The kitchen is no mere space for food preparation; it is a vital part of the home, even the “heart,” as some would have it. And in no other room is biophilic design more appropriate, for in this space we work with food, a vital connection to the natural world. Why not make it a space that nourishes our well-being while we nourish something even more vital—our bodies? When blended into kitchen design, natural elements grant refuge from the rigors of daily life, transforming culinary workspaces into places of calm peace.
Section 1: Utilizing Natural Illumination and Its Life-Altering Effects
Natural light is one of the most crucial elements of a biophilic kitchen, and for good reason. Sunlight is inherently soothing, and we have evolved to relax in its presence. Warming up a space and creating dynamic shadows that dance across surfaces, light can make a room feel alive. Typically, even the slightest increase in natural light will make a kitchen feel much more pleasant. A friend of mine has a small kitchen that bordered on feeling claustrophobic. It wasn’t an unsafe space, but it was dark and cramped. After recommending a few changes that were pretty much the opposite of a safe space—such as replacing their small, blocked windows with larger, more welcoming ones and ditching their grungy, dark kitchen window for a nice translucent curtain—we got their space to sunlight, and now it’s one of the sunniest places in the house.
If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen that looks out onto a garden, nature reserve, or even just a small green space, you can maximize your view and really connect with the outdoors by having large windows (or as many windows as your space will allow). There’s something so peaceful about being able to see your small green space from the kitchen. You could hardly ask for a better distraction while you’re stirring a pot or chopping vegetables. The immediate connection to the outdoors is almost meditative. If you don’t happen to have a building that allows for that kind of expansion, though, consider going up with a skylight.
I have seen such profound transformations in kitchens where skylights have been installed.
Section 2: Welcoming Organic Materials for a Grounded Sensibility
Apart from light, the use of natural, organic materials is essential in biophilic kitchen design. Aesthetic considerations are important, but what really connects you to nature is the tactile experience. You can feel the vibrancy of life in natural materials that you simply cannot experience with manmade alternatives. A wooden countertop may look like a stone one in terms of aesthetics, but the warmth of wood makes it a much more lively, dynamic surface. This is really hard to quintessentiate or put into words, but I swear that if you put your hand on a wooden countertop next to a stone one, you would immediately feel the difference and more readily connect with the wood because it is a naturally warm surface (which, by the way, is better for sourdough starters!).
I used to have a wooden cabana in the backyard, and I kind of wish I had never gotten rid of it. The warmth of the wood alone made that space very zen.
Using stone in kitchen design has a power that comes from its use in ancient architecture. It lends a sense of permanence and stability that is hard to beat, even by the most modern of materials. Marble is beautiful, but don’t underestimate granite, soapstone, or other solid types of stone. I visited a house where the kitchen island was a single slab of Carrara marble. Light veins ran through it, reminiscent of streams in a mountain landscape. It made me think of how elements of the natural world can be interpreted in unexpected ways. And stone’s beauty comes in part from the durability that promises to keep it looking good over time.
Still, in the kitchen, where things happen all the time, and where some things are bound to be more beautiful than others, I’d think long and hard before spending a mountain of cash for an in-house Carrara marble experience.
Next is the flooring. When it comes to flooring choices for kitchens, I always prefer natural materials over synthetic ones. In one of the kitchens I designed, we opted for terra cotta tiles. Not only did they bring a touch of Mediterranean warmth to the room, but their natural, porous texture made the space feel more connected to the earth. Every step on those tiles felt… grounded. Hearing my friends and family describe the experience of the kitchen, I realized that the kitchen’s flooring was doing a parameter-defining job.
Part 3: The Potency of Living Components and How to Integrate Them
The presence of living elements—plants—makes any kitchen biophilic. They have an effect that is aesthetic as well as atmospheric. Not only do plants in the kitchen clean the air and boost your health, they also engender the very essence of nature in the heart of one’s home. From a simple herb garden on the sill to a larger presence within a more dramatic green wall, biophilic embraces found in kitchens maintain an appeal that is kindred to what one might label a successful biophilic design anywhere in the home.
I really like the idea of having herb gardens in the kitchen. It’s so nice when fresh basil, rosemary, or thyme are right there in the cooking area. I can hardly imagine a better smell to waft upward while preparing dinner. I remember one design where we did a vertical herb garden on the wall next to the stove. But that was actually five years ago, and the wall-mounted planters have really come into their own since then. Another version of this concept doesn’t use wall planters at all, but rather a table in front of the window for the same effect.
I can see why so many designers want to get in on the action.
If you desire a more ambitious cooking space, consider the option of a living wall. I’ve seen this beautifully executed in kitchens where either the size or layout prevents the use of traditional counter space for frilly potted plants. These vertical gardens fulfill not only the eye but also the lungs and the skin, as they can pump fresh air and an undetectable amount of moisture into the kitchen. A chef friend of mine loves his living wall. He’s never told me why, but it’s pretty clear to me: It makes his kitchen look gorgeous, but more importantly, it helps him keep his cool when the evening rush is on.
You don’t have to go to extremes to bring nature into your home. Plants can serve in a variety of ways, from subtle to bold. You might think of plants as a kitchen staging element, but don’t let that limited thinking keep you from going boldly. In the kitchen, plants can look rustic or sleek: your choice. And what they look like is only part of it; what they do as living things is the main event. A plant performing photosynthesis is a space-transforming, life-giving thing balanced beautifully at the edge of art and science.
To wrap up this topic, I’ll share one last story. A couple I know went beyond the standard indoor plant to bring a fruit-bearing tree into their kitchen. Yes, an actual tree! They chose a dwarf lemon tree and set it in a large pot near the kitchen island. Not only did it help fulfill the couple’s design goal of serving up abundance and surprise in their largely unfurnished kitchen space, but the tree also became a conversation starter whenever they entertained guests. The lemon tree symbolized a lot of what that couple was going for with the kitchen.
The concluding segment of the narrative deals with the concept of integrating the external environment—nature—within the home environment. This can be achieved through biophilic design, which positively impacts physical and mental health.
Designing the kitchen with biophilia in mind is about more than good looks; it’s about crafting an environment that sustains you on every level. This goes for kitchens whether they’re in family compounds or solo apartments and regardless of where you are in life, across cultures, or throughout history. The kitchen is our most necessary, personal space; cooking in it is our most personal, everyday ritual. Biophilic design is about infusing that essential, quotidian moment with a sense of magic and connection to the larger natural world. Whether you’re whipping up a plate of pasta for your family or enjoying an impressive cuppa in an artfully bad side-to-side teapot, a biophilic kitchen can transform that timeless, necessary ritual into a moment suffused with wonder.
In biophilic kitchen design, aesthetics and functionality must be integrated seamlessly. For a kitchen that not only looks but also feels biophilic, it’s essential to pay attention to layout and flow. Natural elements should be integrated into the design so that they are experienced throughout the space, not just in isolated moments. Avoid the temptation to think of these elements as mere decoration, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a truly biophilic kitchen.
One aspect of the kitchen design that I’m especially fervent about is ensuring that there is an organic flow to the kitchen, one that mirrors the effortless movement of the water in a stream—going where it will with the least resistance, gliding over rocks, nourishing everything in its presence. I pay particular attention to the sorts of things that kitchen users do naturally without thinking, using the principles of good design to ensure that the movements between the work zones of a kitchen are as natural and seamless as possible.
A few years ago, I worked in a kitchen where this concept was central. The kitchen was in an open-plan design and had enormous windows that looked onto a green backyard. The layout of the kitchen was originally a standard triangle—sink, stovetop, and fridge. But the homeowners wanted something that didn’t feel so rigid and was more in line with the kitchen’s fluid-yet-open space. So, we played with curves and the non-linear placement of appliances to allow the kitchen to “breathe” in a way that traditional layouts sometimes don’t.
For example, instead of positioning the island in a standard rectangular form, we shaped it in a soft, curved configuration, which is almost like a winding riverbank. Not only did this give the island a more organic appearance, but it also established a setup that felt less constrained and more natural. Moving from the prep area to the stove, you make a gentle transition instead of a restricted, almost sharp turn. The island and prep area also hint at the same linear and organic form found in the riverbank kitchen sink.
In the same way, we put in open shelves and plant boxes at key places around the kitchen. These weren’t merely functional; they were carefully deployed to soften the hard lines of the cabinetry and appliances, creating eye rests where gazes could just hang, moments of appreciation where greenery was the only thing to see. I remember the owners telling me later that the whole process of cooking had turned into something weirdly enjoyable and almost meditative because the space no longer felt rigidly task-oriented. It became a space where they could engage with the process and weirdly feel connected to what they were doing.
An often-overlooked yet essential design consideration in biophilic kitchens is the incorporation of water features or elements that suggest the presence of water. For one kitchen, we chose to place a small indoor water fountain on the windowsill. The sound of gentle trickling water provided an auditory layer of unexpectedly serene ambiance to the space. Though water was not a visual element in the kitchen, its sound connected the space to nature in a way that the visual elements alone might not have done. The experience of the kitchen became multisensory, with trickling water, airy sounds, and plants creating an almost zen environment.
From a more functional perspective, the principles of biophilic design can also guide a selection of choices that ease the stress and tamp down the fatigue often experienced in kitchen work. One area where this is particularly evident is in the use of ergonomic elements—many of which are inspired by nature or by natural forms—that make the kitchen more comfortable to work in for extended periods of time. And that’s certainly a good thing: because the kitchen, more than any other space in the house (with the possible exception of the bathroom), is a high-stakes zone—that is, a space in which things simply have to work properly, efficiently, and without excessive brain or body strain for a person to be able to function as a domestic agent.
Ventilation is an important, if unappreciated, functional element of biophilic kitchen design. I think of ventilation as a part of the “look and feel” of the kitchen; properly vented, a kitchen “breathes,” just as a successfully biophilic kitchen “looks” and “feels” natural. In this sense, one can think of natural and mechanical ventilation strategies as a sort of “free air” and “air conditioning,” respectively, with the former being a much more attractive and energy-efficient option. On the project shown on the next page, the homeowners worked with their designer to place that instantiated the use of biophilic principles in their kitchen.
Section 3: Color Schemes Drawn from the Natural World
Designing a biophilic kitchen means more than just working with natural materials and incorporating plants; it requires the designer to think deeply about creating a color palette that mirrors nature. I have always viewed color as one of the most potent tools at a designer’s disposal, especially with regard to my goal of creating the sensation of place. When I craft biophilic kitchens, I look to the colors of the landscapes, forests, oceans, and skies for palette inspiration. From those places, I pull a range of colors and values that help create inside the kitchen an overall ambience that feels grounded, calming, and restorative—like the inside of a forest or the edge of the ocean, for instance.
A recent project drew inspiration from the colors of a forest floor. The design was centered on deep greens, warm earth tones, and soft grays. A shade that evoked moss was used on the cabinetry, and the countertops were a more muted color that resembled smooth river stones. The palette of the space was earthy, creating an image of warmth and calm that pervaded every inch. Once I entered the kitchen, I could have imagined being in a serene woodland clearing, much quieter than my life, brushed with the colors that I saw around me.
However, colors in biophilic design can be vivacious instead of subtle. The following kitchen exemplified that principle. The tiles of the backsplash were soft blues and vivid turquoise. They were placed with a creamy white counter and light wood cabinetry to form a fresh, seaside palette that was invigorating without feeling overwhelming. Those colors can be found in the ocean, especially during the first half of the day when the sunlight is at a perfect angle to play on the water’s surface. One could gaze at the backsplash tiles and feel transported to a tranquil seaside.
Certainly! Not every kitchen must adhere strictly to a palette of greens and blues. I’ve also found warm, sunny palettes inspired by autumn landscapes to be quite effective, with burnt oranges, golden yellows, and rich browns. These tones can create a kitchen that feels warm, cozy, and full of life. I remember one kitchen where the walls were painted a deep ochre and the cabinets a dark walnut. The copper accents held up beautifully against the slightly more subdued colors, and the space felt like a refuge at the heart of a home.
Using color is a potent means of creating a connection from indoor spaces to the outdoor environment—in this case, the kitchen to the garden. A kitchen design that I created mirrors the hues of the garden that it overlooks. The outdoor space has a palette of subdued purples and silver, with the muted tones of the garden providing a sharp contrast to the vibrant colors of the flowers and fruit in the nearby kitchen garden. We achieved the same effect in the indoor space by using an unexpectedly vibrant, mostly purple palette in the kitchen that complements the colors of the edible plants in the indoor/outdoor garden right outside the big window.
Another method to amplify the biophilic aspect of a kitchen is using natural textures in tandem with your color scheme. A stone backsplash can lend the space the textured, rough-hewn feel of a mountain. Smooth wood at the countertops might bring to mind the polished surfaces of a riverbank. These are combinations of tactile (or “feel”) and visual (or “sight”) sensory experiences that could potentially make a kitchen more inviting.
Finally, I recommend allowing space for contrasts in your designs. Nature is chock-full of them: light and shadow, soft and hard textures, and vibrant colors up against the pretty but subdued tones of foliage. In my kitchen, I incorporated contrasts of light and dark, as well as smooth and rough textures, to keep the design from feeling too one-note. White marble countertops balance beautifully with deep, warm wood cabinetry for a look that’s rich and alive—but also serene and well-ordered. It’s like the forest path, which invites you in with smooth transitions but also has surprises, twists, and turns.
Biophilic principles make a kitchen into something more than a cooking space; they transform it into a sensory refuge that connects its occupants to the natural world. Interior design engages the senses, and every sense—sight, smell, touch, sound, and even taste—contributes to a holistic experience of the space. I love how biophilic design does that. I also love how it turns the kitchen into a multisensory environment, where using every physical detail of the space, the occupant’s bond with nature is reinforced.
The Function of Natural Soundscapes
At first, it may seem odd, but integrating natural sounds into the kitchen can completely alter its atmosphere—probably because sound is such an integral part of an immersive experience. If someone isn’t occupied with the act of cooking, absorbed in some Zen-like flow of creation, then what is keeping them in the kitchen? Well, if your kitchen is characterized by dishwashing hisses or the dishwasher’s dramatic crescendos or sudden decrescendos, then those sounds or lack thereof can become key markers of your kitchen’s vibe. Natural sounds could balance that out and prop up a more relaxed listening environment.
Not that I’m saying your kitchen should have an entirely stress-free soundscape, but a few natural sounds could eliminate some tension. Let’s consider “water feature” for instance; there are a few ways to integrate that into a kitchen.
Creating even a semblance of the outdoors is possible, and in many ways, it is quite simple. Take, for instance, the ubiquitous act of opening a window. This alone can radiate harmony with the natural world. If you live near an area where there is any sort of pleasant avian activity, the sound of birdsong can do wonders for your indoor ambiance. The nearly conversant calls of the residents of the sky can lighten and brighten your mood. I can think of no way to approximate this in an artificial manner that even comes close. And this is a natural sound that many kitchens could easily take advantage of, depending on their orientation and location.
Feel and Form: An Experience of Touch and Texture
Kitchens are often thought of as visual masterpieces, but for me, their tactile qualities are equally important. The way kitchens feel—and, more specifically, the way natural materials of varying textures feel under these hardworking hands—goes to the heart of biophilic kitchen design. Wood, for instance, in any of its beautiful forms, feels exquisite and warm. A butcher block countertop might be smooth while the cabinets made of reclaimed wood have what can only be described as a “handworked” texture. Both are fundamentally biophilic choices, but either could be the centerpiece of a kitchen designed with warmth in mind.
I enjoy using stone in a kitchen, especially in materials like counters and backsplashes. They make the kitchen feel part of something solid and ancient—like the earth itself. … The surface of the counter might be polished stone … or matte, because a counter should feel comfortable to your hands. … Backsplashes can be slabs of any kind of stone, all the way up to the ceiling. … Your kitchen could even have … a natural stone floor. However, since those aren’t cheap options, I recommend that sustainable cork be used … because … cork is a resilient, sustainable material, and it’s surprisingly warm, which is great for a kitchen.
Including aromas for a genuine bond with the natural world.
Biophilic kitchen design offers opportunities to engage the sense of smell in even more delightful ways. Kitchens are naturally fragrant, and the addition of a range of plants and herbs, in the biophilic spirit, can make them olfactorily ecstatic. Imagine the sweet, green scent of basil as you chop your way to something pasta-related; the sharp, minty note of homegrown spearmint tickling your nose as you layer textures into a salad; the piney-earthy fragrance of freshly harvested rosemary wafting over you in the sun-warmed kitchen. In the project pictured here, we installed a window above the sink…
A kitchen with biophilic design can also benefit from natural scents that are less tied to food preparation but just as evocative. For instance, including lovely flowers like jasmine or lavender in your kitchen design can fill the space with dreamy, calming fragrances that contribute to a more relaxed cooking atmosphere. One of my most cherished memories is of a kitchen where sprigs of lavender were kept in a fancy vase close to the prep area. The scent was MILK—Mother I’d Like to Kiss goodnight (in my thoroughness, I wanted to ensure I mentioned this kitchen is also a business, so we should keep it MILK).
But the ambiance is also reached through nature-based fridge science and an emphasizing of fragrances that are highly associated with memories.
Flavor: Delivering the Essence of the Land and Sea to the Dining Experience
The kitchen connects most directly to the sense of taste, but in biophilic design, kitchen food preparation is about more than just the act of cooking and enjoying a meal. It’s about fostering a connection to the natural sources of our food and to the living world generally. One of the ways I emphasize this in my kitchen design is by integrating elements of edible landscaping into the kitchen itself.
I’ve proposed a few designs where I had the indoor gardening element. And some of those, I think, were directly responsible for helping clients have a much more profound experience living in their space. … One of the clients I worked with, she was a huge gardener, and I think her space was emblematic of that way of living. … So, when I go back to that idea and thinking about what one of my designs can give to a client in terms of a profound living experience, growing a small amount of food absolutely factors into that.
I’ve encountered many bold projects, but this one ranks among the most daring. It placed an edible citrus tree in the kitchen, a dwarf lemon tree, to be exact. The homeowners had the tree in a pot near the kitchen windows. That pot could be an airlock—it keeps the kitchen, and by extension, the house, almost free of the kind of pests that live by, and in turn, help to cultivate, the citrus tree. The homeowners must have kept the tree very happy indeed, for the lemons were fresh, flavo…
Final Thoughts: A Kitchen That Nourishes the Spirit
Designing kitchens according to biophilic principles does not just ensure that the spaces will function properly. A biophilic kitchen goes beyond mere utility to create an environment that lovingly embraces every dimension of its inhabitants. Such a kitchen will allow you to engage with the comforting feel of wood, the gratifying acoustics of a nearby waterfall, or the invigorating the scent of fresh herbs. It will even cater to the pleasure of consuming locally grown food, from the taste of homegrown tomatoes to the satisfying crunch of a just-picked winter apple.
With each design, I aim to establish connections between the human and the natural, the culinary and the personal—kind of like a biophilic kitchen, if you will. It’s not just a room in the house; it’s a living part of the home that reflects the beauty, balance, and rhythms of nature.
