Biophilic Interior Design, Explained: What It Actually Changes in a Space

Biophilic interior design is about creating spaces that connect people with nature. That connection can come through a window view, daylight, natural materials, varied textures, planting, fresh air or the way a room feels to move through.

The aim is not to add a few decorative plants and call a project complete. It is to consider how the whole space supports people’s comfort, attention and sense of well-being.

For architects, interior designers, developers and clients, this means asking practical questions early: What can people see? How does light change through the day? Is there somewhere quiet to focus? Do the materials feel inviting and suit the way the space will be used?

What Biophilic Design Is, and Is Not

The word biophilic refers to a connection with nature. In interiors, biophilic design brings that connection into everyday experience through the qualities of a space, not just its appearance.

Houseplants can be part of it, but they are only one element. A room can have abundant planting and still feel uncomfortable if it is noisy, poorly lit or difficult to use. Equally, a thoughtful nature connection can be created without a living wall: a usable view of trees, access to daylight, tactile natural materials or a layout that offers both openness and quiet places to retreat.

Biophilic design is also not a guarantee of better health or productivity. It is a design approach informed by research, user needs and the conditions of a particular building. Good intentions are a starting point. The experience of the finished space is what matters.

What the Evidence Tells Us

Research into nature-connected spaces is promising, but the strength of evidence varies between design features. A systematic review of workplace studies found encouraging results for features such as greenery, views of nature and daylight or visual comfort. It found smaller effects for some other approaches, including natural materials and multisensory experiences.

That distinction is useful. It suggests that designers should pay close attention to the fundamentals rather than relying on a single material or visual gesture.

Daylight and Views

Daylight can support visual comfort and make a room feel more connected to the time and conditions outside. Views of nature are also among the better-supported strategies in the research.

The design task is not simply to maximise glazing. You need to consider glare, privacy, overheating, orientation and how people actually use the room. A view of greenery from a desk, dining table or waiting area may be more valuable than a large window that causes discomfort for much of the day.

Texture and Natural Materials

Natural materials can bring visual variation and a tactile quality that smooth, uniform finishes often lack. Grain, fibre, small surface differences and warm tones can make a space feel more grounded. Evidence for these effects is less established than for daylight and views, so it is best to treat materials as part of a considered whole rather than as a guaranteed well-being intervention.

Air, Sound and Spatial Comfort

Fresh air, comfortable temperatures and manageable noise levels affect how a space feels and functions. These are essential design considerations, though they do not automatically become “biophilic” just because a room has an open window or natural finishes.

Natural ventilation needs to work with the building’s location, noise, air quality and security requirements. Acoustics need similar care: a material’s natural origin does not tell you how well it will absorb sound. Choose finishes and systems for their tested performance as well as their appearance.

Prospect and Refuge

Prospect means having a view or sense of outlook. Refuge means having a place that feels more sheltered or private. In practice, this might mean a clear view across a shared room alongside smaller, quieter areas where someone can concentrate or take a break.

The idea is helpful, but it is not a fixed formula. A meta-analysis of environmental preference studies found stronger support for prospect than for refuge in urban and interior settings, with mixed findings overall. The needs of the people using the room should guide the balance. Read the review.

Practical Design Levers

You do not need to redesign everything to make a space more nature-connected. Start with the conditions you can influence:

• Map daylight and views. Understand where light falls, where glare might occur and which seats or work areas have access to a view.
• Plan planting around real care. Choose locations, species and maintenance arrangements that suit the available light and the people responsible for upkeep.
• Create different settings. Combine open, sociable areas with quieter places for focus or retreat.
• Choose materials for use as well as appearance. Consider touch, cleaning, wear, fire requirements and the intended lifespan.
• Think across the senses. Review sound, air movement, temperature and how the space changes during the day.
• Involve users early. A school, restaurant, home and office place different demands on a room. A short conversation with the people who will use it can reveal needs that a drawing alone will not.

Materials: Nature You Can See and Touch

Materials are one way to make a nature connection tangible. Their surface, texture, colour and variation can shape how a room is experienced. But a material should earn its place through its suitability for the project, not just through a natural appearance or a sustainability claim.

At Osmose Studio, we grow materials using mycelium, the fine network that forms the main body of a fungus, and hemp. As described in our plain-English guide to mycelium, the mycelium grows through the hemp and binds it together. The material can be shaped as it grows, then dried and finished for its intended application.

This process creates distinctive surface qualities, with natural variation from one piece to another. That character can contribute to a biophilic interior, but it does not make a material right for every setting. The design and project team still need to check performance, detailing, maintenance and suitability for the intended use.

How to Tell Whether It Is Working

“Feels more connected to nature” is a useful first impression, but it is not the only way to review a project. Before work begins, decide what you want to improve and how you will check it.

You might record:

• Daylight, glare and access to views in the areas people use most.
• Noise levels or acoustic comfort in work, learning or dining areas.
• User feedback on comfort, focus, privacy and the overall feel of the space.
• Whether planting and other features remain healthy and manageable over time.

Where possible, gather feedback before and after changes, or compare similar areas. Keep the questions simple and relevant to the project. A restaurant might focus on guest comfort and noise; a school might ask pupils and staff about concentration, calm and access to quiet settings.

Measurements help guide decisions, but they do not tell the entire story. A post-occupancy conversation can reveal whether the space works for the people who use it every day.

Avoiding Eco Styling and Greenwashing

A natural-looking interior is not necessarily a sustainable one. Nor does a sustainability label, a few plants or a single bio-based feature prove that a project is responsible.

Look beyond the mood board. Ask where materials come from, how they are made, what they are suitable for, how they will be maintained and what happens at the end of their useful life. Be clear about what is known and what still needs testing. A credible project makes measured claims that match the available evidence.

Honest Limits

Biophilic design has practical constraints. Daylight may be limited by the building’s orientation or nearby development. Some views cannot be changed. Planting needs light, water and ongoing care. Natural materials may cost more, require special detailing or be unsuitable for certain locations.

It can also go wrong when a design treats nature as a visual theme rather than a user need. Too much visual complexity, poorly maintained planting, glare, noise or uncomfortable temperatures can undermine an otherwise thoughtful concept.

The answer is not to use every possible nature-inspired feature. Prioritise what matters in the space, design around its users, and be open about trade-offs.

Start With the Space

Biophilic interior design changes a space by shaping people’s everyday contact with nature: what they see, how light reaches them, what surfaces feel like, how they move and where they can find quiet or connection. The most effective approach is specific to the building and the people who use it.

We work with clients on bespoke interior design, mycelium material consultancy and CPD training for professionals exploring bio-based materials. If you are developing a project or building a brief, you can explore our services or get in touch with the studio.