Biophilic Design: 4 Ways It Benefits Health and Beauty Businesses (2024)

Are you a wellness or beauty therapist? Do you take a holistic approach to mind, body, and soul? Does this ethos also stretch to the design of your practice or salon?

We’re encouraged to get outside and enjoy the therapeutic effects of nature, so it’s not surprising we’re using more natural features in our interiors. Biophilic design does just that.

If your goal is to help clients feel better about themselves, biophilic design can support a holistic strategy.

This article explores biophilic design principles and four vital ways they may benefit your working environment.

Biophilia

Biophilia merges two ancient Greek words: bio (life) and philia (love), so biophilia is interpreted as love of life. Biophilia celebrates our connection with nature. Interacting with the natural world is intrinsic to us.

Influenced by this connection, biophilic design blends natural elements in our buildings and interiors.

Principles of Biophilic Design

• Natural Light

  See Also

  Biophilic design ideas - clever ways to bring nature into your home for a calming spaceThe Basics of Biophilic Design: 5 Ways to Achieve It — GREENARIUM | Indoor Garden SpecialistsBeyond Aesthetics: The Benefits of Biophilic DesignBiophilic Design in Healthcare Spaces

  Exposure to more natural light during the day may help us to sleep better at night.

• Plants

  Including indoor plants can help create a relaxing atmosphere and soften the appearance of an office or clinical space.

• Natural Materials

  Integrate wood, stone, and bamboo in your interior decor and furnishing. Use natural fabrics to create a tactile connection to nature.

• Nature’s Color Palette

  Include nature-inspired earthy tones or calming shades of green and blue.

• Views of Nature

  Take advantage of what you can see outside. If you look out onto greenery, pretty flowers, or other natural vistas, allow your windows to create the perfect picture frame.

• Biophilic Artwork

  If beautiful views are in short supply, create your own. Hang wall art with awe-inspiring images of nature. Think mountain peaks, a forest carpeted in spring flowers, or an ocean scene.

• Water

  Whether a gentle trickle of a water feature or an aquarium with mesmerizing tropical fish, water can provide a relaxing element.

• Sounds

  Natural sounds like flowing water or birdsong can have therapeutic effects.

Why Should You Consider Biophilic Design?

Countless studies support the physical and psychological benefits of spending time in nature. With Americans spending around 90% of their time indoors, could bringing the outside inside make us feel better? Here are four ways it can positively impact you, your team, and your clients.

1. Restorative Qualities Supported by Research

Reduces Stress

A 2020 study exposed 100 adults to various stressors before showing them virtual reality images of biophilic and non-biophilic designed offices. The response to biophilic offices showed improvements in stress and anxiety levels and a faster rate of stress recovery.

Improves Mood

A 2021 study showed how biophilic environments improved the mood of participants compared to non-biophilic environments.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Participants of a 2018 study experienced a decrease in blood pressure when exposed to virtual reality biophilic design environments.

2. Enhances the Client Experience

Creating a Calming Environment

Waiting rooms are an ideal space to include biophilic design features. Creating surroundings to put the client at ease is fundamental in a clinical setting, where the client may be nervous about an appointment. But, in any space where you welcome clients, a calm environment will help set the tone for their appointment, whether a counseling session or a spa treatment.

A Holistic Approach

Biophilic design can work in tandem with your work as a practitioner to provide a complete experience for your clients. The positive effect of your services starts from the moment the client arrives. This attention to detail can help your clients feel they are in expert hands.

3. Improved Working Environment

Encouraging Positivity

Designing your workspace to take advantage of the therapeutic benefits of biophilic design can create a cheerful environment to work in.

A positive atmosphere leads to greater job satisfaction, and this won’t go unnoticed by your clients. When your staff are happy, it will spread to your clients too.

Improved Productivity

You can feel more engaged and inspired if you work in pleasant surroundings. There is some support for biophilic design contributing to better productivity.

Creativity

Creativity can thrive in an inspiring environment. Cultivating a happy team that feels empowered to contribute to the business could prompt creative ideas.

Healthier Environment

For those who suffer from headaches and migraines, harsh artificial light can trigger an attack. Natural light is much gentler on those prone to migraines or with high sensitivity.

Some have suggested that houseplants can have an air-purifying effect. While the jury is still out on how indoor plants may improve air quality, they can be a soothing influence on a room. Given the impact of stress on our physical health, using plants to support a calming environment can only be a good thing.

4. Biophilic Designed Interiors Can Look Beautiful

Aesthetics are the first impressions your clients will have. We all would prefer to spend time in an attractive space. Mother Nature is far more capable of creating beauty than anything we can imagine.

It’s why we become transfixed with turquoise oceans and dazzling white beaches. It’s why the panoramic view from a mountaintop takes our breath away. It’s why the russet tones of New England in the fall capture the hearts of photographers from across the world. So why wouldn’t you let nature inspire the design of your internal spaces?

Closing Thoughts

For therapists, beauty practitioners, or clinicians, adopting biophilic design elements can create a relaxing and therapeutic experience for clients. You and your team will also benefit from a work setting that promotes calm and positive energy.

Humans can often look at nature as something separate from us. In our urban environments, it can feel like the gulf between ourselves and nature has widened. But we are part of nature. Immersing ourselves in the natural world helps us to reforge that connection. Biophilic design can remind us of these links when we spend so much time indoors.

Are you inspired to create your own wellness space using biophilic design principles? Here at US Therapy Rooms you can browse through thousands of health, beauty, or therapy spaces available to rent.

Start your search here.