City life can be exhilarating but can also leave us feeling disconnected from nature.
Studies show that spending time outdoors has numerous benefits for our well-being, reducing stress, improving focus, and boosting our immune system.
But what if you live in a bustling metropolis with limited green space?
Biophilic interior design offers a solution!
Three Pillars of Biophilic Interior Design
Biophilic interior design rests on three core principles:
Connection with Nature
This principle encourages being close to nature, even indoors. It focuses on lush greenery, natural materials, and views of the outdoors.
Natural Lighting & Ventilation
Exposure to natural light and fresh air improves your biological rhythms and overall health. Biophilic design prioritizes maximizing natural light and encouraging airflow.
Organic Forms & Patterns
Surrounding yourself with organic shapes and patterns found in nature, such as curves, flowing lines, and natural textures, can create a sense of peace.
While implementing biophilic design in a small apartment might seem challenging, you can transform your apartment into a green space with a little creativity.
Biophilic Interior Design Tips
Maximize Natural Light
Remove any furniture or objects blocking the windows to maximize natural light in your small apartment. Use sheer or light-filtering curtains that allow natural light to diffuse softly. 
Place your furniture strategically to avoid blocking sunlight. For example, you can set up your seating area near a window to create a cozy reading nook bathed in natural light.
You can also explore sunlight and sun tunnels if your apartment has limited natural light. These can be great ways to bring in additional natural light, especially in areas far from windows.
Power of Fresh Air
Fresh air is another key element of biophilic design. Open your windows regularly to promote cross-ventilation and let in that fresh, invigorating air when possible.
While not a substitute for fresh air, air-purifying plants like snake plants, spider plants, and peace lilies can help improve indoor air quality by absorbing toxins and pollutants, giving you another layer of biophilic benefit.
By combining fresh air with natural elements like plants, you can create a healthier and more inviting environment that connects you to the outdoors.
Add Low Maintenance Plants
Plants are nature's ambassadors, and incorporating them into your apartment brings many benefits. Low-maintenance options like snake plants, pothos, and ZZ plants are perfect for busy city dwellers.
You can create a mini indoor herb garden in your kitchen. The best part? This can add a touch of freshness and a burst of flavor to your meals.
Consider hanging planters, wall shelves, or terrariums for creative plant displays in limited space. If sunlight is a major concern, consider preserved plants that retain their natural beauty or decorate with vibrant botanical prints.
Use Natural Materials
Natural materials like wood, stone, bamboo, and woven textures bring a touch of the outdoors into your apartment. The warmth of wood complements the coolness of stone, while woven textures add a touch of softness.
This harmonious blend brings the essence of the outdoors into your apartment.
You can incorporate these natural elements through furniture (wood tables, woven baskets), decorative accents (stone coasters, bamboo lamps), or flooring (wood or sustainable cork options).
Choosing sustainable materials adds an eco-friendly touch to your biophilic design.
Focus on Organic Shapes
Biophilic design encourages incorporating organic shapes. Instead of sharp, geometric furniture pieces, look for items with curved lines or natural forms similar to those found in nature.
Curved furniture complements the softness of plants while mimicking the natural world's flowing lines.
You can also place a pebble bowl on your coffee table or a driftwood sculpture on a bookshelf. These small touches can add a subtle connection to the natural world.
Don't feel pressured to overhaul your entire space. A single well-placed object, like a curvy lamp or an organic-shaped vase, can be enough to introduce a biophilic element and create a connection to the natural world.
Use Nature-Inspired Color Palettes
Nature's calming color palette translates beautifully into biophilic design. Earthy greens complement the warmth of wood, while pops of color add vibrancy to natural textures. Greens, blues, browns, and beiges create a sense of peace.
These colors reflect what we see in nature - from the calming greens of meadows and forests to the clear blues of sky and water to the grounding browns of earth and wood.
Patterns inspired by leaves, pebbles, or water ripples can add a playful element to your design. But using them judiciously ensures they complement the calming base colors and avoid making the space feel busy.
Conclusion
Even if you live in a small city apartment, you can still bring nature indoors with these biophilic interior design ideas.
These ideas can help you create a calmer, healthier, and more inviting space that reconnects you with the natural world.
Let more natural light and fresh air in, add some easy-to-care-for plants, and surround yourself with natural materials and colors. You'll be surprised at how a little bit of nature can go a long way in improving your well-being in your small apartment.