Frank Lloyd Wright, iconic architect and designer was a big advocate. But what is biophilia and what can it do for us?
Literally meaning ‘the love of life and the living world‘, biophilic design focuses on the wellbeing of people in interior spaces through connection with the natural environment. Studies show the benefits of less stress, greater productivity, focus, joy and even immunity.
Since mimicking nature may be challenging to replicate, here are some
simple ways to integrate biophilia into your home and receive the many instant benefits:
1. Natural Light– Make the most of your natural light by keeping the
windows clean and unobstructed. This includes window treatments- open
them up and get clean fresh air as much as possible.
2. Color– Earth tones, green, water and sky blues, colors derived from
nature create a Biophilic effect. Add colors easily to almost any room with accessories and art.
3. Plants– With variety of shapes, sizes and budget friendly options, plants may be one of the easiest ways to naturally enhance a space. Eco-blogger Neha Kandwal’s article 12 NASA Recommended Air Purifying Plants sheds more light on this.
4. Shapes– Curved furniture and decor are key components of this concept as they resemble organic shapes. Geometric shapes are rarely
seen in nature.
5. Natural Materials and Fibers– Fabrics like ethical silk, organic linen and cotton are a simple addition, and the more straight forward materials stone and wood can be added as a small accessory to large renovations.
Another option in the middle would be wall coverings. There are gorgeous
eco-friendly styles that can transform a space. My favorite companies are:
Elitis, Arte International and Phillip Jeffries.
6. Sounds– You can find the soothing sounds of nature on most platforms
including YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify. I love Nature Sounds on Johnnie Lawson’s Youtube channel offering free extended audio recordings with beautiful nature imagery.
For more inspiration, check out Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home or any of the other architectural gems with virtual visits. As the icon made it his mission to”help people understand how to make life more beautiful, the world a better one for living in, and to give reason, rhyme and meaning to life.” I hope you can find a piece of that in this time of uncertainty.
Live consciously,
x Michelle