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Feeling Stressed? Discover how Nature Inspired Design can calm your mind

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:12:35 GMT

Nature Inspired Design Principles can improve your wellbeing. Learn how....

When I began my research for this blog post, I was shocked to read the statistics about the state of our mental health in 2025. 1 in 7 of us say our mental health is bad or the worst it has ever been. A massive 63% of us report feeling stressed at least weekly, with 1 in 5 of over 16’s saying they feel stressed every single day. These figures are alarming to say the least and honestly, really quite distressing!

Stress, at whatever age, can have a serious impact on our general health and wellbeing. When we experience stress, our cortisol and adrenaline levels rise. Our blood pressure increases and we encounter an elevated heart rate. If this quickly subsides and is only a short-lived experience, there is unlikely to be any long lasting damage. If, however, we experience stress every day, we are likely to have consistently raised cortisol levels. And what does this mean? High cortisol levels are a significant risk factor for so many health issues, including weight gain, high blood pressure, headaches, tension, depression, issues with focus and concentration, acne, insomnia, fatigue and muscle weakness.

What is most worrying is that if young people are living with daily stress and are not able to escape it, they risk spending their entire adult life in a state of elevated stress — resulting in some serious physical and mental health impacts.

These statistics show us that we could all use some practical coping strategies to help us reduce and manage stress in our daily lives. The NHS recommends a number of ways we can improve our mental wellbeing, such as learning new skills, exercise, mindfulness, practising kindness and connecting with people.

There is another way, scientifically proven, in which you can support your wellbeing — through Biophilia . By integrating nature into our indoor spaces (homes, workplaces, hospitals), we can positively impact our mood, our productivity and our physical health and wellbeing. When we have access to nature and the natural environment, we are healthier, more focussed and have reduced feelings of stress and anxiety! This is the Biophilic Design philosophy!

Empirical studies carried out over many years have shown positive associations between being outdoors in nature and stress reduction. On average, we spend around 90% of our time indoors, in urban environments that are typically over-stimulating. Exposure to nature and green spaces offers mental restoration and increases our positive emotions and mindfulness, which in turn reduces our anxiety and rumination. Both the Stress Recovery Theory and the Attention Restoration Theory have found strong evidence between exposure to natural environments and recovery from physiological stress and mental fatigue. What I’m saying is the science supports using nature in design to help us feel better.

So, as we begin to understand the benefits of bringing nature into our urban environments, our homes and workplaces, we can start to use biophilic design to help support our wellbeing as we manage our busy, daily lives.

As an interior designer practising Biophilic Design, I always take a holistic approach. Every project starts with consideration of three biophilia principles and the layering up of these design elements helps achieve the best results for my clients, their well-being and their spaces.

The first principle is Visual Connection. As an architecture student back in the 90’s, I was taught that buildings should seamlessly co-exist with the natural landscape in which they are situated. I spent a lot of time considering the position of buildings in relation to the geography, sunlight, wind, geology, ecology and views. Without a connection to their surrounding landscapes, buildings lack authenticity, relevance and grounding. I try to let nature inform each space. Look at the view from your window — how can you position the elements within the room to take maximum advantage of the view of your garden, or a beautiful tree or the sunset. Could you add a window seat, a balcony or even a window box full of flowers to provide that connection to nature through views.

The second principle is bringing the outdoors in. Probably the most important element in any design is light, specifically, natural light. Exposing spaces to as much daylight as possible, through windows, skylights and lightwells has a huge impact on our mood and productivity whilst in that space. I could write a whole blog post solely about the health benefits of natural light — myriad studies show the direct correlation between abundant daylight and positive emotional wellbeing in our indoor spaces. So open up those curtains and let the light shine in! The other obvious way to bring the outdoors in is with plants. Houseplants are having their heyday and rightly so. They are one of the easiest and most effective ways to bring some greenery into your home and workplace. More on filling your home with plants in a future blog.

The Secret to a Healthier, Happier Home through Biophilic Design

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:55:12 GMT

How to create natural spaces that inspire, enrich and enhance your wellbeing

As an interior designer, I'm passionate about creating spaces that both look fabulous and enhance our well-being, through connections to nature and the natural world. Through this blog, I will share my journey of learning and applying Biophilic Design — a design philosophy which promotes the transformation of your living and working spaces by connecting them to nature; promoting better mental health, improved productivity and overall wellbeing.

I should probably first explain what biophilia is. Literally translated, it means ‘love of life’. Simply put, it’s all about our innate connection to nature and the natural world and how making that link makes us feel content. If I asked you to think of your happy place, some of you might imagine a beautiful, white sandy beach, with palm trees swaying in the breeze. Or maybe you would be sat by a riverbank, hearing the stream bubbling along whilst you lie back on the grass. Or perhaps you’d be in a woody forest, listening to the birdsong as you walk the winding paths. The point is, we often talk about interacting with nature — being in nature, seeing and hearing nature. And that’s biophilia in a nutshell. It’s the idea that people feel an intuitive connection to the living world around them. And through that affiliation, we are able to positively thrive.

Biophilic Design is a design philosophy focusing on integrating nature and natural elements into our living and working spaces. And when done right, the benefits have a really positive impact on our health and wellbeing. In order to identify what makes a biophilic space, there are three core principles:

Direct experience of nature: This might be filling your home with houseplants and flowers, lighting a real fire, or opening curtains and windows to flood your home with natural light and fresh air.
Indirect experience of nature: It may be that a space does not have access to a window, a view or does not allow plants. In such situations, using natural materials and embracing things that remind you of nature in their pattern, colour and texture can provide a solution.
Experience of space and place: We can try to live in a way in which we are connected to the natural rhythms of the seasons, whilst making the most of views and natural light.

So why does your home need a natural touch? If we are able to weave the three core threads of biophilic design together in our interior spaces, we can truly benefit from everything this design approach has to offer. Imagine coming home after a busy day at work to a space that’s filled with natural light, calming greenery and materials that feel organic and grounding. It’s not just about aesthetics — the impact biophilic design can have on our wellbeing is wide reaching:-

Reduces stress, anxiety and depression. Empirical studies have reported that experiences of natural environments provide greater emotional restoration, with lower instances of tension, anxiety, anger, fatigue, confusion and total mood disturbance than urban environments with limited characteristics of nature.
Boosts focus and creativity, including problem solving and cognitive function. Strong or routine connections with nature can provide real opportunities for mental restoration, during which time our higher cognitive functions can sometimes take a break.
Improves attention performance in both children and adults, increasing the restorative effect on mental fatigue. If we are really concentrating on a task at work or school, our minds are directly engaged. This attention can only be directed for so long before we need to take a break to recuperate and views of nature really help by capturing our attention without requiring such intense concentration.
Expedites healing: Studies have shown that patients in hospitals who have a view of nature get better quicker.
Elevate white blood cell counts, crucial for immune health.
Boost self esteem.
Encourage healthy lifestyle habits
Increase longevity

After reading that temptingly long list of benefits you can achieve through biophilic design, I bet your keen to get started on your own spaces straight away. So where do you begin? One thing to remember before you embark on your design journey is that bringing the outdoors indoors is a philosophy, not a style or interior trend. Whatever the style of your building, whether you live in a country cottage or a minimalist high-tech apartment, embracing nature and using natural elements works, particularly when focusing on natural light and materials. That said, lots of interior trends work perfectly well within the biophilic principles, so whether you are obsessed with house plants (like me) or love crafting with macrame, you are already dipping your toes into the grounding elements of biophilic design.

If you are ready to bring a bit of nature into your home, I recommend you start small. Once you’ve integrated some basic elements, you can begin to layer up and plan larger projects.

Here are five quick and easily achievable ways to start your journey into biophilia and begin creating your own ‘natural nest’

One of the easiest and most cost effective ways to begin is with house plants. Widely available, they add greenery, texture and colour, creating a calm atmosphere, with the added benefit that some can improve the air quality in your home. I’ll be doing a lot of talking about house plants. I just love them and have been steadily expanding my own collection over the past few years. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a new leaf sprouting on one of my rescue plants.
Another super easy way is to clean your windows, throw back the curtains, open your blinds and let the daylight in. There is evidence to show that daylight (especially morning light) is particularly beneficial to us, so switch off your lamps and take maximum advantage of the natural light. I’ll be talking lots more about light in future blogs. It’s one of the design features that people struggle with, so I’ll be helping you get it spot on.
Biophilic design is not just in the aesthetics. It encompasses all our senses. Natural scents from candles and diffusers can celebrate the scents of the outdoors. Calming lavender, stimulating citrus and uplifting ylang ylang all evoke an inviting atmosphere in your home.
Take a look at your soft furnishings. Could you introduce more natural elements — a jute rug, a furry throw or some beautiful linen cushions. By introducing accessories made from natural materials, you can develop a sensory rich habitat. But do be mindful of the impact these items have on our environment and try to choose from sustainable sources if possible, where industrial processes have been minimised. I’ll be talking about sustainable design in future blogs as eco-design and biophilic deign are closely related.
Move your desk to the window and create yourself a view. The next best thing to being outside is seeing outside. As little as three minutes looking at trees, flowers or water can start to reduce feelings of anxiety and pain and encourage relaxation. And if you don’t have a view of nature, make sure to add a plant or bunch of flowers to your desk.

Well, I hope this intro into biophilic design and its myriad benefits has peaked your interest. In the coming weeks, I will be delving deeper into this wonderful genre, sharing tips, inspiration and information on how you can incorporate biophilic design into your homes and workspaces. I’ll explore how to bring inspiration from nature into interior design which will improve the positivity and wellness vibes in your home.

I’ll also be sharing details of my favourite suppliers, guiding you to where you can buy the very best home decor to transform your spaces into calming sanctuaries which support your wellbeing in ways you never knew was possible.

It’s going to be such an exciting journey and I’m so looking forward to sharing it all with you. Make sure to follow me for inspiration and guidance on creating your own nature-inspired haven at home!

I’ve love to hear your questions, comments and experiences with biophilia and biophilic design. Get in touch — let’s discuss — let’s connect!

The 8 Design Essentials every room should have

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 07:31:26 GMT

Here are my 8 design basics to help you create a room scheme that looks fabulous!

1. Does your room have 3 or more colours?

When working with colour, try to work with a 60:30:10 ratio, with your dominant colour occupying 60% of the overall scheme. Bring in a second colour in a smaller proportion – this might be a contrasting hue or a different shade of the main colour. Lastly, use a third colour as an accent to create a ‘pop’, maybe with cushions or a piece of statement artwork.

As an interior designer, I am always on the lookout for treasures. What may seem mundane to some – a discarded wrapper, an unusual flower – provides me with inspiration. Be mindful of the things that you are drawn to and take inspiration from them. This might be a favourite piece of artwork, the fabrics and colours in your wardrobe, the landscape of your favourite holiday destination. You might start to recognize a constant theme of colours and patterns that bring you joy.

Make sure you’re colours work together using a colour wheel, which you can easily pick up off Amazon. Three tried and tested colour formulas to try are tonal (different shades of the same hue), harmonious (colours which sit next to each other on the colour wheel) or contrasting (colours which sit opposite each other on the colour wheel)

2. Does your room have a little bit of black

You may be a little scared of using black, thinking it too bold for your room, but black will give your scheme depth, contrast and an anchor / focal point. Using black is a designers secret weapon and used in the right way can elevate a design to new levels.

3. Does your room have texture?

Using different texture brings visual weight to the room and adds balance and depth. The type of textures you choose can really change the way the room feels. Soft, fluffy, luxurious textures and soft furnishings feel relaxing and soothing, whereas hard, smooth surfaces feel more modern and minimal. Think about visual texture as well as tactile textures – a piece of 3D art might create a sense of movement and energy. As there are so many ways to use texture, think about all your surfaces and the impact the texture of the flooring, fabric, furniture and accessories has on your overall scheme vibe.

4. Does your room contain at least two (ideally three) patterns?

Follow the following simple guidelines to get pattern mixing spot on!

1. Play with scale so your patterns aren’t all competing for attention. Select one larger, dominant pattern and mix with one or two other smaller scale ones.

2. Think about the energy of the pattern, so it does not overwhelm the space

3. Tie in similarities ie colour to unify the scheme, or go for contrast choosing colours that sit opposite on the colour wheel.

4. Choose buddy patterns that go hand in hand, such as stipes and florals or Ikat, or houndstooth + pinstripe, or find a family resemblance, ie natural textures, geometrics.

5. Add some plains to give pattern space. A ratio of 60:40 pattern-to-plain is ideal.

5. Does your room have a bit of bling?

By bling, I mean something that brings a bit of sparkle and shine to your scheme and helps to bounce or reflect light around your scheme. Typically, I would use a mirror, but think about lacquered furniture. Glass objects also work well.

6. Does your room have something that’s living?

I love plants and think they bring a special quality to a room scheme. If you don’t have green fingers or the desire to care for real plants, there are some absolutely fantastic faux options out there that can liven up your interiors. Whether it’s a cluster of succulents or a huge Monstera in the bathroom, play around with colour and scale to lift the design.

7. Does your room shine with light?

Whatever the design route you choose, light is the magical element that will bring the scheme together. Lighting is a science rather than an art so its easy to get right if you know the rules. Remember, light has a temperature. Cool light emits a blue tone, whereas warm light emits yellow. Northern and morning light is cool; southern and evening light is warm. Consider who will use the room and what are the activities? My top piece of advice is to layer, layer, layer. Try to have 5 different sources of light in every room, from a combination of general, ambient, task and accent. And remember that the surfaces in your room also affect the light. Hard shiny surfaces reflect and help bounce light around whereas matt surfaces absorb it.

1. Has your room got good energy?

My final tip is to allow a bit of emptiness to allow all your design choices to pop!

I hope you found my advice useful. As always, if you need some professional help, please get in touch. A 90 minute design consultation with me could help you avoid costly mistakes and give you the scheme of your dreams.