There’s no doubt that technology has taken over our lives in more ways than one. In western society, most of us spend the majority of our day looking at screens, and it seems like there’s a new social media platform, messaging app or virtual reality world to keep up with every day. Given the way most of us are living today, it’s no wonder we’re craving a return to the natural world. One way to bring the outdoors back in is through biophilic design: a design concept that weaves aspects of nature into built environments like homes and offices.
Biophilic Design Is a Top Trend for 2022
In its forward-looking 2022 report, Pinterest Predicts listed biophilic design as one of the top trends that will be dominating the platform this year.
“You’ve seen house plants. Now meet living rooms. Millennials are turning to plant-first design solutions this year to increase their connection to nature and enhance their wellbeing,” Pinterest’s biophilic design page reads. “Staircase gardens, biophilic interiors and floral ceilings are all trending up. And don’t leave the office out!”
According to the report, search terms like biophilic architecture (+150%), biophilic office design (+3x), biophilic design bedroom (+100%), staircase garden (+175%) and floral ceiling (+3x) will all be trending upwards in 2022.
‘The Next Step for Plant Lovers Is Biophilic Design’
The report also quotes one of Pinterest’s resident creators, PlantBlerd, who reminds us that you can really never have too many plants in your home, especially considering they can bring an element of relaxation to your space.
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“I feel like the next step for plant lovers is biophilic design,” PlantBlerd says. “If you like monstera, why stop at a 9-inch pot? Fill a whole wall with them. It’ll make you feel more connected to the outdoors and add a sense of calm to your home.”
Bringing the Outdoors in Could Boost Your Mood
Anecdotally, you’ve probably already noticed that bringing plant life into an indoor space can indeed bring a sense of relaxation and ease stress. But there’s also science to back this up. A 2015 study found that bringing the outdoors in can have a measurable impact on your stress levels and physical health, which means biophilic design could boost your mood too.
“Our results suggest that active interaction with indoor plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress compared with mental work,” the study reads. “This is accomplished through suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity and diastolic blood pressure and promotion of comfortable, soothed, and natural feelings.”
As our society becomes increasingly tech-reliant and the threat of climate change looms, nature lovers are becoming acutely aware of the need to preserve our natural surroundings. Biophilic design presents a unique and creative method for those hoping to get their fill of the natural world while keeping up with the times we find ourselves in today.
Lead photo by FollowTheFlow/Adobe Stock.
