Embrace Nature in Your Home With Biophilic Interior Design

Make your home a revitalising sanctuary with the power of biophilic interior design. By blending natural materials, textures, and patterns, this design approach deepens your connection to nature and can enhance your well-being. Explore how to style this design approach in your home and create a space inspired by the tranquillity of the outdoors. 

Featuring our Monkey Business Indigo Blue Rug.  

What Is Biophilic Design? 

Biophilic design is an approach to architecture and interiors that seeks to weave nature into our indoor environments. The term itself originates from the Greek words for "love" and "life," translating to "the love of living things." It was first introduced by psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in 1973, who described it as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”

The term was then popularised in 1984 by biologist Edward O. Wilson, who expanded on the idea in his book Biophilia, arguing that humans have an innate connection to nature that is intrinsic to our human experience – a bond rooted deeply in our biology. 

Wilson’s ideas laid the foundation for biophilic design, which not only involves directly incorporating natural elements like plants, water, and light into our spaces but also drawing inspiration from organic shapes, patterns, and textures. By blending the indoor and outdoor worlds, biophilic design fosters a deeper connection to the natural environment. 

Featuring our Screen Printed Ferns Juniper Rug. 

How Can Biophilic Design Improve Your Home and Happiness 

Biophilic design doesn’t just make your home look better – it makes you feel better too. By embracing natural elements, it brings a wide range of benefits to your physical and mental well-being.

Research has shown that biophilic design can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and boost your mood. It’s not just about relaxation either, biophilic spaces have been shown to enhance productivity and focus, helping you feel more energised and inspired every day. 

How to Incorporate It Into Your Space

Print Designs 

Nature-inspired prints are a simple yet striking way to embrace biophilic design. Patterns like florals, leafy designs, and tropical prints instantly evoke the beauty of the outdoors, bringing freshness and vitality to any space. Whether through rugs, cushions, or wallpaper, these prints add texture and movement, creating a dynamic, natural look.

Featuring our Passiflora Midnight Spice Rug. 

Plenty of Plants

The most natural way to bring biophilic design into your home is through plants. From towering houseplants to trailing greenery on walls, they invite the outdoors in, connecting your space to nature. Beyond their beauty, plants purify the air, lift your mood, and create a calming atmosphere. 

Featuring our Trailing Leaf Beige and Green Rug. 

An Abundance of Natural Light

Natural light is essential in any biophilic space, enhancing your connection to the outdoors. Large windows and sheer curtains allow sunlight to flood your rooms, creating a bright, inviting atmosphere. Sunlight not only illuminates your home beautifully but also boosts your energy and improves your health and well-being, making it an integral part of any biophilic space. In your home, try to set up your relaxation spaces in sunlit areas, like cosy corners or reading nooks. 

A Nature-Inspired Colour Palette 

Curating a nature-inspired colour palette is important in biophilic interior design. While rich, earthy tones will most likely be what first comes to mind, you can still embrace brighter colours. Get inspired by the colours of summer wildflowers, spring pastels, vivid jungle greens, and bold tropical reds. Create a cohesive, beautiful colour scheme that evokes the feeling of being out in nature. 

Featuring our Prismatic Beige Multi Rug. 

Using Natural Materials

Using quality, natural materials is key to creating an authentic biophilic space. Materials such as wood, stone, jute, wool, bamboo, and more provide natural grounding as well as textural interest. Consider wool rugs, wooden floors, stone tiling, bamboo furniture, jute accents, and more. As well as connecting your home to the outdoors in a meaningful and functional way, natural materials are often more durable and sustainable. 

Featuring our Ancoats Green Jute Rug. 

Incorporating Biophilia Into Different Design Styles

Biophilic design can be woven into any interior design style so your space can still reflect your individual personality. 

Contemporary

You can easily incorporate biophilic elements into a contemporary design style. Find pieces with bold, tropical prints that make a statement. Pair these with rattan and bamboo furniture for a touch of organic warmth and forest green soft furnishings to ground the space in nature-inspired colours. To maintain a sleek, modern feel, add metallic accents – such as gold or brass – for a sophisticated finishing touch. This blend of natural and contemporary features creates a stylish, harmonious space.

Featuring our Origins Tropical Blush Rug. 

Minimalist

Minimalist biophilic spaces focus on quality, natural materials and neutral tones that create a calm, uncluttered environment that celebrates the serenity of nature. Biophilic design beautifully complements minimalist interiors, adding warmth and character without disrupting simplicity. Opt for natural materials like light wood, stone, or jute, and incorporate greenery with statement plants or subtle trailing vines. A neutral colour palette with earthy tones creates a calming balance, while subtle nature-inspired prints and textures add depth to the space. 

Country Cottage 

Bring biophilic design to the charm of country cottage-inspired design. Incorporate deep-toned wood furniture pieces that exude warmth and character. Pair this with intricate floral and leafy prints on soft furnishings or wallpaper for stylish elegance. Rich earthy tones, like terracotta and forest green, ground the space with sophistication, while classic wooden floors add sophisticated yet rustic charm. This timeless combination creates a cosy, nature-inspired retreat that perfectly blends comfort with countryside beauty. 

Featuring our Sanderson Ancient Canopy Forest Green Rug. 

Find Your Beautiful Biophilic Rug 

Whether you’re looking for a bold tropical print or a natural jute piece, we have the perfect rug for you. Explore our stunning collection of rugs now and enjoy free UK delivery on all orders.