Biophilic Design for Home and Office: Bringing Nature Indoors

Kim Berglin

Sep 4

2 min read

A practical look at biophilic design — bringing natural light, plants, and views of the outdoors into a workspace — and the research behind why it helps.

Green Workspaces Show Measurable Gains

Employees working in environments with more natural elements report meaningfully better outcomes across the board, according to a Human Spaces study cited by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: 6% higher productivity and 15% more creativity than peers in less green spaces. Employees in green workspaces also reported a 15% higher level of overall wellbeing — numbers that make biophilic design a legitimate wellness lever rather than simple decoration.

A Window Seat Does More Work Than It Gets Credit For

Positioning a desk near a window, when the layout allows it, captures natural light and an outdoor view at the same time — two of the most consistently cited biophilic elements. Opening blinds fully rather than leaving them partially closed adds passive light exposure the rest of the day without requiring any change in habit.

Plants Contribute Even in Small Numbers

A single desk plant or a small cluster on a shelf contributes real biophilic value, and nothing in the research suggests a workspace needs to resemble a greenhouse to see a benefit. Low-maintenance options — a pothos, a snake plant, a succulent, or a ZZ plant — keep the habit realistic for anyone without a reliable watering routine.

Nature Imagery Works When a Real View Isn't Available

Landscape photography or nature-themed art on a wall offers a workable substitute for anyone in a windowless office or a small home workspace without a view. It's a weaker substitute than a real window, but it still contributes to the same general effect biophilic design is aiming for.

Bottom Line

Biophilic design doesn't require a renovation budget — a window seat, a plant or two, and open blinds cover most of the documented benefit. Treating a workspace's connection to nature as part of overall wellness, alongside ergonomics and lighting, reflects what the research on green workspaces actually shows.

Our piece on workplace wellness covers the broader habits this fits into, and the ergonomic home office setup guide covers the physical setup this same workspace should also get right.