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Biophilic kitchens are far more than a fleeting trend. It’s been found that these nature-inspired interiors can positively impact homeowner health and wellbeing, with benefits including stress relief, reduced fatigue, and an increase in positive emotions. Why wouldn’t you want to join the hype?
If you’re interested in biophilic design and how to incorporate it into your kitchen, take a look at these 8 steps to get started.
Biophilic kitchens are rooted in the use of natural materials. This also gives your interiors a sustainable boost, reducing the amount of plastic or other man-made resources in your space.
As a great foundation, start by choosing natural worktops and flooring. These provide a biophilic canvas for your space, grounding you in natural materials for an aesthetic that’s closer to nature.
Timber is an excellent option for both worktops and floors. Opt for a naturally durable species, like oak, which doesn’t need to be chemically treated before use. Maintain the appearance of your wood with natural oils and stains.
You can also use stone flooring, such as slate or limestone. For your worktops, some biophilic favourites include marble, granite, and quartzite.
Spaces inspired by nature often use greenery to create a biophilic aesthetic and bring the outdoor world inside. While this is a great choice (take a peek inside Mark Grehan’s Dublin penthouse for all of your plant inspiration!) you might be looking for something a little different in your kitchen.
One option is to create an indoor herb garden. By adding pots of basil, parsley, and chives (to name just a few) to your kitchen, you create a useful resource of fresh herbs while also giving your interior a welcome burst of natural greenery.
Add your herbs to your window sill, a wooden shelf, or in larger, ceramic pots that sit on your floor. You can also dry your fresh herbs and hang them from hooks, making the most of what you’ve grown throughout the year.
We’ve discussed using wood for your flooring and worktops, but there are plenty of other chances to incorporate this versatile material into your kitchen. As a renewable, biodegradable, and cost-effective choice, it’s hard to go wrong with timber accessories.
Some great ideas to add more wood to your kitchen include using wooden utensils and displaying them in a storage jar or vase, and choosing wooden chopping boards and serving boards. Another idea is to store your food in glass jars with bamboo lids, or add faux timber beams to your space
For an additional sustainable boost, look into sourcing your furnishings second-hand and breathe new life into old wood.
Biophilic design is about more than materials and colours. There are more subtle ways you can reflect nature in your kitchen, including through biomorphic shapes that mimic the flow of the outdoor world.
For example, you can evoke a sense of the movement found in nature by using curves. Rounded countertop edges, arched doorways, and curved vases are all excellent choices. Wooden tables that follow a more natural flow rather than a firm, sawn edge are another option for adding organic movement to your kitchen.
Do note, though, that using biomorphic shapes is a more subtle design choice. We recommend utilising this form of decorating to amplify your other, more obvious biophilic design choices rather than relying on it to form the basis of your nature-themed home.
Biophilic design is the future of all interiors, not just kitchens. Luckily, a lot of the steps we’ve mentioned here can be translated throughout your rooms, creating an entire home that’s steeped in the grounding beauty of nature.