From the houseplant craze that’s swept the world to a newfound appreciation for natural wood grains, biophilic interior design has made big waves over the past few years. Read on to find out more about this universally loved interior design trend, as well as some insider tips on how to create biophilic spaces in your home.
What is biophilic interior design?
Biophilic design refers to the art of bringing the outdoors in. The term doesn’t describe a single technique. Instead, it’s about a mindset that embraces natural elements and aims to incorporate them into living spaces.
The origins of biophilic interior design
Iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright was an early pioneer of biophilic design and what he referred to as “organic architecture”. “Buildings should seem to grow from the earth and belong as a tree belongs,” said Wright.
Renowned Harvard professor and biologist E.O. Wilson explored the concept further in his 1984 book, Biophilia. The book focussed on the fundamental attraction humans have to nature and their attempts to replicate its shapes, processes and structures in everyday life.
In this sense, biophilic design isn’t your typical trend. Most trends come and go, but the intrinsic infatuation humans have with nature is here to stay and biophilic interior design is just one way of expressing it.
How to create biophilic interiors
Now you know more about biophilic interiors, let’s explore some different ways you can bring the concept into your home.
Natural materials and textures
Biophilic interior design takes cues from the natural environment and furniture is a great way to channel this concept. The Florence range is one of our favourite biophilic furniture options, with pieces featuring solid pine wood and beautiful acacia wood grain tops.
Some items even take the natural aesthetic one step further with wicker-inspired baskets, as seen in our tallboys, sideboards and storage benches.
Alternatively, the Scandi-inspired Edvard Olsen range offers a variety of modern oak furniture, including light oak sideboards and golden oak dining tables.
Create an indoor jungle
House plants are the ultimate biophilic interior design statement. Bigger is often better, with one large fiddle leaf fig tree or monstera plant making a bigger statement than a dozen smaller pots.
If you struggle to keep plants alive, accessories like blue willow throw cushions can achieve the same look.
Earth-inspired colours
Colour can be a powerful way to embrace biophilic interiors in your home. Green is synonymous with nature, so look for ways to incorporate this colour into your décor. Mixing and matching different shades of green is a stylish way to create biophilic spaces. For example, the soft and muted sage green kitchen furniture in our Florence range looks striking when paired with darker forest green accents.
Biophilic design goes beyond aesthetics, with some experts suggesting that nature-inspired interiors promote emotional and intellectual wellbeing. We’re here to help you welcome Mother Nature into your home with a range of furniture and accessories that go hand in hand with biophilic spaces.
Browse our entire furniture collection online to find the perfect piece for you.