasis.
Use nature as your inspiration and look for green and earthy coloured paints for your wall, furniture, and accents, to complement your chosen plants. For a bolder look, you could try contrasting colours to make the plants stand out. You can work out which tones contrast best by looking at a colour wheel, and the Denby guide to Life in Colour can help inspire you to find your ideal shade.
When picking out accessories, try and keep to tones inspired by nature. For everything from throw blankets to tableware, this will maintain the feeling of calm.
Source more sustainable home features
Biophilic design is as much about taking inspiration from plants as it is using them in your layout. With this in mind, using sustainable materials in your interior design is key to creating an oasis look. Look for natural wood, clay, and textiles in your furniture and accessories, and you’ll find that they work extremely well with the rest of your décor.
Hunt around for good quality furniture and home décor that has been made from natural materials rather than plastics wherever possible. Items that have been locally made by a company that has conscious credentials, rather than mass produced overseas, are an ideal fit. Better-quality furniture and homewares also tend to last longer than cheaply made alternatives. So, they may not have to be repaired or replaced as often, and they can be reused or recycled when they’re no longer needed.
If you’re looking for a fresh new trend to try out or you want to take a greener approach to interior design, go biophilic. Remember that the Signaturize Room Creator can help you design incredible rooms, allowing you to visualize your project before you start decorating.
Show off your flair for design
Do you love to design? If you’d like to make a room full of nature inspired furnishings, or add a pop of cheerful colour, you can try out designs on our room design app. Download it for free so you can have fun with your interior design or enter challenges for fun and to win prizes.
