The Short Answer
Biophilia is the human affinity for life and the natural world. In interior design, it often means bringing organic materials, natural textures, plants, daylight, and earthy colors into a space. Real wood supports that connection by adding warmth and a visible link to nature.
biophilia [ bahy-oh-fil-ee-uh, -feel-yuh ]
noun. a love of life and the living world; the affinity of human beings for other living things and nature.
Design is about love—loving your space, loving the way it looks and most importantly loving the way it makes you feel. No one is inspired or relaxed by stuffy cubicles and fluorescent lighting but most people would agree that a breath of fresh air, sunlight on your face and the wind whistling through the trees can change your whole mood. This understanding of nature’s refreshing effects directly informs biophilic design.
Photo from Rowie B Designs
Biophilia can be broken down into the two root words “bio” and “philia”. Bio means living things, like plants and animals. Philia can be roughly translated as “to love”. Together, biophilic design describes the love of nature, natural materials and living things.
So much of contemporary design steers away from these ideas and instead focuses on sterile, overly modern spaces but science shows that time spent in nature can improve both our concentration and cognitive abilities, underscoring how important it is to bring nature into the places where we spend the bulk of our time.
Photo from TC Studios
By introducing natural products, like reclaimed wood planks, into your space you’re able to recapture some of the energy that nature has to offer and incorporate it into your everyday life. These natural materials can be used in a variety of spaces including walls and ceilings which allows you to customize your space to meet the biophilic style that fits you best.
