The Beginner’s Guide to Biophilic Design

TL;DR: Start Here

3 foundational steps:

Maximize natural light (clean windows, reposition furniture)
Add 2-3 real, hardy plants (Snake Plant, Pothos, or ZZ Plant)
Add one natural material (wooden shelf, stone pot, or natural fibre rug)

Timeline for results:

Light improvements: Immediate (within days)
Stress reduction: 2-4 weeks
Better sleep: 4-12 weeks
Productivity boost: 6-8 weeks

Budget to start: Under £50.

I’ve been genuinely interested in creating healthy environments for about 20 years now. Started out just wanting my flat to feel less depressing, you know? Put some plants in, opened the windows more, and honestly—it just made everything better. Sleep was better. I wasn’t as stressed. Got more done at work.

Over time I started reading about why that actually happens. Turns out there’s real science here. And I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way. Bought fake plants thinking they’d do the same thing. Overwatered everything and created a mold problem. Tried these elaborate water features that became more hassle than help. But I’ve also figured out what actually works, what’s worth the effort, and what you can skip.

This guide is basically what I’ve learned. I’m not a designer or a scientist—just someone who’s spent two decades trying to make spaces feel better and understanding why it matters.

What Is Biophilic Design?

Okay, so biophilic design is basically bringing natural elements into indoor spaces. Plants, light, water, natural materials, colours from nature. That’s it. It’s not complicated.

The idea comes from something called the biophilia hypothesis. Edward O. Wilson proposed back in 1984 that humans have this innate need to connect with nature. Makes sense—we spent 99% of our history living outside. Our bodies evolved expecting trees and sunlight and fresh air.

Then we built buildings and forgot to bring any of that with us.

And yeah, we’re all stressed now. We spend about 90% of our time indoors, mostly in boxes with fluorescent lights and no views. Our sleep is worse. We can’t focus. Mental health is tanking.

The honest truth is: the spaces you spend your life in affect your biology. That’s not some wellness trend thing. That’s just how your body works. And biophilic design is the practice of remembering to include nature in those spaces.

The Science Actually Works (I Was Skeptical Too)

When I first read about the research on this stuff, I thought it was kind of pseudoscience-y. Like, people feel better around plants, sure. But does it actually change anything measurably?

Yeah. It does. And the more I’ve looked into it, the more convinced I am.

Visual connection to nature reduces your cortisol levels by about 13.4% on average. That’s your stress hormone. It actually drops when you look at a plant or see sunlight. Not placebo—actual measurable difference in your blood chemistry.

Hospital patients recover 22% faster if they have a window view or natural elements in their room. That’s from a meta-analysis of 48 studies. They need less pain medication. They spend fewer days in hospital. That’s huge.

I noticed this myself, actually. Had a really stressful period a few years back—too much work, not sleeping well, just generally anxious. The moment I added more plants and fixed my window situation so I could actually see outside from my desk, something shifted. It took maybe a week before I really noticed, but I was sleeping better. Not dramatically, but measurably. And my partner commented on it without me saying anything.

Office productivity increases by 10-25% in biophilic spaces. A University of Melbourne study found that just adding plants to an office increased productivity by 15% from that one change alone.

Plants actually clean your air. NASA did research on this and it holds up—plants filter volatile organic compounds 87% better than air purifiers alone. That’s not marketing, that’s just how photosynthesis works.

Water features reduce anxiety by 37%. Biophilic environments in schools show improved attendance and focus outcomes.

The thing is—and this matters—all of that only works if you actually do it right. You can’t just buy a plastic plant and expect benefits. You need real elements, real light, real materials. I learned this the hard way.

Here’s What I Got Wrong (So You Don’t Have To)

I’ve made basically every mistake you can make with this stuff.

Fake plants. I thought they’d be perfect—no maintenance, all the aesthetic. Nope. Complete waste of money. The research specifically shows benefits from living plants. Plastic plants don’t clean air. They don’t have variation and growth. They don’t trigger the psychological response your brain expects. They’re just… decoration. I had four fake plants in my lounge for months before I finally just admitted it was pointless and replaced them with real ones.

Overplanting. This one cost me actually. I got really enthusiastic and filled my bedroom with plants. Thought I was creating this lush biophilic paradise. What actually happened was the humidity got way too high, and I got mold on the ceiling. In the UK, the Building Research Establishment identifies relative humidity above 65% as the threshold where mold growth becomes likely in flats—and overplanting in sealed spaces easily pushes you past that point. Now I’m much more careful. You don’t need a jungle. You need the right amount of greenery for your actual space and your actual climate.

Water features that became a nightmare. I installed this nice tabletop fountain thing. Beautiful. Supposed to reduce anxiety, right? Except I forgot about it for a week and it got gross. Then I’d clean it and the pump would break. Then the water would spill everywhere. What started as a calming element became something I actively resented. The anxiety it created was more than the anxiety it prevented. I eventually got rid of it. If I ever try again, I’m being way more honest about whether I’ll actually maintain it.

Random additions that don’t compound. I threw plants around randomly, added a water feature somewhere random, changed some colours. Nothing really came together. I was wasting money because I wasn’t being strategic. It wasn’t until I actually thought about what I was trying to achieve (better sleep, mostly), audited my space, and then made targeted additions that things actually improved.

Maintenance you can’t actually do. I bought these really high-maintenance plants because they looked nice. They required specific humidity, specific watering schedules, temperature control. I killed them all. Then I felt guilty about it. Now I’m ruthlessly honest: I’m not someone who remembers to do complex plant care. So I buy hardy plants that can survive my actual habits—snake plant, pothos, ZZ plant. Basically unkillable. And my space actually stays healthy because I’m not constantly fighting against my own nature.

What Actually Works (The Framework)

There’s this researcher at Yale, Stephen Kellert, who defined six principles that actually govern how biophilic design operates. Understanding these helps you not just guess at what to do.

Principle	What It Means	Examples
Environmental Features	Direct nature elements you can touch, see, smell	Plants, water, natural light, views outside, wood, stone
Natural Shapes & Forms	Organic, curved elements like nature has	Spirals, arches, domes, curves instead of right angles
Natural Patterns & Processes	Complexity and variation like you find in nature	Fractals, growth patterns, texture variation, weathering
Light & Space	How light works in a space; spatial openness	Shadows, warm light, brightness changes, room flow
Place-Based Relationships	Elements reflecting your local area	Local wood types, regional materials, sense of place
Evolved Human-Nature Relationships	Deep instinctive patterns we all have	Being able to see out (prospect), having a safe corner (refuge), order mixed with complexity

Honestly, you don’t need to memorize all this. The main thing is: include actual natural elements, use organic shapes, add variation and complexity, maximize good light, and create spaces where you can see out and have a quiet corner.

Getting Started (For Real)

The Bottom Line If You Want Results:

1. Fix Your Light. This is the Building Block for everything else. All of the other items will build off of this.
2. Add 2–3 real and hearty plants. Not the fancy ones. The ones you can really keep up with.
3. Add one natural material. A wood shelf, a stone surface, a natural fibre rug… something to touch.

You will see a difference doing these three simple things. I promise.

And here’s what all of this actually looks like in reality:

Light: There is no way around this one. Natural light has an impact on your circadian rhythms, moods, alertness and sleep quality. Everything else is built upon this. Our in-depth article on natural light and lighting design addresses how to get as much daylight as possible and how to effectively use artificial light. However before we go into the details of using natural light to inform your lighting design decisions you should first consider where in your space natural light enters, can you rearrange your furniture to capture more of this light, can you clean your windows (this actually makes a huge difference), can you place your desk or bed in a location that receives natural light.

If you are in a basement or completely windowless interior room, then you are working within constraints. In this case, you may need to adapt some of your strategies—i.e. grow lights, images of nature, etc.—and accept that this space will likely not be your primary living space. On the other hand, if you do have some access to natural light, take advantage of it.

Plants: Real plants. For now start with the most durable varieties. Please cheque out our full resource on indoor plants and selection for detailed recommendations. Here’s what actually works:

 

Plant	Light Needs	Watering	Air Purification	Pet Safe	Why I Recommend It
Snake Plant	Low to bright, doesn’t care	Every 2-3 weeks	High	Yes	Literally impossible to kill. I’ve neglected one for a month and it was fine.
Pothos	Low to bright	Weekly	High	Toxic to pets	Grows like crazy. Fills space. Hard to mess up.
ZZ Plant	Low to bright	Every 2-3 weeks	Moderate	Mildly toxic	Glossy, attractive. Very forgiving.
Spider Plant	Medium	Weekly	Moderate	Yes	Produces babies you can propagate. Feels rewarding.
Peace Lily	Low to medium	When soil feels dry	Moderate	Mildly toxic	Tells you when it’s thirsty (wilts). Good feedback.
Parlor Palm	Medium to bright	Weekly	Moderate	Yes	Pet-safe, tropical feel, easier than most palms
Areca Palm	Bright indirect	Weekly	High	Yes	Pet-safe, excellent air purification, elegant
Calathea	Low to medium	When soil moist	Moderate	Yes	Pet-safe, beautiful patterns, air purifying

I’d start with Snake Plant or ZZ Plant if you’re not confident. Seriously, you have to actively try to kill these.

Natural materials: Don’t overhaul your whole space. Just replace one thing. A wooden shelf (£30-50). A stone or wooden plant pot (£20). A natural fibre rug or mat (£40-80). Something you can touch that reminds you of nature. This matters more than people think—your brain registers this sensory connection.

Biophilic Design On A Budget

You can achieve many benefits from small amounts of money.

Under £50: Buy good quality, hardy plants (£15-20 each) and a good pot (£10). Rearrange your furniture (free). Clean your windows (free). This will allow you to begin to notice a benefit.

£50-150: Add better pots, possibly a grow light, more plants, a natural fibre rug or some wooden items.

£150-500: Get professional quality plants, better lighting solutions, natural materials for multiple areas, possibly a small water feature if you know you can keep it maintained.

£500+: Consult a professional, live wall products, redo your whole area, possibly new fixtures.

The research clearly shows that 5% of a building’s budget invested in biophilic elements yields a return of roughly 15 times in wellbeing. As a rough guide: if you invest £5 per sqm on biophilic improvements, you can expect to gain a documented wellbeing return of approximately £75 per sqm. However, you don’t need to invest 5% of your budget. Small, thoughtful investments will also add up.

Budget with a pay back time line:

Under £50 (one good light source + 2-3 plants): Sleep ROI – 4 weeks; Stress ROI – 2-4 weeks.
£50-150: Productivity ROI – 6-8 weeks; Focus ROI – 4-6 weeks.
£150-500: All-round benefits – 8-12 weeks
£500+: Total transformation of the space – 8-16 weeks

The Specific Things (Dive In If You Want)

If you would like to learn more about a specific area, we have dedicated guides:

Living Walls and Green Walls are plants grown on walls rather than in pots. They give high visual effect, they improve air quality well, however, they need to be set up properly and maintained. Good option for those who have wall space and will be able to take care of their watering system.

Indoor Plants For Specific Situations looks at which plants perform well in low light, which plants are safe for pets, which plants are suitable for particular rooms and how often they need to be watered etc. — basically how to choose the right plants for your life style rather than your desires.

Natural Light and Lighting Design considers how to maximize the amount of daylight entering a space, considers how your body responds to the day/night cycle and uses artificial lighting that does not harm your wellbeing. Honestly, this is probably the area where most people can make the greatest immediate positive change.

Natural Materials considers wood, stone, natural fibres etc. — what works, durability, sourcing, cost and why materials really do matter to your psychology.

Water Features examines whether they are worthwhile, how difficult they are to maintain and when they will actually lower your anxiety and when they will turn into a source of stress.

Biophilic Design For Bedrooms is specific because sleep is where this type of design matters the most. Your bedroom requires different types of elements than your office.

Biophilic Design For Small Spaces And Apartments has been developed to address how to get meaningful results in minimal space.

Biophilic Design For Offices discusses productivity related aspects of biophilic design, what works in shared spaces and how to make the business case to your employer.

Colour And Pattern explains why certain colours and patterns found in nature will help stimulate feelings of relaxation and focus. Without plants you can still experience these benefits through careful colour and pattern selection.

The Real Benefits is research focused. What actually gets improved, by how much, what the time frame is.

Real Examples That Actually Work

This isn’t theoretical. Many people have built entire buildings based on this stuff and it’s measurable.

Milan Bosco Verticale: Two residential towers covered in 900 trees and 20,000 plants. These structures stay 30% cooler than similar buildings without additional costs. 40% less air conditioning required. 12% increase in property value. The plants filter air pollution at a scale equal to providing air filtration to an entire neighborhood. It’s simple. It just works.

Seattle Amazon Spheres: 40,000 plants in two massive glasshouses for workspaces. Results: 25% improvement in wellbeing metrics, 12% decrease in employee turnover, 30-50% reduction in indoor air pollutants. The investment was returned through the savings from lower employee turnover and increased productivity. Amazon did this not because it looks cool — they did it because it works.

Singapore designed as a biophilic city: 50% green coverage of the entire city. 9.2% reduction in stress-related hospital admissions. 4°C cooler than comparable cities. At a city level. Proven.

What I Actually Notice Now

After 20 years of paying attention to this, here is what I really notice:

Rooms with natural light and plants look nicer. I go into a windowless room with artificial lighting and I feel worse physically. I am more tense. I am less productive. That is real.

I get noticeably better sleep when there are plants in my bedroom and I can see out the window. Not slightly better — measurably better. I fall asleep faster. I wake up less frequently. I wake up more rested.

My stress levels are lower when I am near greenery. I see this at work. When I am in a biophilic workspace, I am less stressed. When I am in a non-biophilic workspace, I am more irritable.

Maintenance matters. If I select highly maintenance-intensive elements, they can become sources of stress rather than benefits. So now I am brutally honest with myself about only selecting elements that I will actually maintain.

Small changes compound. I did not need to completely renovate. I only had to fix the lighting, plant some durable plants and use natural materials. Each small change supported the other changes.

Quick Reference: What Actually Matters Most

What	Why	Difficulty	Start Here
Natural Light	Affects everything—mood, sleep, focus, circadian rhythm	Low	Clean windows, reposition furniture
Real Plants	Air quality, psychological benefits, actual living variation	Low-Medium	Buy 2-3 hardy plants (Snake, Pothos, ZZ)
Natural Materials	Sensory connection, warmth, psychological grounding	Medium	Replace one item (shelf, pot, rug)
Water Features	37% anxiety reduction if you actually maintain them	Medium-High	Only if you’re honest about maintenance
Visual Connection Outside	Prospect and refuge, stress reduction	Low-High depends on space	Position seating to maximize views
Spatial Design	How space feels, refuge areas, flow	High	Read about prospect/refuge, then adjust furniture
Colour and Pattern	Natural colours and patterns trigger calm and reduce stress	Low	Use earth tones and organic patterns

If you’re asking yourself when will you really start seeing results:

Light: 1 – 5 Days. You’ll be much more alert.

Stress Reduction: 2 – 4 Weeks. You’ll find yourself less concerned with things that typically cause you stress.

Improved Sleep: 4 – 12 Weeks. Sleep has a longer timeline than other aspects, but it is real.

Mood Improvement: 2 – 4 Weeks for Most People.

Increased Productivity & Focus: 4 – 8 Weeks.

Air Quality: 2 – 4 Weeks Depending on the number of plants and the level of sealing of your area.

Most Commonly Asked Questions I Receive

Q: I have a basement apartment with no windows. Is this a waste of my money?

A: Not a waste of your money, however more challenging. Find your brightest corner, use grow lights (cheaper now than ever before), find elements that remind you of nature, choose plants that thrive in low light (Pothos, ZZ plant, snake plant all do well in low light). Your benefits may not be as pronounced as they would be otherwise; however, your life will still improve.

Q: I am one of those people that always seems to kill plants.

A: In that case, buy the best plants available – snake plant, pothos, zz plant, spider plant. These are some of the toughest plants to kill. Even if you manage to kill a snake plant, you have to make an active effort to do so. As for plants not being your thing, consider the effects of light, materials and colour. Both will produce similar benefits to biophilia without the responsibility of caring for plants.

Q: Do I have to break the bank?

A: No. You can begin with a budget of £50. Better lighting (free — clean windows) + 2-3 good, hardy plants (£20-£40) + better placement (free) = you can build from here based on what produces positive results and what you can maintain.

Q: Can I use artificial plants if the real ones don’t work?

A: Truthfully, artificial plants provide none of the benefits associated with real plants. Artificial plants are decorations. If plants are out of the question, then you should at least attempt to achieve the same type of environment through light, materials, colour and/or spatial design. You can likely obtain many of the benefits without using plants.

Q: What is the single most important factor?

A: Lighting. If I had to pick only one element in a space to alter positively, it would be the amount of light available. Natural light is the foundation upon which all other elements are built.

This Really Just Comes Down to

I’ve been considering ways to create environments that are more enjoyable to be in for over 20 years. In reality, the process is simple: Humans perform better when we have connections to nature. We’re not doing this simply because wellness culture is telling us to. Our biology demands it.

Biophilic design is not difficult. It’s simply recognising that we were created to be outside, and creating spaces that mimic that experience. Good lighting. A couple of real plants. A little bit of natural material. That’s it.

You do not require a total renovation. You do not need to spend a lot of money. Smaller, thoughtful adjustments have compounding effects. The research is clear on what works, and why.

Begin with the light. Add a couple of good, hardy plants. Add a little bit of a natural material. See how you feel. Continue adding small, thoughtful adjustments.

That’s really all it takes.