{"id":22951,"date":"2022-05-04T10:13:23","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T14:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=19148"},"modified":"2024-06-27T15:50:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T19:50:31","slug":"6-ways-to-embrace-a-biophilic-home-and-step-into-nature-anytime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/your-home\/6-ways-to-embrace-a-biophilic-home-and-step-into-nature-anytime\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Embrace a Biophilic Home and Step into Nature Anytime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
The not so new design trend that pulls nature inside out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Biophilia: The Design Trend That Blurs the Inside and Out <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, our homes have become everything to us. They\nare where we live, where we study, and oftentimes even where we work. They are\nour bubble. But sometimes that bubble needs a little sprucing up, a little\ncontext, a little bit of nature to make it feel as accommodating and connected as\ncan be. Enter biophilia or, as it shows up in our homes, biophilic design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know what you\u2019re thinking: Biophilia? What\nthe heck is biophilia? It sounds like a disease. And I completely\nagree. Regardless of the name, the theories of both biophilia and biophilic design are sound ones with a lot of attractive\nqualities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Named by biologist Edward O. Wilson in the 1980s, biophilia is his philosophy that humans biologically want and need the natural\nworld. Biophilic design, as it follows, is a concept that involves\nbringing nature into indoors environments in ways but small and large. This\nincludes natural light, outdoor views, vegetation and natural shapes and\nmaterials. \n\nFrank\nLloyd Wright was a famous proponent of biophilic design, which was perhaps most\nevident in his design Fallingwater<\/a> in the Laurel Highlands of\nPennsylvania. Designed in 1935, Fallingwater is famously built over a\nwaterfall, bringing the sounds, sights and smells of nature to its occupants at\nevery turn.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the principles of biophilic design aren\u2019t new, the popularity of incorporating\nnatural elements into our homes is growing \u00ad\u2013 and with great reason. According\nto the EPA, the average person spends 90% of their\ntime indoors<\/a>. It stands to reason we want to feel more\nconnected and grounded in the world, even if it\u2019s from the security of our own\nhomes.\n\nKeep\nreading for our more info on biophilic design, its connection to health, and how to add and enhance natural elements in your home, office or anywhere else you\nspend a lot of time indoors. (Hint: one potted plant is not going to do it.) If\nWilson is correct, and we are biologically programmed to want to be in nature,\nyou may find yourself feeling more content. And if not? Your place will still\nlook great.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nConnection Between Biophilia, Design and Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Plants make us happier – it’s science!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the best aspects of bibliophilic design is\nnot what it can do for your home, but what it can do for your mental and\nemotional health. It makes sense. Think of the relaxing effect that listening\nto the sounds of the surf, breathing deeply after a rainstorm or feeling rays\nof warm sunshine on your face has on you. Bringing these good vibes into your\nhome or anywhere else you spend a lot of time indoors is bound to have positive\nshort- and long-term effects on everyone in your orbit \u00ad\u2013 including your kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To that end, a 2019 study<\/a> by\nthe highly esteemed research institute A\u00ad\u00adarhus University in Denmark found\nthat \u201cchildren who grow up with greener surroundings have up to 55 percent less\nrisk of developing various mental disorders.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Additionally, a 2015 study<\/a> also concluded that adding plants to indoor spaces reduced occupants\u2019 stress levels and improved their pain tolerance. Studies have also shown that the availability of natural light or \u201cday-lighting\u201d to students and employees improves causes them to learn more, do better on tests, and be more productive<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Perk up with natural light and greenery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another great aspect of biophilia is that it doesn\u2019t cost much to get the physical, psychological and emotional benefits of bringing more nature into your home, office and home office! You can easily get a biophilia design boost simply by diffusing essential oils, opening curtains and windows, and adding a \u2018natural sounds\u2019 playlist or white noise machine to your day to day. You can even put a pot of water with herbs, spices and oils on a low simmer on your stove to infuse your space with delightful smells straight from Mother Nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And remember all those pots, planters and gardening supplies you packed\naway in your CubeSmart self-storage unit<\/a>? Time to pull them out of storage! Add a little fill dirt and\nfertilizer and some easily cared for houseplants, and bada bing: you\u2019ve got\nindoors foliage ready to do battle for your air quality and sense of mental\nwell-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5\nCheap and Easy Ways to Add Biophilic Design Elements\nto Your Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So far, we\u2019ve covered a few different suggestions about how to\nincorporate biophilic design elements into your home: plants, light, sounds,\nsmells, etc. But there are other ways to add the look to your home that are\njust as cheap and easy \u2013 and will definitely pack a bit more biophilia into your day to day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Try a botanical statement wallpaper. <\/strong>Many retailers sell both permanent and \u201cpeel and stick\u201d wallpapers with palm leaves, flowers, vines and animals. If wallpaper isn\u2019t your thing, stencils, a can of paint and a sense of adventure can get you equally far. A great place to look for inspiration is Jungalow<\/a>, the brainchild of Justina Blakeney, one of the most well-known and beloved biophilic design stars. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Choose natural textures. <\/strong>Skip the plastic and polyester, and instead source sheets, bedding, blankets and rugs made from natural elements. Think jute, bamboo, wool, hemp, cotton, and linen. They\u2019ll not only be of a higher quality than their synthetic counterparts, but they\u2019ll give you a subconscious connection to nature every time you cozy up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Rearrange your furniture. <\/strong>Got a large window, skylight, glass door or any other source of light? Try rearranging your furniture to face it, or at least get as close as possible. Keeping an eye on a natural space or green area can have many positive benefits, but if that\u2019s not available, the light alone will certainly boost your mood and might ward off seasonal depression. Just don\u2019t forget your sunblock.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Take advantage of any outdoor space. <\/strong>Of course, if you\u2019re one of the lucky folks that has a balcony, patio, porch, backyard or any other outdoor space, you\u2019re going to want to spend as much time as possible there. And don\u2019t forget Whiskers and Fido! They benefit from nature as well. Check out our recent piece on building a catio or dog patio<\/a> for some awesome techniques to get your four-legged friends into the fresh air.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Add a water feature. <\/strong>As Frank Lloyd Wright would tell you, the sounds of running water are a key element of biophilic design. Consider adding a water element to your home to calm and center you with soothing, natural sounds. Check out Youtube<\/a> for some interesting DIY indoor fountain ideas or buy a small version at any big box home improvement or gardening store. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    The sound of trickling water has a calming effect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    A few other ideas include adding a windowsill herb garden, getting a\nfish tank or birdfeeder, and taking a hint from the Danish\nhygge habit of burning candles<\/a> and\nadding a few \u201cfire elements\u201d to your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As far as home design goes, biophilia is here to stay \u2013 and perhaps, never left in the first place. Given the popularity of urban environments and electronic devices, it should come as no surprise how disconnected humans are becoming from nature. But the primal, biological need to connect with the environment around us remains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you can\u2019t get out in nature as often as you\u2019d like, get into nature in your own living space. Chances are small changes will have a big impact on your state of mind, not to mention air quality and Vitamin D levels. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Biophilia: The Design Trend That Blurs the Inside and Out In recent years, our homes have become everything to us. They are where we live, where we study, and oftentimes even where we work. They are our bubble. But sometimes that bubble needs a little sprucing up, a little context, a little bit of nature […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":23114,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,640],"tags":[1622,1623,1624],"class_list":["post-22951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-decor-design","category-your-home","tag-biophilia","tag-biophilic-design","tag-green-design-tips"],"yoast_head":"\r\n6 Ways to Embrace a Biophilic Home and Step into Nature Anytime | The Storage Space<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bring the outdoors in with biophilic design. 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