Introduction
The natural world is a place where we can find solace and peace, but in today's busy urban environment, it can be hard to find time for such things. People living in cities often have little contact with nature, which can be detrimental to their health.
As a designer, I believe that interiors should be more than beautiful and functional; they should also promote mental and physical well-being.
A solution that is both beautiful and easy? Incorporate flowers into your home! They bring happiness, color, and a range of health benefits to any interior.
What is biophilic design?
Biophilic design is a way of designing spaces that are in harmony with nature. It can help you feel more connected to the natural world, which can have positive effects on your well-being. It can include anything from natural elements such as plants, water features and sunlight to manufactured items such as indoor fountains or aquariums.
This design principle has existed for thousands of years. In ancient civilizations like Egypt, people often included natural elements in their homes to bring balance into their lives.
By applying biophilic design strategies to our designs, we can create more productive and healthy environments. These strategies also provide powerful tools to remedy depression, anxiety, and a negative outlook in life.
Flowers bring beauty into our homes
To create a welcoming space, try using flowers as a focal point. Not only are they beautiful, but they also add color and texture to any room in your home, making people feel welcome.
The sight of fresh cut petals and bright colors can make us feel happier because we associate the colors with spring or summer, times when we feel better about ourselves due to increased daylight hours and warmer weather.
Flowers reduce stress
If you're looking for a way to bring peace into your home, look no further than flowers. They have beautiful colors, a wonderful aroma, and help us relax. Flowers are known to trigger the release of chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin in our brains, which contribute to feelings of happiness. They also help release endorphins, which have been shown to brighten our moods.
If you feel tired and drained, the color of flowers can also help your energy levels. If you have yellow flowers like daffodils and tulips around your home, they'll make you feel happier. If you want to be more focused on work or study, try keeping some purple flowers nearby.
Aromatherapy has long been used as a relaxation technique, and studies show that certain scents can have a calming effect on the body. For example, lavender is known to have a sedative effect on people who suffer from anxiety by producing feelings of calmness and tranquility.
Flowers improve indoor air quality
Flowers and plants can transform your home into a relaxing and welcoming environment, but they also have some surprising benefits for your health. Indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental risks to public health, according to the World Health Organization. The good news is that flowers can help make indoor air cleaner and healthier.
Flowers have the ability to purify the air in your home. They do this by releasing oxygen into the air, which helps reduce indoor pollution levels. In addition, flowers absorb carbon dioxide, which is one of the main components of indoor pollution.
Improving air quality is an important part of staying healthy, especially if you live in a city where pollution levels are high. To take advantage of their benefits, you should place flowers near an open window where they can get plenty of sunlight and fresh air. This will help them thrive and produce more oxygen for your home.
Flowers inspire creativity
Flowers can help inspire you, whether it's in the form of a bouquet or simply to add a touch of color to your workspace. If you're feeling stuck, grab a flower from your collection and look at it closely. What do you see? Is there an inspiration hidden within?
Flowers can also help with problem-solving by providing an outlet for creative thinking. In today's fast-paced world where we often find ourselves working on multiple projects at once, it's important to take time out from our busy schedules to get back into our creative mindsets—and flowers are just the thing for this! It's no wonder why the expression, “Stop and smell the roses.” is so popular!
Flowers help you get a better night’s sleep
Not only will flowers make your home feel more peaceful with their sweet scents, but they'll also improve your sleep quality!
Flowers have been used for centuries as a way to promote sleep. The scent of flowers is known to reduce anxiety and stress and help with relaxation. The scent of flowers has a soothing effect on the brain, which helps us fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
They're one of the best ways to get better sleep since experts say that sleeping in an environment filled with fresh air helps prevent insomnia by promoting sounder sleep cycles.
Conclusion
The benefits of having flowers in your home are undeniable. They help create a peaceful, relaxing mood and make everyone feel good. So next time you’re looking for a way to bring a little more positivity into your home or workplace, try bringing in some flowers. You might be surprised at how much better it makes everyone feel just being around them.
I hope these tips will inspire you to incorporate biophilic design into your own home. If you’re interested in creating a more beautiful and healthy home, I’d be happy to speak with you. Please feel free to reach out!
Santiago Bernal is a Colombian-born designer whose work includes residences and hospitality interiors for clients throughout North and South America, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe. Santiago's design philosophy is to create beautiful spaces with classic elegance that harmonize with their surroundings and tread lightly on the planet.