If you've ever felt instantly calmer walking into a room filled with plants, natural wood, and soft textures — you've experienced biophilic design, even if you didn't have a name for it.
Biophilia literally means "love of living things." Biophilic design is the practice of bringing that love into the built environment — our homes, offices, and shared spaces — in ways that support our wellbeing, reduce stress, and reconnect us to the natural world we evolved alongside.
The Science Behind the Feeling
Research consistently shows that exposure to natural elements — even representations of nature — lowers cortisol levels, improves focus, and increases feelings of calm and satisfaction. A study from the University of Exeter found that employees in offices with natural elements reported a 15% higher sense of wellbeing and 6% higher productivity.
Your home is no different. The materials, textures, colors, and living (or nature-derived) elements you surround yourself with have a measurable impact on how you feel every day.
The Core Principles of Biophilic Design
You don't need to gut-renovate your home to embrace biophilic design. It's about intentional choices. Here are the principles I return to again and again:
1. Natural Materials
Wood, stone, clay, linen, rattan — these materials carry the memory of the natural world. A handmade 60" wood dough bowl on a dining table isn't just beautiful; it's a daily reminder of something ancient and grounding.
2. Living or Preserved Botanicals
Plants are the most obvious biophilic element, but they require care and commitment. Preserved moss offers the same visual and emotional benefits — the color, the texture, the organic form — with none of the maintenance. Our Preserved Moss Arrangements in Gold or Silver Vessels bring that natural energy into any room effortlessly.
3. Organic Shapes
Nature rarely makes straight lines. Incorporating curved, irregular, or asymmetrical forms — in furniture, art, or decor — signals to our nervous system that we're in a safe, natural environment. A Round Moss Wall Art piece does exactly this.
4. Natural Light and Views
Position your nature-inspired decor near windows where it can interact with changing light throughout the day. The way morning light catches the texture of preserved moss is something I never get tired of.
5. Earthy Color Palettes
Greens, browns, warm neutrals, and stone tones create a cohesive biophilic palette. Preserved moss anchors these palettes naturally — it's the green that never fades.
Starting Small
You don't have to redesign your entire home. Start with one room, one corner, one surface. A moss centerpiece on your dining table. A moss wall circle above your reading chair. A Mossed Teak Sphere on a bookshelf.
Biophilic design isn't a trend. It's a return to something we've always known: we feel better when we're connected to nature. Let your home reflect that.