Biophilic Design at Home: 12 Ways to Bring Nature Indoors for Better Wellbeing

Think about the places where you feel most relaxed. Maybe a sunny window seat, a cabin with wooden beams, a café full of plants, a room with a view of trees, or the sound of water somewhere nearby. Chances are, nature is involved in some way.

That's no coincidence. Humans spent most of our history outside, and our brains still seem to relax in natural settings. Biophilic design is about bringing those elements, light, plants, natural materials, views and organic shapes, into the spaces where we live and work. It's become a big trend in interior design, but it's not just about looking nice. It's about making your home feel calmer and more restorative.

What is biophilic design?

The word "biophilia" means a love of living things. It was popularized by biologist Edward O. Wilson in the 1980s, who suggested humans have an innate tendency to seek connection with nature. Biophilic design applies that idea to buildings and interiors.

It usually involves three types of connection:

1. Direct nature: real plants, water, fresh air, daylight and views of the outdoors
2. Indirect nature: natural materials, colors, patterns, textures and images of nature
3. Space and place: layouts that feel safe and open, like a cozy nook with a view

Why nature indoors may be good for you

Views of nature

In a classic 1984 study, researcher Roger Ulrich found that hospital patients recovering from surgery who had a window view of trees had shorter hospital stays and needed fewer strong painkillers than patients whose windows faced a brick wall. It was a small study, but it helped launch decades of research on nature and health.

Lower stress

Research on time in nature, like forest bathing, has found links with lower stress and better mood. Some studies suggest that even indoor plants and nature views may help people feel calmer, though effects in homes are usually modest.

Better focus

Attention restoration theory, developed by psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, suggests that natural settings gently hold our attention in a way that lets our mental focus recover. That may be why a green view or a short walk outdoors can help when your brain feels fried.

Daylight and sleep

Natural light during the day supports your body clock, which helps sleep at night. Our guide to light pollution and sleep explains why.

A quick reality check: indoor plants won't meaningfully purify your air. Our guide to whether air purifiers and houseplants really clean indoor air covers that. The benefits of biophilic design are more about how spaces make you feel.

12 ways to bring nature into your home

1. Maximize natural light

Open curtains and blinds during the day. Clean windows, trim back bushes that block light and move furniture so you can sit near windows. Light-colored walls and mirrors help bounce daylight around.

2. Add houseplants

Start with easy, forgiving plants like pothos, snake plants, spider plants or ZZ plants. Group plants together for a lush look. If you have pets, check which plants are safe for them.

3. Grow something you can eat

Herbs on a windowsill, like basil, mint or parsley, bring life to a kitchen and to your cooking. Our gardening and wellbeing guide has more ideas.

4. Use natural materials

Choose wood, stone, cotton, linen, wool, rattan, jute and clay where you can. A wooden cutting board, a wool throw or a linen pillowcase all count.

5. Bring in natural textures

Rough-hewn wood, woven baskets, pebbles in a bowl, a stone coaster. Texture adds the variety and warmth you'd find in nature.

6. Choose a nature-inspired color palette

Soft greens, earthy browns, sandy beiges, sky blues and warm terracotta tend to feel calming and grounding.

7. Create views of nature

Put your desk or favorite chair facing a window. If your view isn't green, add a window box or hang a plant where you can see it. Even looking at photos or art of nature may help a little.

8. Add the sound of water

A small tabletop fountain, an aquarium or a nature sound app can bring a sense of calm. Our music and health guide explores how sound affects your mood.

9. Let fresh air in

Open windows when outdoor air quality is good. A gentle breeze, the smell of rain and fresh air all connect you to the outdoors.

10. Use organic shapes

Curves and natural forms, like round tables, arched mirrors and irregular ceramics, feel softer than sharp angles and straight lines.

11. Create a refuge nook

Humans like spaces where we feel sheltered but can still see what's around us. A reading chair in a corner by a window, with a lamp and a blanket, is a classic example.

12. Bring in seasonal touches

Branches, pinecones, autumn leaves, spring flowers. Changing natural decor with the seasons keeps your home connected to the rhythms outside.

Biophilic design for small apartments

You don't need a big house to bring nature in.

• Use hanging planters and wall shelves to save floor space
• Choose a few larger plants instead of lots of tiny ones for more impact
• Add a small balcony garden or window boxes
• Use mirrors to reflect light and greenery
• Pick natural-fiber rugs and textiles
• Try low-light plants for darker spaces
• Use full-spectrum or warm lighting that mimics natural light if daylight is limited

Biophilic design at work

If you work from home or have a desk at the office, try:

• Placing your desk near a window
• Keeping a plant on your desk
• Using natural materials like a wooden desk organizer
• Taking breaks outdoors, even for five minutes. Our microbreaks at work guide has ideas.
• Hanging nature photos or art at eye level

Budget-friendly biophilic ideas

• Propagate plants from cuttings shared by friends
• Collect fallen branches, stones and pinecones on walks (where allowed)
• Shop secondhand for wooden furniture, baskets and ceramics
• Print your own nature photos
• Grow herbs from seeds

Getting outside still matters most

Bringing nature indoors is lovely, but it doesn't replace time outdoors. Try to spend some time in green spaces each week, whether that's a park, a garden or a tree-lined street. Our awe walks guide is an easy way to start.

A simple room-by-room biophilic checklist

If you're not sure where to start, walk through your home with this list and pick one change per room.

Living room

• Is your main seat facing a window, a plant or a view you enjoy?
• Is there at least one natural material you can touch, like a wool throw, a wooden table or a woven basket?
• Can daylight reach the room easily, with curtains fully open during the day?

Bedroom

• Is the room calm and uncluttered? Our guide to decluttering and mental health can help.
• Are your sheets made from natural fibers like cotton or linen?
• Can you make it properly dark at night and bright in the morning?

Kitchen

• Is there a pot of herbs on the windowsill?
• Do you have a bowl of fruit on the counter? It brings color, life and an easy healthy snack.
• Are wooden spoons and boards within reach?

Bathroom

• Could a humidity-loving plant like a fern or pothos live here, if there's some light?
• Can you swap a plastic accessory for stone, ceramic or bamboo?

Workspace

• Can you see something green from your desk?
• Is there a window nearby for daylight and a view to rest your eyes?

Start small and pay attention

The best biophilic home is the one that feels good to you, so treat this as an experiment. Make one change, live with it for a week and notice how you feel. Do you sit in that window chair more often? Do you feel calmer when you walk into the room? Those small signals tell you what's worth keeping.

It's also worth noticing how your body responds to time outdoors. If a ten-minute walk in the park makes a bigger difference to your mood than any indoor change, that's useful information too. Bring nature in, but keep going out to meet it as often as you can.

Frequently asked questions

What is biophilic design?

Biophilic design brings elements of nature, like plants, natural light, natural materials, water and views of the outdoors, into homes and buildings to support wellbeing.

Does biophilic design really improve wellbeing?

Research on nature exposure suggests links to lower stress, better mood and improved focus. Effects of indoor design changes are usually modest, but many people find them calming.

What are the easiest ways to start with biophilic design?

Open curtains to let in more daylight, add a few easy houseplants, use natural materials and face your favorite seat toward a window.

What are good low-maintenance plants for beginners?

Pothos, snake plants, ZZ plants, spider plants and peace lilies are popular choices because they tolerate lower light and occasional missed waterings.

Can I do biophilic design in a small apartment?

Yes. Hanging plants, natural textiles, mirrors to reflect light and a cozy window nook all work well in small spaces.

Your surroundings shape how you feel. Take our free wellness wheel quiz to see how your environmental wellness is doing.