Biophilia Brings Nature Indoors – Kitchen & Bath Design News

What does the term “biophilia” mean to you? There’s an excellent chance that you’re already designing it into clients’ kitchens and baths without necessarily knowing or using the word. It’s in the nature-inspired colors and textures you select, the window specs that increase natural light, the floor plans that optimize nature views, the circadian systems that tie a home’s lighting to the path of the sun. So why bring attention to the concept? Simply put, prioritizing biophilia in your projects enhances their aesthetics and wellness potential. This month, these six experts weigh in on the what, why and how:

• Seattle-based kitchen designer and educator Paula Kennedy
• Aspen area interior designer and educator Shelly Rosenberg
• Washington, DC-based environmental strategist and author Bill Browning of Terrapin Bright Green
• Color expert Amy Wax in northern New Jersey
• Educator and consultant for Tile of Spain, Vancouver-based Ryan Fasan 
• Texas-based homebuilder Highland Homes’ Northern division V.P. of Sales Sanju Surtani.

It’s fair to say that biophilia has about as many definitions as wellness design, a field it richly supports. Browning, who has researched, written and consulted extensively on this topic, defines it this way: “Biophilic design intentionally brings experiences of nature into the built environment. These can be direct experiences like views to gardens and landscapes, indirect like use of natural materials or patterns derived from nature, or spatial conditions that provide refuge.”

Trend Alert

The pandemic strongly impacted the field’s growing popularity, Browning adds. “Being in the same space day after day made many people much more aware of the impact of those spaces, and led to an explosion of interest in biophilic design for homes.” 

Fasan sees the pandemic connection in his work with the tile industry too: “Biophilia has been a central trend since the 2020 lockdowns, when we all realized how much our disconnect from nature had negatively affected us.” This is showing up in tones and textures with an emphasis on realism, exemplified by variegated surfaces (like the deeply textured stone look veining) and natural variations. “That’s the big shift in ceramics today – we can convincingly recreate the brilliant chaos of natural design in our surface finishes, making anything from woods to metals to concretes not only look but actually feel like their inspiration,” Fasan notes.

Browning also points to biophilia being a hospitality design trend – often a precursor for residential, as any bath pro getting clients’ vacation hotel suite photos can attest! – as a top trend for seven-plus years. Rosenberg agrees: “Most [clients] haven’t been introduced to the term biophilia, but they do know how they feel in beautiful spas and hotels.” She educates them that biophilia is a reason why those properties feel so welcoming, and shares how they can achieve the same feel in their personal spaces. While our world tends toward fast paced and wired, she notes, “biophilic elements reach our subconscious, quietly signaling safety and harmony to the brain and nervous system.”

Browning observes that the words ‘biophilic design’ are increasingly appearing in real estate listing descriptions, indicating their mainstreaming to the broader public. Surtani sees this with Highland’s homebuyers: “In recent years, there has been a notable emergence and evolution of biophilic design in the home. Homeowners are increasingly drawn to natural hues, reflecting a growing interest.” 

Benefits for All

“Biophilic spaces have physiological and psychological benefits. Research reveals that biophilic elements are effective at lowering stress, improving cognitive function and enhancing our moods,” Browning comments. 

Kennedy further cites improved indoor air quality (through the use of plants), and the potential to reduce sedentary inclinations: “Biophilic designs encourage movement and physical activity by incorporating outdoor spaces and natural pathways within the home.” We see this often by opening up kitchens and great rooms to outdoor living areas, which may have pools, sports courts or walking paths to nearby trails, parks or beaches. “Integrating biophilia into our homes brings significant value by promoting overall well-being and enhancing the quality of life,” she observes.

Wax adds, “Biophilia welcomes the restorative qualities of nature into our homes, offering a sense of serenity. The design of our homes starts with what we see, and incorporating biophilia means including nature’s color palette. These colors – soothing grays, whispery soft blues and greens and warm neutrals – set the stage for a place that envelopes you with nature’s best qualities.”

Given its many wellness benefits, how do you express biophilia’s many advantages to your clients, particularly when suggesting ideas that may add to their project costs? That certainly depends on the client and project, but it’s a question worth asking yourself going in. 

Benefits for the Neurodiverse

If your client has an individual in their household with special needs in this regard, there are extra considerations. “We are seeing more awareness around supporting family members who are neurodiverse,” Browning shares, adding a specialized benefit for these individuals and their caregivers. 

This is a design and teaching focus for Rosenberg. “Biophilic design would reduce or eliminate aggravators like artificial light, synthetic materials with chemical odors, metal surfaces that are cold to the touch or unpleasant acoustics. Serene surroundings decrease the amount and intensity of stimuli and support the emotional regulation of people who live with diagnoses like ADHD, PTSD or autism,” she comments. (Dementia patients can benefit too, Browning notes.)

Biophilic Kitchens

“Kitchens offer a number of opportunities for making connections with nature,” Browning comments. “Starting with materials, the use of wood with visible grain (like butcher block), stone surfaces, and tile and fabrics that have floral, leaf or animals for decoration are all traditional biophilic elements. Placing the sink under a window with a view is another good way to connect with nature, particularly if there are bird feeders outside the window. A booth or high-backed banquette is a cozy way to provide a refuge space.” 

Kennedy’s favorite way to incorporate biophilia in her kitchens designs is through surfacing: “The new wood vertical reeded panel aesthetic wrapping around a curved island just hits so many points in biophilic design!”

Rosenberg shares, “My favorite kitchen features are imperfect, handmade tiles, wooden countertops or butcher block inserts, textured ceramic flooring that replicates woodgrain, botanical wallpapers, rounded cabinets and softly patinated metal sinks. With all of the amazingly beautiful indoor/outdoor textiles available now, we can soften kitchen noise with carpet runners, roman shades and even drapery or upholstered walls when possible.” 

Surtani comments: “With views of the outdoors, trees and sunlight, the kitchen has become a key space to introduce biophilic elements. We have also incorporated the use of plants (known to help improve indoor air quality), green-toned accents and arched faucets (mimicking waves and spirals found in nature) to enhance the space and the natural feel. The large windows are also a perfect place for a homeowner to create a small herb garden that can then be used in cooking.”

Fasan notes, “We’re seeing a rise in decorative ceramic slabs (up to 5.5’x11′). These large panels can be used either as veneers for door fronts or on opposing walls to the cabinetry.”

Biophilic Bathrooms

The tile consultant sees the same approach in bathrooms. “The perfect applications for these touches are things like niches and focal walls,” he suggests. The other approach is to employ a palette that supports plants as a wellness design feature. Powder rooms with biophilic tile as a feature wall are also popular, he adds. 

Surfacing and details also show up as favorite Kennedy approaches to full bathrooms. She cites faucets inspired by waterfalls and picket- shaped tiles that evoke falling leaves. Powder rooms needing some drama can also look to nature, the Seattle designer notes. “Have fun with glass sinks as this is one of the few rooms you can get away with it. Glass can reflect light and give a sense of water as well.” She also suggests incorporating a sculptural plant and nature-inspired wallpaper.  

“Aquatic themed elements in bathrooms, prints of fish and seashells, clamshell-inspired sinks and tiles with images of sea life are all traditional ways of connecting to a nature,” Browning suggests. “In a more contemporary setting, stained wood vanities with stone tops, marble and other stone tile work are biophilic. Pebble floors in showers are both a visual and tactile way to experience nature. Wallpaper patterns, curtains and fabric shades can all have biophilic elements,” he adds. 

Rosenberg comments: “Bathrooms used to focus on function alone. Now, these task-specific areas are being designed for respite as well. Water is a powerful biophilic feature, of course, but other ways to boost its impact are to add skylights or enlarge windows, use water-resistant wood or wood-look materials, add organic patterns or texture in wallpaper or install stone slabs or tiles with the movement of natural veining.” 

Surtani shares Highland’s approach to biophilia-inspired bathrooms: “We create this by bringing in spa-inspired elements like steam showers with rainfall showerheads, stone, natural wood tones and by utilizing color and plants. We also like to incorporate lighting that can be adjusted to mimic various times of day through the temperature of the lighting.”

Last Words

“Our most powerful common denominator is that we are all human and are wired to respond positively to characteristics found in nature; the very definition of biophilia itself,” says Rosenberg. “Nature automatically invites peace and harmony. It’s a design paradigm that is as timeless as the concept of home itself.”

Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC is an author, wellness design consultant and industry speaker. Her award-winning third book, Wellness by Design (Simon & Schuster, 2020), has a new Bonus Chapter: Lessons for How We Live Now, published October 2023. Learn more about her wellness design CEU presentations, books, blog and consulting services at jamiegold.net.