How to Bring Nature Indoors: Biophilic Design Tips for a Calming Space
Biophilia in design: How to Incorporate Nature into Your Interior Spaces
As the world becomes increasingly urbanised, biophilic design is a term that we are hearing more and more. Biophilia is the innate human tendency to interact and connect with life in nature. It literally translates to ‘love of life or living things’. This intuitive love of nature is actually ingrained in our DNA! Hence, we are seeking more ways to reconnect with nature.
One of the most effective ways to do this day-to-day is by integrating elements of the outdoors into your interior spaces. By choosing lush greenery and natural materials, the creation of a harmonious blend between the indoors and outdoors can help build a space that promotes creativity, well-being and tranquillity.
Biophilia is more than just a philosophy—biophilic design has been found to support cognitive function, physical health, and psychological well-being. In this article, we’ll explore the key elements to Biophilic design and how to practically incorporate these to help you create a serene, nature-infused living space.
Biophilia: The key elements
Nature in the Space. Incorporating natural elements such as plants, animals, water, breeze, scents, light, shadows, etc creates a direct link to nature.
Natural Analogues. We can represent natural materials within our spaces such as patterns, objects, colours, and shapes that exist in nature.
Nature of the Space. A variety of spatial elements commonly found in nature can be included into your living or workplace environment to create places of sensory refuge (such as a quiet, dark, cave-like room. These elements could be created using dark walls and furnishings, a scenic artwork or large windows with expansive views.
For more info on Biophilic design check out this article by Maria McCain https://www.nrdc.org/bio/maria-mccain/bringing-outdoors-benefits-biophilia
Bringing the Outdoors In: The Benefits
Indoor Plants are an easy and versatile way to introduce nature into any space. Whether it’s a large indoor tree like a fiddle leaf fig, a hanging plant like pothos, or a collection of smaller succulents, plants can enhance the beauty of a room while improving air quality.
Improved Mental and Physical Health Many studies have shown that exposure to natural elements can reduce stress, improve mood, and boost overall health. Nature has a calming effect on the mind, making it easier to relax and recharge. Additionally, natural light and plants can improve air quality and outdoor-inspired colors and textures increase feelings of well-being.
Enhanced Creativity and Focus Natural surroundings have been shown to stimulate creativity and improve cognitive function. By incorporating nature into your interiors, whether through natural light, plants, or organic materials, you can create an environment that fosters focus and inspiration.
Fact: We have many healthy indoor plants in our design studio here at The Scape Artist HQ! These plants are exposed to natural and artificial light, and are watered monthly.A Sense of Calm and Balance Nature-inspired interiors often evoke a sense of peace and harmony. This is particularly important in a world where many of us live with constant stress and noise. Nature, in all its forms, can help to restore balance in our lives.
Tip: Group plants of varying sizes and types to create a layered, visually appealing garden indoors. Consider installing a vertical garden or a plant wall to save space and make a bold statement.
Choosing the Right Plants for Your Indoor Garden
When selecting plants for your indoor garden, consider factors such as light, temperature, humidity, and the amount of time you can devote to plant care. Here are some great options:
Low-Maintenance Plants
Snake Plant (Sansevieria) A hardy plant which thrives on low light and very little water. This plant is also an excellent air purifier!
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) Another low maintenance plant that can tolerate low light conditions. It’s elegance, shape and colour will enhance any room.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) Perfect for those with minimal time for plant care. It can thrive in low light and tolerates infrequent watering.
Plants for Bright, Sunlit Spaces
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) This striking plant can grow quite tall. It’s large, glossy leaves make it an excellent statement piece.
Aloe Vera This versatile succulent thrives in bright light and also offers medicinal properties. It’s gel is commonly used to soothe skin irritations and burns.
Citrus Trees (Lemon, Lime, Orange) Dwarf citrus trees can grow indoors, especially in a north-facing window. In the right setting these plants not only provide a refreshing scent, but their fruit can also bring a bright pop of colour.
Indoor Herbs and Edible Plants Some easy-to-grow herbs include; basil, mint, parsley & thyme. Not only do these provide fresh ingredients for cooking, they also look great!
Tip: These herbs thrive on sunny windowsills and can be grown in small containers or even hydroponic systems for maximum convenience.
Successful Indoor Gardening: Essential Tips
Assess Light Conditions Different plants require different amounts of light. Make sure to assess the natural light in your home before choosing plants. If you don’t have many windows or your space is dim, opt for plants that can tolerate low light. Alternatively, consider using grow lights to supplement natural light.
Proper Watering: Overwatering is a common mistake in indoor gardening. Many indoor plants, especially succulents and cacti, prefer to dry out between waterings. Be sure to check that pots have proper drainage to avoid root rot.
Tip: Water your plants only when the top inch of soil feels dry.Use the Right Soil Different plants have different soil requirements. For instance, ferns prefer soil that holds moisture well, but succulents need well-draining soil. Always check the plant label for instructions and be sure to use potting mixes that are specific to the plant types that you're growing.
Repot When Necessary: As your plants grow, they may outgrow their pots. When this happens the roots need more space to grow, therefor be sure to repot them into larger containers to prevent the plants becoming pot-bound.
Maintain Humidity Many indoor plants thrive in higher humidity environments. If your space is dry, consider using a humidifier or placing your plants on a tray of pebbles -especially during winter. This will help increase moisture around the plants.
Tip: Keep a water-filled spray bottle on hand to give the leaves an occasional light spray.
Regularly Check for Pests While indoor gardening can be relatively pest-free, it’s still important to check your plants regularly for common pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. If you notice any signs of infestation, treat your plants with remedies like neem oil. Here is a great article on this:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-20/treating-common-indoor-plant-pests-and-problems/12872812
Choose pet friendly
If you have indoor pets, ensure that your indoor plants are pet friendly. If your pets like to nibble or dig, I find it helps to elevate the plants on furniture, shelves, plant hangers or pot stands to keep them out of reach. this also creates a more interesting display!
There are loads of articles on this topic, see below for further reading:
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/pet-friendly-houseplants
Design Ideas for Bringing the Outdoors In
Create an Indoor Garden
Transform a corner of your home into a dedicated indoor garden. This could include a mix of plants, a small water feature, and a comfortable seating area. Use shelves, plant stands or hangers to display these at various heights, making the space feel like a mini oasis.
Open-Concept Layouts
Open-concept designs incorporate large windows, sliding glass doors, or bi-fold doors to seamlessly connect the indoors with an outdoor patio, balcony, or garden. This way, your interior feels more expansive and connected to the natural world outside.
Outdoor-Inspired Furniture & art
Choose furniture pieces and art that reflect the aesthetics of nature, such as wicker or rattan, reclaimed wood or stone sculptures. Large artworks can create the illusion of a window to a garden scene. Embracing natural materials and scenic artwork is an easy method of bringing the outdoors in. Be sure to choose modern pieces to maintain a contemporary vibe.
Natural Scents
In addition to visual elements, consider adding nature-inspired scents to your home. Candles with earthy fragrances like sandalwood, cedarwood, or lavender can enhance the feeling of being surrounded by nature. Diffusers with essential oils or fresh flowers in vases also offer natural aromatherapy.
Conclusion
Incorporating nature into your interior design is not just about bringing the outdoors in, nor is it simply about adding plants or using natural materials. It’s involves creating a Biophilic living space that fosters balance, connection, and well-being. By incorporating natural light, earthy colours, plants and organic textures into your space, you can create a refreshing, calming, and grounded interior environment. We see the key to Biophilic design as the intention of making your home feel like a sanctuary—where the line between the indoors and outdoors is beautifully blurred.
Ultimately, by embracing the beauty of nature, you can create a Biophilic environment that nourishes the soul, promotes a sense of tranquillity, and provides a welcome relief from the demands of modern life. So, take a deep breath, step into your natural-inspired interior, and let nature become part of your everyday life.