Recently, there has been a growing trend to rekindle our connection with nature through green walls at home.
It is because, for centuries, humans have coexisted peacefully with nature. We have shaped ourselves to fit our environment, which has provided for us. But with how urbanized society has become, nature seems to have taken a backseat.
While there are many aspects of biophilic design, we’ll focus on biophilic home design and explore ways you can incorporate them into your home. To do so, we need a basic understanding of biophilic design.
The Fundamentals of Biophilic Design for Homes
Biophilic design follows the idea that humans have an inherent connection with nature. It states that interacting with the environment is an innate part of our being. Incorporating natural elements such as earth, fire, water, and wind is crucial to our bond with nature.
It also pushes the idea that engaging your senses affects your overall health.
Invigorate the Senses
Biophilic design for your home is not limited to what you can see. When communing with nature, other senses are invigorated as well. These are some ways you can use your senses:
- Sight – create a visual connection to natural light, green wall landscape, and patterns depicting nature
- Sound – simulate sounds like water flowing, ocean waves, and animal calls
- Smell – scents of herbs, plants, and fruits
- Touch – textures of wood, sand, and pebbles
With that in mind, it can be challenging to imagine how you can incorporate biophilic design into your home. That being said, listed below are curated ideas on how you can apply the fundamentals of biophilic design into your residential spaces.
How to Introduce Biophilic Design into Home Interiors
Here are different ways to infuse biophilic design ideas into your home interior:
- Play ambient nature sounds
- Let in fresh air
- Invite the outside in
- Make use of sustainable and organic materials
- Keep your home clean
- Get to know your surroundings
Play Ambient Nature Sounds
Pink noises are the sounds of nature. These sounds can distract you from the noise around you and help you focus. They also promote better sleep and prevent insomnia.
You can simulate a natural environment by playing sounds like falling rain, bird songs, and animal calls. Sounds of a waterfall or a fountain you installed are also great ways to do so.
Listening to the high and low frequencies of pink noise is better for sleep than listening to white noise.
Let in Fresh Air
Another effortless way to reconnect with nature is to let fresh air into your home. You can do this just by opening your windows and doors more often.
The great thing about this is that you do not need to redecorate or renovate your home. All you have to do is make sure that you can open and close your doors and windows.
Doing this helps eliminate the oppressive tightness of being within the four walls of your house. It also brightens up your home and invites pink noise into your home.
Invite the Outside In
Speaking of your window, making it accessible is one of the easiest ways to let nature into your home. Not only does it let in natural light and fresh air, but it also emphasizes the view. Opening your window is a great way to experience the outdoors and imagine being in contact with the natural world.
Another way to let the outside in is to have a living wall in your house. A green wall at home transforms your space to accommodate nature better. There are different ways to apply this biophilic design element such as a moss wall garden or a preserved green wall.
You can also let the outside in with indoor plants or by adding water elements. You can place different potted plants in the nooks and crannies of your house, or you can have a mini garden with herbs. As another option, you can bring water into your home by setting up a mini waterfall or small fountain on any flat surface of your house. Having a fishbowl or aquarium is fine, too!
Make Use of Sustainable and Organic Materials
Another way to integrate nature into your home is to get furnishings made of natural materials. You can have furniture made from bamboo, wood, or rattan. You can also buy curtains, carpets, and rugs made from cotton, silk, or wool.
Invite nature to every part of your home by using kitchenware, home decorations, towels, and bedding made with natural materials too.
These are great ways to bring an earthy tone to your house. Not only do you bridge the gap between nature and technology, but you also establish a better connection with your surroundings.
Keep Your Home Clean
A simple yet overlooked way of infusing nature into your home is decluttering. As nature is all about peace, stability, and serenity, a disorganized home won’t be able to connect with nature.
Organizing and cleaning will help ensure that your house has balance and order. It will also help you maximize your space. Throwing away items that no longer serve you will show you where you can invite more of the environment into your home.
This will assist you in your journey of engaging with nature.
Get to Know Your Surroundings
You should also account for the characteristics of your home’s location.
Understanding your surroundings, whether near the mountains, parks, or rivers, should guide you in using biophilic design in your home. Help your home reconnect with its environment by letting your surroundings influence your interior. In turn, this will help improve your bond with nature and help you understand your connection to it.
If you still have trouble picturing how you can integrate biophilic design into your home, here are some biophilic home design ideas:
Design Ideas for Different Rooms Within a Home
Balcony
There are many ways you can change up your balcony to accommodate a more biophilic design. Here are two examples:
- Mini Garden
- Reading Nook
Mini Garden
One way to incorporate greenery into your balcony is to turn it into a mini garden. You can make your home a green wall filled with plants you hand-picked or make it as wild as a jungle, full of large plants lined up on the floor.
Reading Nook
Another way to transform your balcony is to make it a reading nook. You can hang air plants all over, place a comfortable chair, and add a shelf filled with books.
Bathroom
The bathroom is the perfect place to focus on yourself. Unfortunately, it can be neglected and treated as a secondary thought. Sprucing up the bathroom by adding plants like begonias, orchids, and aloe vera can already be considered a mini makeover.
There are more ways to integrate nature into your home. These include installing tiles made of pebbles into your floor or walls, using organic towels, and even constructing big windows from where you can view the sky.
Bedroom
Using wallpapers with patterns depicting elements of nature is one of the easiest ways to revitalize your connection with your natural surroundings. Meanwhile, bedsheets, carpets, and rugs can also reconnect you with nature through their materials and designs as well.
Playing soothing music like running water, ocean waves, or cicadas chirping can help you sleep better and bring you closer with nature.
Living Room
The living room is an important area of your home for biophilic interior design ideas that you can experiment with. Given the high foot traffic in the living area, here are two you can consider:
- Vertical Garden
- Glass Door
Vertical Garden
A great way to infuse nature into your living room is to give your house an indoor green wall. The vertical garden will not only make a statement but will also make you more in tune with nature.
Here are three of its key benefits to any living space:
- Creates a Relaxing and Peaceful Atmosphere
Installing a vertical garden in your home can help you achieve a more relaxing and peaceful atmosphere. The greenery helps to purify the air and produce negative ions, which have been proven to have a calming effect on people.
- Improves Air Quality
Another benefit of having a vertical garden at home is that it helps to improve the air quality inside your home. Plants act as natural filters, and they can help to remove toxins and pollutants from the air. This is especially beneficial for people who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems.
- Boosts Your Mood and Concentration
Being around plants has been shown to boost your mood and concentration. Studies have shown that looking at nature can help to reduce stress levels and improve your mood. Having a vertical garden in your home can give you a place to relax and recharge after a long day.
Work with Vertical Green to integrate a vertical garden masterpiece fit for your home. Reconnect with nature using our customized designs. We’re here to create breathtaking green spaces for you.
Have a piece of nature uniquely yours with Vertical Green.
Glass Door
Installing a large glass wall or door is a great way to connect the inside and outside of your house. You can put drapes and curtains for privacy and easily pull them back to let sunlight in and view your environment. Opening the glass door also lets fresh air into your home, allowing you to commune with nature more.
With all these ideas, try to experiment with elements of nature and how you could incorporate them into different areas of your home.
Incorporating Biophilic Design in Your Home
Biophilic design is all about bringing nature into your home. Use your imagination and creativity to do so in any way you want!
Do something as simple as opening your windows and doors more often or adding plants in different areas of your home. You can also put in more time, like installing a solar panel, buying wooden furniture, and making a living wall inside your house.
What’s important is how you commune and engage with nature.
If you’re interested in biophilic design for your home, Vertical Green is the place for you! We are your trusted vertical gardening innovator. We devote ourselves to creating a healthy, comfortable, and green environment for your home.
Get in touch with us and discover the vertical garden for you!
