The bedroom is more than just a sleeping space. It is one of the most personal and intimate areas of any home. It is a sanctuary, a place where we retreat to recharge and seek comfort. That is why I hold biophilic bedroom design principles close to my heart. By their very nature, bedrooms must comply with the rules of relaxation and well-being. Biophilic design, as an ingredient of bedroom design, is a way to give much more than just a zero-sum equilibrium.
Biophilic design has always captivated me. It creates not only environments but also experiences—bonding moments between human beings and nature. These experiences are a huge reason I feel hotel rooms can serve as an excellent model for biophilic bedroom design. The bedroom might seem like the most personal space one could inhabit. Yet a hotel room, especially a beautifully designed one like I experienced in the Swiss Alps a few years back, can serve as an excellent proxy for the kind of restorative biophilic environment one might strive for in a bedroom. Why? Because what makes a bedroom a good place to rest relies as much on its interior design and decor as on the locale in which it’s situated and the experience one has inside it.
Biophilic bedroom design endeavors to create a seamless transition from the indoor to the outdoor environment—a feeling of being back inside nature even when confined to four walls—and takes as its starting point the principle that design fostering a connection to nature is good for human health and well-being. Whether high in the sky or low to the ground, bedroom dwellers can achieve this principle without resorting to tree-house aesthetics. Instead, they can stay earthly while making their private utopias serene and restorative.
I discovered that one of the simplest and most effective means of associating biophilic design with a bedroom is using natural materials. When it comes to crafting a sanctuary for slumber, being enveloped by the warmth and authenticity of wood, stone, and natural fibers offers a shortcut to comfort that synthetic materials can only dream of replicating. At my home, I ejected my bedside tables in favor of reclaimed wood stumps that bring a rustic, organic feel to my bedroom. These stable platforms are very practical, and there is nothing like their rough, tactile surfaces to send my mind into the woods and my body into a state of serenity.
If you’re interested in adding biophilic elements to your bedroom, the bed should be the first place you start. It is the primordial focal point of the room. I recommend bedding that feels as good as it looks and, when pulled together, serves nature and invites an ethereal coziness. I consider natural linen sheets to be a must; when I’m in the realm of the Biophile, I think of linen as my top textile. Organic cotton pillows that serve up delightful textures also belong here. Wool blankets that beckon to be snuggled under and pulled up over the chin while resting and dreaming make the cut, too.
Nonetheless, designing a bedroom that embodies the concept of biophilia entails far more than merely incorporating certain kinds of elements or materials. Engaging with biophilic design mandates a dialogue with all five senses and even a sixth one—the sense of force. Sounds are what you mostly hear when you enter a biophilic bedroom. If you were standing in my bedroom, you might hear the whir of a fan (which I keep going almost 24/7 because it’s so peaceful), the softer sounds of my cellphone as it meditates on a charging pad, the occasional rustle of a snake plant or a fern (they’re talking to me, as plants are wont to do), or an even quieter sound—my mind as it fails to switch from work mode to chilling-out mode.
There was a time I worked on a project where the client wanted their bedroom to elicit the vibes of a super private forest retreat. We went full-on with the biophilic design, and I think the decision we made about where to locate the living wall was key. Remember, dear reader, when I said biophilia takes many forms? Well, this was a good instance of bringing nature close to the body. Your next thought might be that we placed the living wall “behind closed doors,” so to speak, where no one else could enjoy it but the people living in that house. But wait. Was this living wall kind of like ear acupuncture? And if it was, was it also a kind of interior design acupuncture?
Biophilic design in the bedroom requires effective lighting. Drawn from deep personal experience, I can tell you that natural light is the most transformative element I can think of when creating an intimate space. I’m not talking about going easy on the natural light—I’m recommending the very opposite. Let in as much as you can, from whatever expressive form it takes, be it from a wind-tossed tree outside a large window or a serene, sunlit facade at a home that’s nestled across the way. If there’s a way to get natural light into your private space, you should pursue it unreservedly.
What I’ve found can work wonders for people who lack a lot of natural light is lighting that mimics the sun’s natural path. One of the simplest (but also the best) techniques I’ve come across is taking warm, dimmable lights and adjusting their brightness so they shine just enough at key points throughout the day. For instance, in the morning, you would have it set to shine brighter and more “energizing,” and in the evening, it would shine just enough to create a soft, ambient glow that makes you feel as if the “setting sun” is right in your living room.
The hues and patterns you use can greatly impact the sensation of the space when you’re designing a bedroom that embodies biophilia. I’ve long had an affinity for the soft, muted tones we find in nature—colors that may derive from the sky, the earth, or the greenery of our wooded and pastoral places. These shades do more than just beg to be set alongside the color palette of our bedroom. They unfailingly promote a vibe of tranquility and restorative calm that make a bedroom the kind of space where you want to hang out and do nothing or sleep, beautiful and marvelous activities.
When people tend toward biophilic design, I advise them to consider the nature of their feelings. Nature can make you feel many things, but I urge people to harness the most powerful emotions—those that really speak to the essence of who they are. When I stand at the edge of a forest after a rain, I feel rooted in my place. The colors I use to recreate this feeling do not part from my essence. They speak to my identity as someone who feels most at home and most peaceful in the deepest, darkest greens, the lightest, airy blue skies, and the warm, sun-soaked, rich colors of my earth.
I once designed a bedroom for a couple who wanted their space to feel like a coastal retreat. Instead of embracing the typical nautical theme of bold blues and whites, we took inspiration from the dawn beach—soft pastels, muted grays, and gentle blues that are subtle, yet somehow transformative. These serene, almost sleepy, colors clothed the space from the walls right down to the bedding. Indeed, the room felt like an extension of the calm coastal world, a muted homage to the beach. It was pretty great to have worked on a design that made me feel such a powerful sense of a moment in time and place. And the feeling that colored my work was part of a precursor to the commercial scheme for which this next section will serve as an impromptu vignette.
Another important aspect of biophilic bedroom design is the use of patterns. We are surrounded by them in nature. Whether it’s the shape of a leaf or the way the water ripples, we are consistently in contact with forms that repeat and rhythmically unfold in our environment. Biophilic bedroom design seeks to evoke the same kind of grounding experience. For that reason, I often turn to the kind of pattern found in nature for design ideas. Repeat and resolution are two important qualities to pay attention to if you want to achieve grounding forms in a biophilic way—especially if you’re working with dimensionally challenged spaces.
I recall a project in which we wallpapered a bedroom with a repeating, subtle, and understated fern pattern. It was the kind of design you wouldn’t even notice unless you were looking, but it was present and added depth and texture to the room. My preference for and fondness of these kinds of natural, organic, planet-friendly patterns (there are even a few on my clothes) is that they don’t scream, “Look at me!” but rather act as a gentle nod toward nature in a very interior, domestic, and cozy way.
A project that stands out is an intimate space we created using natural textures to achieve both an understated elegance and a deep, tactile warmth. We began with a linen duvet cover in the lightest of green hues—almost a gray in some lights. For throws, we chose wool in deep brown and rich warm gray (think of those coyote hugs in the old J. Crew catalogs). For the headboard, we upholstered a piece of wood so that it was covered in a fabric with a bark-like texture (the space is very temperate, but not sweltering, so no true trees were harmed in the making of this story). To make it pop, we held the faux-bark up to the color palette, which the designers hit as sycamore leaves just before they turn. Baskets of woven rattan hold the space together (they’re cool to the touch—once again, natural materials rule).
This leads me to another aspect of biophilic bedroom design: it’s not only about your line of sight; it’s also about how the space affects your mood. Nature is healing, in part, because it captivates all our senses. In a biophilic bedroom, consider the natural materials that make up your space, and how the eyes, hands, and even the body relate to these elements. Think, too, about what you’re hearing. Is it your partner snoring (not recommended!) or soothing sounds that nature makes? Finally, don’t underestimate olfaction. Smell is one of the most potent memory triggers there is, and introducing natural scents into your bedroom can accomplish a major shift in your space’s whole vibe.
Another sensory element that is often forgotten in bedroom design is sound. In a biophilic bedroom, it is essential to think of how to incorporate the calming, natural sounds of the outdoors into the room. I once worked with a client who wanted to infuse her bedroom with a sound that few people think to include in their sleeping spaces: running water. I was a bit nervous to fulfill her wish and at first suggested a nature sound machine. After doing some research, however, we found a cute, table-top fountain that became a part of her bedroom ensemble without a lot of upkeep. My client swears by the calming effect of the consistently soothing sound of trickling water. Biophonic design—simply put—has great power to heal us.
In a separate project, we took a more understated approach to sound, using soft wool rugs and heavy draperies to absorb noise. These elements, along with others, helped create a cocoon of quiet. Although this kind of sound mitigation is an important part of biophilic design—forbidden noise detracts from a favorable primal environment and creates stress—it’s more appropriate in this context to think of sound as a form of communication.
One of the most appealing elements of biophilic bedroom design is the opportunity for personalization. It’s a common misconception that biophilic design is all about sticking plants in every available corner and covering every surface with colors and textures reminiscent of nature. But that isn’t the case. Nature can mean many things to many people, which makes this design approach all the more enjoyable. It’s a clear mandate for stuff that makes you happy. Whether incorporating that favorite flower of a client into the room’s design or covering every available surface with same said plant, biophilic design approaches biophilic rebosom. And that’s a win not only for biophilia(c)(design) but also for bædagogic imagination. When we design places for people in a way that makes them feel connected to the natural world around them, that’s a clear win for everyone involved.
The Use of Technology in Bedroom Design for Wellness and Biophilia
One of the more interesting and increasingly relevant challenges biophilic designers face is how to integrate modern technology into designs for a calming, nature-connected experience. In the world we live in today, technology is inescapable; it’s unrealistic to even imagine a modern bedroom design that doesn’t include at least some electrical appliances. The biophilic designer’s goal, however, is to create a truly immersive experience. That’s the challenge: marrying tech and tranquility. Lighting is the perfect example. I’ve always been a huge proponent of bedrooms that maximize natural light. Yes, even urban dwellings. But in so many cases, we had to settle for clever hacks using artificial light to augment what we could get in terms of sunshine. That is, until we started using smart light. Also, if you’ve ever been an artificial light user, you know how bad it can be for sleep. Hacks with what is now called “human-centric” lighting (which is essentially a way to say “natural light replacement”) work at least as well, if not better, than those old 500-watt incandescent monsters.
One project that I remember quite vividly involved the use of smart lighting in combination with blackout shades to create what was essentially a sleep sanctuary for the client. The individual lived in a very urban environment and was absolutely bombarded with light at all hours of the day and night—perhaps you’ve seen the photos of Chicago or New York at night, where it looks like dawn on every street. This person lived in that kind of environment, with light spilling in through the windows constantly. The first part of the problem was solving for that extreme amount of light. The answer for that was to design and install shades that would cover the windows in a way that ensured they were as absolutely dark as possible when the shades were down. And that was just part one. Part two involved the lighting.
Biophilic bedroom design can be aided by technology in another, equally important, area: air quality. For as long as I can remember, I’ve cherished the lovely, fresh air one inhales while spending time in nature; it has always struck me as the gasp before the marvelous exhibition of natural wonders unfolds. In contrast, I’ve often found that indoor air quality leaves much to be desired. It seems that the more buildings perfected their shells and sealed them against the elements, the more our indoor environments were deprived of fresh, invigorating air. While I often design in places where outdoor air pollution is a significant concern, I always try to incorporate into my schemes devices that will purify the air and allow it to be as fresh and clean as possible. Now, I have the opportunity to link those air quality systems to a smart home network so I can monitor and adjust them in real time.
In a past project, I designed a bedroom that integrated a smart air purifier into the space and combined that technology with a living wall of air-purifying plants like spider plants and Boston ferns. The room not only looked beautiful but also felt fresh, revived, and clean—thanks to the natural air filtration from the plants and the high-tech air purifier working just behind them. The clients found the presence of greenery to be incredibly tranquil, and they loved the idea of how the plants were actively and naturally working to improve their air quality.
Besides illumination and air quality, acoustics can in fact be a pivotal aspect of biophilic design in one’s bedroom. Sound, as discussed earlier, is really an essential component of achieving a serene, sleep-ready space. It is one of the five senses that should be accounted for in any bedroom design. One of the ways that I like to play up the acoustics of a space is via soundscapes. There are many apps and devices now that allow you to play soundscapes—nature sounds, like rain, waves, or birds, for instance—24/7. I have a friend who swears by this mix—Houston Girlfriend, I Love You!—for falling asleep.
For one project, we set up a sound system that played a never-ending loop of gentle rainfall mixed with the indistinct rumbling of thunder. It was the perfect volume—not loud, not soft, just there—and the clients were enchanted. They claimed it helped them reach dreamy states swifter and kept them in the land of Nod longer. After all, what is sleep but a kind of surrender, a giving in to nature’s rhythms? And really, how many biophilic bedrooms have you visited that come even close to sounding like that?
With that in mind, let’s keep in place one of the fundamental tenets of biophilic design: simplicity and connection to the natural world. Technology has its place, but it should never be “in your face,” and it certainly should not replace natural elements in the bedroom. Rooms that follow biophilic design principles owe their success to “seamless” tech, and unobtrusive tech, that seem to integrate with and support natural forms and chosen natural odes. Rooms that feel like natural sanctuaries and are “restful” achieve this state through simple forms, sensory engagement, and sensorially immersive natural elements.
An increasingly popular aspect of wellness in biophilic bedroom design is the integration of sleep-tracking technology. In recent years, more people have begun to recognize the importance of sleep to their overall well-being. Consequently, they have become more invested in understanding what actually makes for a good night’s sleep. They have also become much less shy about sharing their sleep struggles, which, of course, dirty laundry is the lifeblood of the reality TV wellness economy. Anyway, sleep trackers are essentially a kind of green light for a wellness concierge to start giving recommendations.
Next to technology, the way the bedroom is put together physically has a huge influence on whether it feels harmonious or not. I have a bedroom design that I believe in wholeheartedly, and it allows the elements of nature, and the natural flow of things, to take center stage. It’s really a “less is more” approach, which I’m also a huge fan of: this concept allows the elements of nature, and the natural flow of things, to take center stage. No clutter, very minimal furniture that’s both functional and beautiful, and using wood in its natural state are all major components. Inside one of the bedrooms that I designed using this formula, it just felt expansive and calming.
Biophilic bedroom design aims to create spaces that evoke the sense of a natural outdoor environment. Whether it’s the use of sustainable materials, thoughtful natural light, or even a little smart home tech, the outdoor “vibe” in your bedroom is what’s essential to your health in both the physical and mental senses. And that outdoor vibe should promote peace, recharging, and unbinged unwinding.
The bedroom is the most critical space in the house for me. It’s where we begin and conclude our days, and it should be a site that encourages rest and promotes profound natural connection. I walked into a well-designed biophilic bedroom. What I felt could be described as a state of immediate calm. I have no words good enough to express what a real biophilic atmosphere does for the body and mind. Whether the space is filled with furnishings that have natural forms, or materials that mimic nature; whether the color palette is evocative of the coloration you find in various ecosystems; or whether light is used in such a way as to make the beholder feel as if they are basking in natural sunlight, the bedroom should be a refuge.
