Bring the Outside In: How Biophilic Design Shapes Your State
You walk into a room. There’s a plant in the corner. Sunlight on wood. The smell of eucalyptus or soil. A feeling you can’t quite name, but your body recognizes it. This is not just decor. It’s biology. It’s called biophilic design, bringing nature into your space to support your state.
The Entryway:
Your body registers more than layout. It tracks light, scent, texture.
Warm wood. Natural fragrance. Rounded edges.
These cues say: you’re safe.
Rooms with natural elements have been shown to reduce heart rate and improve cognitive performance. Even a potted plant shifts perception.
The Living Room:
This is where people gather—and nervous systems calibrate.
Use soft, indirect light. Add life: a plant, a stone, a bowl of water.
Create a view, even if it’s just one tree branch through the window.
That visual connection to nature helps regulate emotion and lower cortisol.
The Kitchen:
Where energy becomes nourishment.
Wooden spoons. Ceramic mugs. A few herbs on the sill.
These aren't just aesthetic. They're a return to rhythm.
A 2020 study found people who cooked in nature-linked kitchens had better moods and lower stress.
The Bedroom:
Design affects rest.
Block blue light. Add woven textures. Choose earthy tones.
Bring in an air-purifying plant. Let fresh air flow in.
Sleep begins with your senses, and your body still follows the sun.
Not Just Style. State. :
Biophilic design helps your system regulate itself.
You don’t need a forest. You just need reminders, sunlight, texture, something alive.
Let Your Space Breathe:
The space you live in shapes how you feel.
Give it rhythm. Give it softness.
You don’t need more stuff.
You just need a little nature to remember who you are.
Sources
Zhong, Y., Liu, T., Zhang, Y., & Song, X. (2018). Physiological and cognitive performance of exposure to biophilic indoor environment. Building and Environment, 136, 185–193.
Kellert, S. R., Heerwagen, J. H., & Mador, M. L. (Eds.). (2008). Biophilic design: The theory, science, and practice of bringing buildings to life. Wiley.
Spence, C. (2020). Using ambient scent to enhance well-being in the multisensory home. Health & Place, 66, 102427.
Farmer, N., Touchton‐Leonard, K., & Ross, A. (2018). Psychosocial benefits of cooking interventions: A systematic review. Health Education & Behavior, 45(2), 167–180.
Allen, J. G., & Macomber, J. D. (2020). Healthy buildings: How indoor spaces drive performance and productivity. Harvard University Press.
Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Harvard University Press.
Browning, W. D., Ryan, C. O., & Clancy, J. O. (2014). 14 patterns of biophilic design: Improving health and well-being in the built environment. Terrapin Bright Green.
Wang, Y., Liu, P., & Zhang, Z. (2024). Interaction of visual and material biophilic elements on restorative outcomes. Buildings, 14(10), 3293.