Biophilic Interior Design: Top Trends for 2024
In a world where the hustle and bustle of modern life often disconnects us from the tranquility of nature, biophilic interior design continues to gain momentum. As we step into 2024, the year promises to be a celebration of innovative and nature-inspired design trends. Let's explore the top biophilic interior design trends expected to shape our living and working spaces in 2024.
Key Takeaways: Biophilic Interior Design
Biophilic design is an approach to architecture and interior design that seeks to connect people more closely with nature.
Recent studies offer scientific support for the ancient assumption that contact with nature is critical to human functioning, health, and well-being.
Embracing these biophilic trends enhances the aesthetics of our surroundings and contributes to our well-being by fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.
What is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design is an approach to architecture and interior design that seeks to connect people more closely with nature. The term "biophilia" refers to the inherent human affinity for nature and living organisms. Biophilic design incorporates natural elements, materials, and processes into the built environment to create spaces that enhance human well-being and productivity.
The Science Behind Biophilic Interior Design
Until roughly the last 5,000 years, humans were deeply connected to nature and natural processes. As large-scale fabrication, technology, industrial production, and the modern city have come into being, we have become increasingly removed from natural systems and processes.
While we enjoy all the benefits that modern society and technology offer, returning to nature is an understandable reaction to a complex world. Recent studies offer scientific support for the ancient assumption that contact with nature is critical to human functioning, health, and well-being.
Here are a few reasons why biophilic design has gained momentum in recent years:
Biophilic design promotes health, healing, and recovery.
People living close to open spaces report fewer health and social problems. The results are independent of rural or urban residences, level of education, and income.
Biophilic design improves workplace performance and decreases stress.
Offices that feature natural light, natural ventilation, and other environmental features foster improved performance, lower stress, and enhanced motivation.
Biophilic design improves cognitive function.
Contact with nature has been linked to improved cognitive function on tasks requiring concentration and memory.
Incorporating Plants Into Your Decor
Incorporating plants into your design is an excellent way to bring the outdoors inside and enjoy the benefits plants offer. From adding visual interest to actively removing toxins and purifying indoor air, indoor plants are an excellent way to incorporate natural elements into your home design.
One popular feature homeowners are incorporating into the kitchen is the "living wall." Green walls offer homeowners a vertical garden space, giving them access to fresh herbs and salad greens right in the kitchen! It's a beautiful feature that is also practical and healthy!
Here in Tuscaloosa, we have several vendors we work with to source plants. They include Teresa Johnson, fondly known as the Plant Lady of Tuscaloosa, Brown's Greenhouses, Tree House Farm and Nursery, and Botanica in Birmingham and Huntsville.
2. Nature-Inspired Cabinetry & Cabinet Hardware
Cabinetry is another area where you can bring a subtle but powerful touch of nature into your home. Cabinet hardware is the jewelry of your kitchen and bathroom. Like jewelry, your hardware is a great way to add an understated elegance to your design.
We work with several manufacturers who produce beautiful examples of hardware made from natural materials or strongly influenced by nature. Water Street Brass Hardware offers several collections of bold, geometric, pull designs that incorporate metals and natural wood. For a more daring yet still subtle option, Ashley Norton creates several collections of natural wood pulls and knobs that come in various species and stains.
Suppose you are looking for more traditional metal hardware. In that case, Top Knobs offers several families of pulls that mimic the look of natural materials. Their Aspen Twig Pulls are modeled from natural twigs, made of solid metal, and available in three different finishes.
If you want to make a bold design statement, the Fauna Collection from Nest Studio is outstanding! Highly stylized polished brass animal pulls in the shapes of a ram, peacock, or tortoiseshell are perfect for adding natural sophistication to your cabinet doors and drawers.
3. Nature-Inspired Lighting
Lighting is an excellent way to incorporate natural forms into your design. Lights that incorporate natural elements like leaves or mimic branches are trendy. They can add a subtle touch of nature to your space. One manufacturer we often recommend is Visual Comfort. Their large Farfalle chandelier and the Alberto single-tier chandelier's stylized flowers are luxurious ways to bring natural forms to your lighting. Another company we love for its nature-inspired designs is Gabby. Their designs use natural materials like wood and incorporate natural shapes to create elegant and subtle designs.
Finally, for genuinely outstanding fixtures that uniquely incorporate natural forms, our clients love Hudson Valley Lighting. Their Adirondack Collection contains branches in silver leaf, bringing nature into your design in a stunning way.
4. Abundant Natural Light Through Windows & Skylights
Whether it's large windows with unobstructed views, sky-tunnel, or standard skylights, nothing will make your home feel as healthy and rejuvenating as natural light.
If you’re considering skylights, our designers recommend Velux products. If your project involves replacing windows in your home, our window specialists can help you select the most energy-efficient and durable options available from Sierra Pacific Windows.
5. Earthy Paint Colors & Nature-Inspired Wallpaper
Say goodbye to sterile white walls and cabinets. Say hello to nature-inspired color palettes! Earthy tones such as forest green, ocean blue, and warm terracotta are expected to dominate interiors in the coming years. These colors create a calming atmosphere, connecting us with the serenity of the natural world.
Wallpaper and textiles are also excellent ways to incorporate natural motifs and shapes into your design. We love incorporating Schumacher wall coverings and Rifle Paper Company products into the designs we create for West Central Alabama homeowners. For example, Rifle Paper Company's Wildwood wallpaper features a deliberately placed pattern of wildflowers and greenery, boasting a detailed natural-floral design inspired by antique botanical drawings.
6. Adding Natural Elements & Textures in Your Home
Textures inspired by natural elements, such as stone, wood, and woven materials, will be in high demand this year. Think about plush carpets that mimic the softness of moss or textured wall panels that evoke the feeling of tree bark. These tactile elements provide a sensory experience that enhances the overall biophilic design.
Is Biophilic Design Right for You?
The fusion of technology, sustainability, and nature-inspired design is set to revolutionize our interior spaces in the coming years. Embracing these biophilic trends enhances the aesthetics of our surroundings and contributes to our well-being by fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.
If you’re ready to transform your living and working spaces into havens of tranquility and inspiration, our Toulmin Kitchen & Bath design team is ready to help! Get started today by scheduling a design consultation with us!