What Is Biophilic Interior Design?
Biophilic interior design is an approach that restores people’s connection with nature inside buildings by using daylight, plants, natural materials, views, and sound. Research on nature contact is associated with mood and stress outcomes; it is complementary to medical care, not a substitute. Dayhouse Studio applies these ideas in homes and workplaces through Healthy Dwelling™.
What is biophilic interior design?
Biophilic design aims to restore humans’ innate connection with nature by emulating the experience of being in nature indoors. That means shaping rooms around daylight, plants, natural materials, views, and sound so everyday interiors feel closer to outdoor environments—in homes and workplaces alike.
What does research say about nature and wellbeing?
Here are examples of peer-reviewed findings on nature contact and mental wellbeing (educational; complementary to medical care):
Exposure to nature can increase positive emotions [1].
Forest bathing can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms [2].
Contact with nature can reduce physiological and perceived stress [3].
More time spent in outdoor light is associated with improved mood and reduced risk for major depressive disorder [4].
Indoor plants can reduce stress, depressive symptoms, and negative emotions [5].
Flowers can foster relaxation, improve emotional health, and reduce anxiety and fatigue [6].
Touching wooden elements can increase relaxation [7].
Natural sounds can improve mood and decrease stress [8].
These eight findings are examples of peer-reviewed research on nature contact and mental wellbeing. They illustrate associations reported in the literature—mood, stress, relaxation, and related outcomes—and are offered here as educational context for biophilic interior design. They are complementary to medical care, not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from qualified clinicians.
Taken together, the studies point to familiar design levers already named on this page: time in nature and outdoor light, forest bathing and other forms of nature contact, indoor plants and flowers, wooden materials you can touch, and natural sound. Biophilic interior design uses those patterns inside buildings so people can keep a practical connection with nature where they live and work.
Dayhouse Studio applies these ideas in Salt Lake City biophilic interiors for homes and workplaces through Healthy Dwelling™. The studio’s approach emphasizes daylight, plants, natural materials, views, and sound as everyday room qualities—not as medical interventions.
If you want more on living spaces and fundamentals, read A Biophilic Home Fostering Mental Health and The Basics of Biophilic Design. For how Dayhouse plans residential and commercial projects around these principles, see biophilic interior design services.
Dayhouse Studio · Salt Lake City, UT
To read more, see A Biophilic Home Fostering Mental Health, The Basics of Biophilic Design, and many other blogs here.
