Biophilic interior design has been on the rise in recent years, but what does it actually mean and how can you embrace this philosophy in your sleep space?
There is no doubt houseplants can bring a bit of life into our rooms, and they can also aid our health. But it’s not just plants, though – nature itself can have a positive effect when incorporated in interiors, and this is exactly what biophilic design is all about. KBB journo Laurie Davidson has got the lowdown on how to welcome this sought-after concept to your sleep space…
What is biophilia?
Coined by renowned biologist Edward O. Wilson, biophilia is the deep-rooted desire to seek connection with nature and other living beings. The concept was here way before the pandemic, but having spent so much time indoors then, it heightened awareness of just how important that connection really is.
The word biophilia literally means ‘love of life’, so you can see how bringing the outdoors into your home could be beneficial.
Teleport to a tranquil forest with the help of nature-inspired wallcoverings. Wild Wild Woods Eco-wallpaper, £159 per roll, Divine Savages.
How to create a biophilic bedroom design
Although plants are a big part of this, they’re not the only way of connecting our interiors with the outside world. Using materials that are present in nature is key, so think furniture pieces in rattan, cane, stone and bamboo or sustainably sourced solid wood.
Then there’s the biophilic bedroom’s colour palette, where you’ll want to take your cue from nature, with coastal muted blues, forest greens and browns, and calming colours that evoke that closeness to the outdoors.
Embrace biophilia by pattern-drenching your bedroom in bold florals, and include natural elements such as wood and rattan to enhance the look. Coppice Forest duvet cover set, from £90, Graham & Brown.
That goes for any pattern too – surrounding yourself with nature-inspired décor, whether it’s in the form of wallpaper or art, can bring in that biophilic aspect into your design.
And then, of course, there’s the plants. Choose varieties that help purify the air while you sleep, such as peace lilies, aloe vera and spider plants.
Happy decorating!
Creating a restful bedroom scheme was key in this project by Miri Design Studio. Farrow & Ball’s Lichen green paint was used on three of the walls to create a soothing colour palette that has been combined with a botanical mural from Designer’s Guild. Photography: Kostas Rapidis.
Inspiration gallery
Cover your walls with an oversized expressionist artwork or wallpaper, such as this Vintage Forest wallpaper mural from Bobbi Beck, priced from £36 per sq m.Embrace the biophilic bedroom concept and improve the air quality in your sleep space with the help of houseplants. Quirky Hot Herring Gray carpet, from £124.85 per sq m, Alternative Flooring. Bring in a touch of biophila into your design through nature-inspired prints. Arbour in Celadon wallpaper mural on Matte Uncoated, £48 per sq m, By Haleys. Natural wood and linen can help ground the room. Elkstone Mellow Oak large three-drawer bedside, £325, and Elkstone Mellow Oak kingsize bed, £899, The Cotswold Company.Mix nature-inspired wallcoverings with wood furniture for a calming sanctuary. Love Story olive velvet upholstered finial bed, £1845 for a king size, French Bedroom.Large windows looking out to nature will help bring the outside in. 100% Pure French linen bedding, from £21, Soak & Sleep. Drench your bedroom in nature-inspired hues – from the bed linen to the wall paint to the storage solutions – for a peaceful, biophilic sleeping environment. The Twinny in Olive, £499, and The Shorty in Sage, £499, Mustard Made.Natural bed linen will also help you connect to the outdoors. 100% Egyptian cotton bed sheets, from £40 for a pillowcase pair, Scooms.Design a warm biophilic bedroom with autumnal patterns and pops of dusty pink and terracotta. Cascading Kaleidoscope bespoke wall mural in Autumn, from £44, Clarissa Hulse.Take your cue from nature and design a calming scheme by going all out on coastal blues. Cascade Mountains 862, Beach Glass 1564, and Vapor Trails 1556, from £20 for 0.94 litres each, Benjamin Moore.Connect to the outdoors and add a touch of industrial style to your sleep space by leaving a feature wall exposed, whether that’s brickwork or concrete. Florence double bed, from £1090, Sofa.com.
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