The beauty and benefits of biophilic design for commercial spaces

Biophilic design has been trending in architecture and home design for years now. But what does biophilic design mean?

Biophilic design is an approach to architecture and interior design that incorporates natural elements and features into the built environment.

Put simply, it is all about intentionally connecting people with nature within built spaces.

A commercial space that achieves that coveted harmony between nature and architecture is often seen as aesthetically pleasing, but the impact of biophilic design goes beyond surface level beauty.

The goal is to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also promote wellbeing and health.

Read on to discover the advantages of biophilic design and how to incorporate it in your businesses or organisations space.

Mental health benefits of biophilic design

It’s no secret that nature can profoundly impact our mood and wellbeing. Spending a few minutes in the presence of trees or other plants has been shown to reduce stress levels, improve cognitive function, and boost overall happiness .

But what about the built environment? Can our homes, offices, and other artificial spaces have the same positive effect on our mental health? Well, with the help of biophilic design, it may be able to do just that .

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests this can have a positive impact on mental health. Here are five ways it can do so:

1. Biophilic design can reduce stress levels

Your exposure to nature can help lower heart rate and blood pressure, as well as levels of the stress hormone cortisol .

2. Exposure to greenery improves concentration and productivity

Biophilic design can also improve concentration and productivity . This is likely due in part to the fact that exposure to nature can help reduce fatigue and restore attention.

3. Being in nature and green spaces boosts creativity

This form of design can also increase creativity , and can help stimulate new ideas and ways of thinking.

4. Greenery can help you get better sleep

Believe it or not, being near greenery can even improve your sleep quality ! Seeing as how we are generally not getting enough sleep , this is a massive health benefit.

5. Being in nature will help you be happier

By combining all the benefits above, it makes sense to say that being around greenery – including through biophilic design – can result in increased happiness.

Biophilic design in commercial spaces

With all the benefits and the aesthetic benefits to biophilic design, it makes sense that more and more businesses are using this concept in their commercial spaces.

Whether you’re building an office space or a shop, this will not only make your business premise look good (also known as being an Instragammable space ), it will also make your employees and customers feel good too.

Some common ways of incorporating biophilic design into commercial spaces include:

1. Install green walls (or even green roofs)

One of the quickest and easiest ways to introduce this into a commercial space is to install vertical garden panels on the walls, ceilings, or roof. While living green walls are always a stunning option, businesses often don’t have the time to maintain them. Artificial green wall panels are a fantastic and fuss-free way to create the same look and feel without the headache of watering, pest control , or pruning real plants.

2. Use natural materials 

Materials such as wood and stone can lend a lot of aesthetic value to a space, and also aids in achieving biophilic design goals. Whether you choose to go big with large stone slab surfaces, or opt to incorporate natural materials in smaller decorative details such as wooden shelving, there are so many ways you can use this approach in your commercial fit-out .

3. Introduce natural light into the space

Natural light not only makes everything look better – including the products you might be displaying in your commercial space –  it’s great for our health too ! If your office or shop doesn’t allow for much in the way of natural light, consider adding some skylights. You can even get them installed with louvres, for those summer months when you might want a bit of shade from time to time.

4. Decorate with indoor plants

Indoor plants are the darlings of the interior design world, and for good reason! They can easily elevate a space, adding that little bit of luxury no matter their size or shape. This is particularly true of artificial indoor plants . They’re also a great way to introduce a specific aesthetic into a space without worrying about climate, sun exposure, or maintenance. If you’re selling ocean-themed beauty products, you can pick a few tropical palms to place around your store – without worrying about the winter frost right outside the window!

5. Views of nature

All of the benefits of biophilic design can still be achieved simply with a view of nature! If your office or shop doesn’t have any views of the outdoors, consider adding some nature-inspired artwork or installing a television that plays footage of nature scenes.

Consider using artificial plants for your biophilic design

We recognise that business owners often don’t have the time and energy to maintain real plants as part of the biophilic design for their shop, showroom, or office . That’s where artificial plants can save the day!

Artificial plants don’t require any maintenance to look good all year round, and some can even be installed both indoors and outdoors . They can be easily installed and moved around to suit your needs, and are also versatile enough to suit a variety of styling schemes so you can easily catch up with trends. If your employees or customers require privacy screens, there are artificial hedges for that too!

So if you’re looking for an easy way to incorporate biophilic design into your space, make sure to add a few artificial plants to your list. From large palm trees that add a tropical vibe, to flowering plants that add an air of elegance, there’s something for everyone here at Designer Plants™.

Get in touch with us if you’d like guidance from our artificial plant experts in choosing the perfect plants for your space. We’re happy to help!