Life, Styled
Our world is full of natural beauty, rich colors, and patterns galore, so it is no surprise that it is becoming more and more the inspiration behind many new interior design products, such as furniture, wallpaper, and lighting. More and more interior designers are looking to nature when creating a new space for their clients since a comfortable and healthy home is at the top of the list for most homebuyers today. Home is the place where we go to recharge and refuel for the next day; a good design can have a direct impact on these aspects. Biophilia is a term that has been steadily making its way into the design world and infiltrating the latest interior creations, both commercial and residential alike. Discover more about this interesting style, how it is being implemented in design, and how the trends are emerging throughout multiple industries.
What Is Biophilia?
Biophilia was a term first coined by psychoanalyst Erich Fromm, who used it to describe the idea of a passionate love of life and all that is alive. Over the years, this concept has made its way into the home as more designers realized the benefits it had to offer their clients. As the majority of our time is spent indoors, the need for nature has become apparent, and while the go-to solution was to add plants inside, biophilia is about much more than including additional greenery. Its ultimate goal is to provide you with a calming environment that nourishes both the mind and spirit. Lots of scientific research has been done to back this reasoning and change the way we think of design. The range of implementing biophilia into your home is up to you; it can be through subtle ways, such as pattern, texture, and color, or more obvious methods like increased natural light and plants. You can’t go wrong by seeking to bring a little or a lot of nature inside. We were meant to benefit each other, so what better way to help keep our family well than by inviting Mother Nature inside.
What Is Biophilia Interior Design?
Our home is our sanctuary, a place set aside to be a place of safety and security. The purpose of using biophilia in design is to mimic the many benefits nature gives us when we spend time outdoors. Designers are striving to bring the great outdoors into our personal doors, a place we were not necessarily intended to remain in 90% of the time, but due to our structure, is how many of us spend our days. This need has caused interior designers to find ways to give our bodies what they need, yet still blend with our lifestyle demands. There are both direct and indirect ways to bring nature inside. Direct ways include plants, water, and light, while indirect can be done through artwork that features nature, organic materials such as wood and stone, and of course, borrowing from nature’s color palette. Simply put, Biophilia interior design looks to nature to spark a design style or sketch in order to give you the best environment to live and work in.
Adding Plants In The Home
When you think of bringing nature inside, your mind automatically goes to more plants. While we would not recommend turning every area of the home into a miniature greenhouse, a few plants can yield your family tremendous benefits, including:
- Cleaning the air
- Less stress
- Increase in productivity
Since they come in so many sizes and varying colors, having plants throughout your home can help with wellness for everyone. It is a known fact that plants purify the air, and as we have increased the amount of time at home, this has enormous benefits for everyone. In addition, many now work more from home, and placing a few plants in your home office can help ease the eye strain by taking a break and admiring the greenery. The color green is also associated with calming the mind down and alleviating mental fatigue. Choosing to purchase some greenery for your home could give you multiple benefits, though we want to recommend speaking with nursery professionals before selecting plants if you have pets, as some are toxic when ingested. Again, surrounding yourself with things that can increase your wellness is a great investment.
Outdoor Living
Outdoor spaces have been growing in popularity over the last few years. They allow you to have a space where you can enjoy the fresh air, the warm sun, the pleasant views only nature can create, and calm your mind after a stressful day. An outdoor space can take on many shapes; it can be a small patio that has several plants, a couple of chairs, and maybe even a simple screen to keep out the bugs and allow you to sip your favorite beverage. It can be a full deck with an outdoor kitchen that enables you to cook outside and eat meals with the family while enjoying those cool spring or fall evenings. Having a place to escape from the four walls of your home means you can relax and soak up everything nature has to offer. When looking for ways to turn your home into a place of calm, look outside.
Let Nature Inspire Your Design
Nature has a way to destress us in a way nothing else can, which is why so many manufacturers are drawing from the outdoors when designing products intended for the inside. If you want to try incorporating biophilia design elements in your home, consider putting these on your list.
- Wood: whether the real thing or simply wood tones, both are getting popular and being integrated into more elements such as light fixtures, hardware, and even tile. Even the pattern of wood grain draws you back to a natural feel
- If your space cannot be expanded, consider installing larger windows or door frames, which allow more light inside, making it brighter and bigger. If you can’t look at additional lights for the areas you are renovating.
- Color: blues, greens, and neutrals like white and beige are all good color choices for multiple areas in the homes, but especially work-related spaces such as office and school work, along with rest areas like the family and living rooms.
Interior design plays a key role in the atmosphere of your home, and biophilia only seeks to bring the very best elements together for the perfect environment. Speak to your designer about using the principles of biophilia to create your new space, and feel free to browse places like Pinterest and HGTV for more inspiration.
Walker Woodworking Too much clutter can detract from your home’s wellness and leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and even depressed if it sticks around long enough. It can also make it difficult to concentrate, which can affect the entire family. It’s important to set about decluttering in an eco-friendly way to ensure that you aren’t throwing out things that could be put to good use elsewhere. With so many landfills already overflowing, it’s imperative for us all to do our part and keep recycling.
Keep reading for some great tips from Greenbook Design on how to declutter your home in an eco-friendly way.
Greenbrook DesignWarmer weather is just around the corner, meaning we can finally spend more time outside doing what we love, like grilling, swimming, and sitting around fire pits. One thing that all of these have in common is that they can be done in your own backyard. Outdoor spaces are trending this year and for good reason, since they provide a change of scenery for homeowners without having to drive somewhere, plus they add more usable space to your home. Enjoy fresh air, cool summer nights, and time with family all within the safety of your own home. Here are a few reasons and benefits to adding or upgrading your outdoor space.
Greenbrook DesignColor. It is what gives our world variety and speaks a language all its own. It is a versatile element that is used in various professions such as art, entertainment, and even cooking. Interior designers thrive on color to express their client’s personality and tell their story. Color is also the common thread that ties other elements, like texture and pattern. Woven together, they create a sense of unity and influence the mood. It is fairly common knowledge that each color implies a mood, such as blue is calm, green represents growth, and yellow expresses happiness. The colors you select for your home can have an effect on the atmosphere, and more and more homeowners are looking to add a little comfort with color.
Walker WoodworkingThe kitchen sink is probably one of the most important elements in the kitchen, since it’s where we wash dishes, rinse food, and wash our hands. There are so many options, such as stainless steel, porcelain, and ceramic. Then, of course, there are multiple styles and sizes. At Greenbrook, we are always looking for new items that will meet a need for our clients, and sinks definitely are one of them, which is why we are an authorized dealer for the Karran Sinks.
Walker Woodworking Old meets new to create a blend of something beautiful, which is one way to summarize grand millennial style. While minimalism is still a popular trend, many millennials are finding comfort and freedom of expression from their beloved family heritage. Grand millennial is a combination of the new with things of the past, like that old wingback chair from grandma’s attic, and breathing new life into it through reupholstering it. This style also pairs perfectly with many people’s desire to recycle and reduce waste by repurposing existing materials. Let’s unpack this style a little more and find out if it is right for you.
Greenbrook Design