Freshen up your workspace and boost employee mood and well-being with biophilic design, an interior design approach influenced and inspired by the natural world.

Infusing nature into interior spaces can buoy mood and productivity, along with brightening up the space with natural light in the darker months.

So let’s find out more about this design trend and how it can benefit your employees.

What is biophilic office design

Biophilic design means different things to different people.

Essentially, it describes interior design that is centred around nurturing the connection between humans and nature, balancing the practicalities of a human-centric office along with the benefits of a natural environment.

Biophilic design can be incorporated right from the start in the office fit out stage, or incorporated later during an office refurbishment. Some ways to introduce biophilic design include incorporating natural materials into wall finishes and furnishings, bringing in plants and greenery, or even simply creating natural curves or lines in the space.

6 benefits of biophilic office design

However you choose to incorporate biophilic design, there are several main benefits:

• Boosts mood: Humans have an affinity for nature. While we sometimes struggle to find this affinity in the modern world, any contact with natural materials and environments has been shown to boost our overall mood and relieve stress. Quite simply, a workforce operating in a biophilic office is more likely to feel happier and more relaxed.

• Increases productivity and output: A more upbeat workforce is more likely to feel motivated, leading to higher productivity and output. A study completed by Craig Knight et al for Exeter University discovered that when offices had plants, across three separate experiments, the output of the workforce was greater.

• Improves air quality: If your design includes living plants, the air quality of your office will likely improve. That’s because plants absorb carbon dioxide and other nasties in our atmosphere, producing clean oxygen. Therefore, a plant-filled office equals a more physically healthy workforce.

• Conveys eco-centric ethos: If your company is making efforts to take a sustainable approach to operations, biophilic design is a great way to communicate your efforts to staff and visitors. After all, an eco-centric company needs to show this ethos in how they ‘speak’ to the world, and the design of your space is the best way to highlight this.

• Lightens up darker months: Winter and autumn can mean a prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder among workers, leaving some feeling sluggish and low during this time. An open-plan office space with plenty of windows can therefore make for a brighter, lighter office space. This can help workers regulate the winter blues by providing that much-needed boost of vitamin D and natural light.

• Attract and retain talent: Health, happiness and working environment are now at the top of the priority list for many workers. The look and feel of an office are thought to contribute massively to people’s decision to apply for a position, and to stay there. So to get people interested in your brand, and to engage with the employees you already have, biophilic design may well be the way forward.

Interested in biophilic design? Here’s how you can make it a reality.

How to achieve biophilic office design

Whether you’re designing an office from scratch or launching a space refresh, you need the services of an experienced office designer.

The team at Arc Business Interiors have transformed offices across the country, always taking a personal, tailored approach to each client. Our designers will find a way to weave the outdoors into your interiors while still supporting your brand identity.

To discover more about how Arc Business Interiors can elevate your office space while meeting your business goals, please get in touch. We are leading workplace designers who envision and fit new offices, as well as refurbish and re-optimise long-standing spaces.

Start the journey today. We serve customers across the East Midlands and nationwide.