Biophilic home design

Families are spending an increasing amount of time indoors and looking at screens for work, study and entertainment, but since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has also been a growing desire to connect more closely with the natural environment.

And that has led to an explosion in demand for biophilic home designs that incorporate glass, stone, timber and other natural materials, as well as natural light and ventilation, heating and indoor plantings.

Biophilia is a human personality trait initially described by psychologist Erich Fromm and biologist EO Wilson, who believed that our innate desire to learn about and live in harmony with nature has been essential to our survival as a species over millions of years. 

And biophilic design, which aims to incorporate more natural elements into our living and working built environments, has been found to deliver definite benefits, not the least of which is better mental health and creativity. Several studies have shown, for example, that just a few indoor plants will not only improve the air quality substantially, but also increase the occupants' feeling of wellbeing by as much as 60%.

Similarly, water features are known to provide a calming effect and counter stress, while access to natural light and fresh air, especially in outdoor spaces such as balconies, courtyards and gardens, makes people happier and more productive.

A second major benefit of biophilic design is the sustainability aspect of incorporating "green" spaces, natural light and ventilation and local building materials as much as possible, because this helps to drastically reduce the carbon footprint of homes and other buildings. 

Third, the reduction of the energy required to light the home, ventilate it and regulate the temperature can provide an excellent financial incentive for adopting a biophilic design approach.

These benefits explain why biophilic features have become especially popular alongside the work-from-home trend - and also suggest that incorporating some biophilic elements could be one of the best ways to improve the appeal of your home if you are intending to sell. 

The good news is that you don't need to do anything complicated. Here are five easy ways to make an existing home feel more connected to nature:

• Increase the natural airflow by opening windows whenever possible. This may also enable you to hear more natural sounds, such as birdsong or the wind in the trees.

• Let in more light. Open curtains or shades during the day and if there is not a lot of natural light in your environment, consider creating a "daylight" lighting scheme or installing a skylight or two.

• Bring more greenery indoors in the form of houseplants or a "living wall" or even botanical décor, and make the most of any outdoor spaces where you can quickly access the natural environment, such as balconies, patios or verandas.

• Install a small fountain indoors or near your home office window so you can enjoy the calming sound of water flowing at any time.

• Create a playlist of your favourite natural sounds, such as birdsong, rain or waves breaking on the seashore, and add your favourite scent in candle or oil form to heighten the overall experience of nature in your space.