What is Dayhouse Studio?

Dayhouse Studio is a Salt Lake City interior design firm. We plan residential and commercial interiors around daylight, materials, air, and how a room is used. Full-service in Salt Lake City and Park City, virtual elsewhere, for homes and businesses that want that plan before construction starts.

What is biophilic interior design?

Biophilic interior design plans rooms around daylight, living materials, air, and how a space is used, so the room stays connected to the outdoors. Dayhouse Studio uses that approach for homes and commercial interiors in Salt Lake City and virtually.

Does Dayhouse Studio work outside Salt Lake City?

Yes. Full-service interiors in Salt Lake City and Park City, and virtual design elsewhere.

Biophilic Dining Room Design — Dayhouse Studio

Updated September 8, 2026

Biophilic Dining Room Design is a Dayhouse Studio blog on creating restorative dining spaces with natural materials, dynamic light, plants, and shared meals that support connection. Complementary to medical care, not a substitute. Based in Salt Lake City, we share science-backed ideas for healthier homes.

The dining room can be a powerful space for social interaction and nutrition. As a space to share meals and conversation, creating a room to elevate mental, cardiovascular, metabolic and immune health can again combine the health benefits of social interaction with biophilic design.

Key Biophilic Elements

Natural Materials: Wood-based tables or cabinetry: Viewing or touching wood has been shown to calm the brain and increase relaxation by activating the parasympathetic system (also known as rest and digest) [6, 8].

Dynamic Lighting: Cove lighting in combination with natural light from a window and/or sconce lighting creates a cozy atmosphere that encourages open conversation and improves mental health.

Living Elements: Fresh flowers and indoor plants improve mood and air quality. A green living wall or moss wall acts as a natural divider between spaces, reinforcing the connection to nature (among other biophilic benefits) while serving as a stunning visual focal point.

Conclusion

In my healing journey, the redesign of the dining room focused on fostering connections. A sturdy wooden table became the gathering spot, grounding the space with its natural presence. Surrounding this with plants and natural textures enhanced the feeling of dining in nature, making each meal a nourishing experience for body and soul.

Designing a dining room that supports connection

A biophilic dining room is less about a single décor gesture and more about how people gather. Dayhouse Studio plans tables, seating, and sightlines so conversation feels easy—wood under the hand, a view to plants or outdoors, and light that shifts gently through a meal. Shared meals already support social health; pairing that with natural materials and living elements can make the room feel restorative without turning dinner into a wellness ritual.

Materials, light, and living elements for everyday meals

In Salt Lake City and Park City homes, we often combine a solid wood table with cove or sconce light alongside daylight, then layer in flowers, herbs, or a moss or living wall as a soft divider. These choices help create calmer evenings and clearer cues for rest-and-digest—complementary to medical care, not a substitute. Keep finishes low-VOC where you can, and leave space for people to lean in, pass dishes, and stay awhile.