Spending a lot of time indoors? With changing seasons and more extreme weather events, many of us are spending more time than ever indoors and somewhat distant from the natural world. We know that human built environments can dampen moods and increase stress–after all, we’re animals shaped by our environments.
Exposure to nature has never been more important than it is today. We’re missing out on the essential psychological and physiological benefits from exposure to trees, fresh air, mountains, and bodies of water. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, thanks to a philosophy called “Biophilia” that is reshaping how we think about and interact with our surroundings. Essentially, biophilia is changing the way we live and work within the built environment, and can be defined as humanity’s innate need to connect with nature.
The Basics of Biophilia
Biophilia is our innate connection to nature, and encompasses not only our connection to but our love and need for natural environments. Numerous studies have shown that we directly benefit from trees and plants, natural light and vistas, and even fake plants have a beneficial effect!
How can we harness our need to be around nature while still be a part of our busy indoor society? Integrate natural shapes, forms, and plants into your indoor life.
How Can You Use Biophilia in Your Life?
1) Move your work surface and adjust your drapes, shades, or blinds to get maximum natural light from the nearest window. Even if you’re not getting a view, you can still get some sunshine.
2) Add houseplants to your living and working space. If you can’t see trees outside, you can still enjoy greenery inside. Choose varieties that will grow in your lighting conditions and are non-toxic to your pets. Our garden centers can help you pick the right one for your space! Our Urban Plantscapes team offers interior plant care services for commercial spaces like offices and hotels if you’d like some help in your business.
3) Grow herbs or microgreens on your kitchen counters or windowsill. Victory gardens are making a comeback with people seeking healthy and sustainable food solutions during the pandemic, but those who lack outdoor space can still cultivate a mini-garden inside.
4) Include an indoor water feature into your space, which can provide style, tranquility, and a gentle acoustic element.
5) Incorporate paintings inspired by your favorite landscapes or photos of nature—it’s been shown that even representations of nature have biophilic benefits!
6) Natural scents can enhance your space and well-being. Lavender has been used for centuries as a natural stress reducer, and eucalyptus can potentially relieve coughs. There are many more properties that can be explored through aromatherapy.
7) Change the bulbs in your lamps and light fixtures to full-spectrum circadian models that mimic the sun’s path through the day. This can help with both mood and sleep.
8) Consider using wood and stone finishes in your furniture and decoration. Keep in mind that nature is not just about views, but also about texture.
9) Use earthy tones like greens, browns, blues, whites, and gold. Think about using naturally patterned wallpaper—experts suggest irregular patterns that resemble nature, but advise against geometric patterns, as these are man-made.
10) Go outside! Even just 15 minutes per day can do wonders for your mind and body.