We often discuss how to integrate wellness into our personal bath spaces by combining the benefits of a steam shower system with practices such as chromatherapy and aromatherapy to aid sleep, reduce stress and detoxify the body. The idea of incorporating wellness in the home has been around for a while, but as we are spending more time indoors, our craving for and appreciation of nature has increased significantly.
Whether you live in an urbanized city or with expansive access to nature right in your backyard, we all benefit from more environmental connectivity. The concept of biophilia revolves around the human inclination and yearning for a physical, mental and psychological connection to the natural world.
In nature we find peace, calm and appreciation for our surroundings – feelings we can create in our own home.
Biophilia as an idea originated from Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson in the 1980s. This type of design began to take hold in hospitals as a way to speed the healing process through exposure to sunlight and gardens. Biophilic environments are proven to reduce stress, activate pleasure receptors and strengthen brain function.
More recently biophilia has expanded to office spaces and finally now in home design, as “wellness” is becoming more and more important in the living spaces we’re occupying.
Biophilic design extends beyond simply displaying a few plants throughout a space, so we’d like to share some tips on how to incorporate biophilia into the primary self-care room of the house, the bathroom:
1. Use paint colors in saturated earth tones to evoke an indirect connection to nature. Subdued browns, amber, greens and blues are soothing and versatile.
2. Use natural materials like wood, natural stone and marble. Take it a step further by using organic shapes found in nature through rounded tiles and textural contrasts.
3. Bring in plants that thrive in humidity. Some of our favorites include fiddle-leaf figs, ZZ plants and peace lilies, but there are a lot more out there. Step it up even more by installing a living wall (yes a living wall!) – your bathroom will truly become an oasis. Plants are a direct connection to nature and they are naturally improve air quality, keys to true biophilic design.
4. Keep windows unobstructed to allow sunlight to come in. Natural light is ideal in biophilic design, but if your bathroom lacks windows, you can employ full-spectrum light bulbs that are designed to simulate daylight. Make the most of the natural light that comes in by hanging large mirrors to bounce the light and brighten up the space.
These are just a few ideas on ways to bring nature into the home using biophilic design. The bathroom is an essential space for us to wind down and reset – why not feel the benefits of nature while you’re there?
