By Johanna Wiseman
Biophilia is the human tendency to interact and commune with other forms of life in nature. In the modern world, we spend most of our time indoors, surrounded by manufactured items and materials. Biophilic Design strives to bring the natural world into our home environments, to reconnect people with the relaxing and restorative influence of nature. Biophilic experts insist that because humans have evolved in response to other living things, it’s necessary for our well-being to foster continued interaction with the natural world. To me, it’s a fascinating concept with true relevance in today’s stressful, divided, often antagonistic world.
Biophilic Design advocates purposefully furnishing a home with natural materials like wood, jute, hemp, sisal, and bamboo. Objects showing the effects of weathering, such as driftwood or sun-bleached stone, convey a sense of harmony with the earth and acceptance of the life cycle. Learning to appreciate the beauty of a thing worn and transformed by its environment is remarkably similar to the concept of aging gracefully, which is empowering for mental health.
The idea of improved wellness resulting from exposure to natural surroundings motivates a wide variety of possible enhancements to your home design. In addition to the aesthetic improvement of adding plants to your decor, you will also benefit from the responsibility of learning to care for them and the rewards from that effort.
Adding Biophilic Design to your home can be as simple as adding a few plants or a moss wall, or as involved as building an addition to your home. Some homeowners have constructed an integrated indoor/outdoor space, which can be opened to flow easily from interior rooms to exterior space, and can be left open when weather permits. This obviously works better in some climates than others. Though it looks temptingly beautiful in advertising, a home with open indoor/outdoor flow also risks exposure to the less-desirable elements of the natural world: insects, birds, and other small critters that might not be so welcome inside your home or beneficial to your state of mind.
What if you live in an urban environment? You don’t necessarily have to step out of doors to enjoy a bit of nature. Even if you don’t have a yard or a balcony, you can designate a window as your biophilic space by arranging plants on a table with a chair to sit close by and absorb sunlight and fresh air. A simple plug-in fountain provides a relaxing backdrop, by wrapping you in the sounds of moving water.
If you are interested in creative experimentation, there are other corners of your home where you can easily add a biophilic element or two: add a skylight, install a shower floor of smooth river stones, hang macrame wall sculptures, or update a piece of old furniture with a driftwood finish. Doing these things yourself might result in the added element of satisfaction that comes from completing a project with your own hands. For peace of mind and a refreshed attitude toward your living space, I highly recommend learning more about Biophilic Design.
Contact Local Real Estate Expert, Johanna Wiseman of RE/MAX Preferred Professionals, at www.MyBridgewaterHome or 908-705-0652.
