Bringing The Outdoor Into Your Home To Promote Health and Well-being
Gorgeous botanical wallpaper by de Gourney / Design by Alexis Humiston of ABH Interiors / Photo by Suzanna Scott Photography
It’s all the rage today. Bringing nature into your home in order to promote wellness and harmony to your life just makes sense. The idea is to blurr the lines between what is outside in nature and what is in your home.
Let’s talk about the Theory of Biophila just a bit.
The theory of Biophilia shows that human health and well-being are dependent on our natural environment. The theory states that all humans have an innate love and need for the natural world. Through the ages, humans have always depended on our environment and other living organizms to survive. It is believed that our DNA is hard wired to find natural well-being in nature, so why not bring it into our homes and commerical buildings to promote health and wellness.
The idea is not to just bring in one or two plants and you have the environment needed for wellness. It is more than that. It is a combination of different fundamental principles brought together that creates a habitat that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle created specifically for your individual taste.
There are basically two different features of biophilic design.
The first is the organic features which is depicted by things or experiences that come from nature. They don’t necessarily need to be touched but can also be seen from afar. It incorporates natural lighting and materials, views of our surroundings, vegetation and other natural elements that exist in nature.
The other feature is based on the specific geographic and cultural environment of your specific surroundings. It is the geology that surrounds your home.
“A piece of land - not so very big, with a garden and, near the house, a spring that never fails, and a bit of wood to round it off.”
According to the studies, there are a few things that you can do to help promote better health and well-being. There is so much to know about Biophilic Design as it relates to interiors. Here are just a few that might help you if you are looking for a more serene and healthful environment.
Botanicals / Plants
Plant life improves air quality by reducing carbon dioxide levels, increase humidity, reduce levels of pollutants, reduce airborne dust levels and keeps air temperature down. They are also seen to reduce stress and helps you to be more productive.
Scenic wallpaper “Sumatra” by artist Valerie Morein for Zuber.
Did you know that plants reduce background noises?
Plants can be included in or around your home. By placing potted botanicals in your living area you are creating a more environmentally friendly atmosphere. There are all kinds of plants that you can incorporate in your living space.
Another way to incorporate the feelings of vegetation, or greenery, is to use botanical motifs and fabrics within the home. If you are living in the city and have no exterior plantlife, adding botanical wallpaper or murals is a great alternative. Add a few live plants along with your murals can help produce a more traquil environment. A beautiful fabric with a botanical print is a lovely way to bring natural colors and greenery into your home.
Gorgeous design and wallpaper panel from Designers Guild - Giardino Segreto Design
A huge trend right now is incorporating a living wall into your home or exterior space. These living walls are vertical gardens that you can either create yourself or have one made for you.
Beautiful Succulent Living Wall by Country Living Magazine
This lovely living green wall is designed by Wabimoss. To see more of there products just click on the link.
Here is a tutorial for you to learn how to create a living wall.
Lighting and Windows
Lighting is a fundamental component to Biophilic design. Natural and artifical diffused lighting directly regulates our body’s biological clock 24 hours a day. It has been well established that if done correctly, natural and artifical lighting promotes health and well-being.
Sunlight is the one thing that is fundamental to all living things.
Studies have proven that the more natural lighting we are exposed to, the more we can reduce stress, depression and illness. It is also directly related to better cognitive ability.
Things you can do to promote better lighting in your home
This is a lovely example of windows that are fully open to the outdoors. All natural colors and hues are present along with bright sunshine and open air. Design by Patricia Baiz Interiors
Open up spaces within your home to promote more natural lighting. Large windows that have a view of a garden, landscape or ocean, flower beds, potted plants and living walls all connect us to nature. Instead of having heavy window treatments hung over your windows, simply open them up and let the light in. Hang shades over your windows that can be adjusted in the evening but opens fully to let the light in during the day.
Create a more open living area with large windows that encourages sunlight to come into your space and where you can have views of the surrounding environment. The open outdoors is pleasing to all of our senses.
Open your windows and patio doors to create a wonderful cross breeze for better ventilation. Encourage more sunlight and connection to the outside landscape. Breath in the air and listen to nature.
Water and Health
The presence of water whether indoors or outside, evokes positive emotional responses and is said to help improve concentration and perception. Just listening to the trickle of water or seeing a pool of water can promote feeling of traquility. Studies have seen that it can reduce stress, heart-rate and lowers blood pressue.
Things you can do to promote tranquility and health using water
This lovely water feature is designed by David Harber. This bronze bowl has a patina that creates a beautiful blue color that I absolutely love. The water cascades down in a pretty curtain of water creating a lovely trickling sound that is soothing and immediately calms the soul.
Installing a water feature that has movement is a great way to achieve this design element. Whether it is installed inside your home or outdoors is really up to you but the effect is the same. If you place it outside, put is close enough to a window or patio where you can hear the water trickling from indoors. Place plants around the water feature and create a place where you can find a connection with nature. It doesn’t have to be big to be effective. Sit and enjoy your calming restorative space.
Natural Materials and Warm Colors
In design, textures, patterns and colors play a role in having a harmonic environment. This is especially true when looking to create a healthy and calming home environment.
Design by ABH Interiors. This is such a lovely example of warm colors, natural textures and patterns. The pieces selected for this design were created from surrounding natural resources. This room has a big open window with a view of the outdoors and also has a wide open living space that enables light and air to travel through the space.
Colors should be represented by those that come naturally from our surrounding landscape. The use of distressed woods that come from your surroundings and textures such as worn leather, shells and stone decor will integrate the need for natural feelings of wellness. You don’t need to fill your room with it, but to just add accent pieces. Side table or organically created woven rugs, rustic vintage vases with a lovely patina and upcycled wooden stools created from local artisans using materials from your geographic location makes your indoor environment more relational to your immediate landscape. This allows for your interior and exterior to blur and become one.
This is a succulent garden planter that I have on my patio. It is one of the ways in which I bringing nature onto my living space.
““I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order””
Here is a lovely succulent and moss wreath that you can hang either outside or indoors. This was created by Meadow View Farms in Southwick, MA. It is the second year I purchased this wreath and I love it!
Just bringing in simple wall planters as I have shown here makes a difference in your home. Design, sold and photographed by Umbra.
"Sumatra" wallpaper col.9, from the 2019 collections. Created by artist Valerie Morien for Zuber
“The thing is…bringing nature into your living space makes sense. What is most important is that you make it your own. I love blues and browns and my home is riddled with those colors, botanicals and large open windows that let the light and air in. It doesn’t matter what your design tastes are. You can incorporate all these biophilic elements into your home without compromising your own personal style. Look for what makes you feel restful and at peace, bring them into your living area and leave the rest to nature.”
As with everything I post on my blogs, please feel free to comment or if you have any questions, please email me through my contact page. I welcome it anytime!
Design with your heart™️
Have a lovely day my friends!
Mary
“May your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows. ”
Biophilic Color Inspiration
