Something soothes me, and I am sure it soothes many others, about walking into a vintage room with biophilic design. For me, it is the teaming verdancy that wraps around found objects and architectural details that give a space so much more energy than any modern, echoing, cement-walled classroom. For others, it may come down to the thought that was put into each decor choice, paralleled only by the way nature rapidly and freely fills a space with color and texture. A vintage biophilic classroom is sort of the perfect classroom, full of stories, full of life.
Why shouldn’t a classroom be full of life, just as a textbook should be full of stories?
Incorporating vintage elements into biophilic design is instantly appealing because it seems to naturally evoke a sense of timelessness. Objects from the past—furniture from the mid-century modern era, rustic farm tables—obviously aren’t going anywhere. But there’s a little more to it than that. Vintage items, even when they aren’t in the biophilic design camp, have a look and feel that seem to profoundly connect with our human desires for nostalgia, memory, and the appearance of history. They’re much more relatable and down-to-earth than, say, 3D-printed components of a hypothetical future.
I once worked on a project for a small, upscale hotel in the mountains that fully embraced vintage biophilic design. The building was an old lodge from the 1920s, hidden in a dense forest, with the sound of creaking floors and the faint scent of pine blended with worn leather chairs. Instead of gutting the lodge and starting fresh, the design team and I made a concerted effort to restore as many original elements as possible—preserving an old stone fireplace, refinishing original wood floors, and keeping vintage sconces that looked as though they belonged there. Every room was accented with plants: cascading pothos hanging from high shelves, small terrariums nestled in wooden cabinets, and ferns positioned by the windows.
What took place was awe-inspiring. Visitors entered and were instantly greeted by the ambiance of both comfortable home and protective refuge. The vintage decor was loaded with the kind of sentimental charm that made one feel as if they had stepped into a beloved grandparent’s living room. But beyond that, the space felt invigorated, almost electrified, thanks to the plants that had been meticulously and artfully added throughout. Plants were practically everywhere—there was even grass growing in the vintage piano. From my perspective, that was the focal point.
What I appreciate most about biophilic vintage design is that it’s not about replicating the past. Nor is it about making something completely new. It’s about creating a space that’s alive and feels as though it could exist in any era—a space where the vintage and the natural comfortably coexist.
Using natural elements in vintage interiors goes far beyond the simple placement of a few plants. It’s a much deeper understanding of how nature itself can complement and even exalt vintage materials, forms, and textures. One of the best examples of this is our use of reclaimed wood in vintage interiors. Untreated, discarded wood has a duality: On one hand, it’s a hunk of potential rusticity just waiting to fulfil some interior design fantasy. On the other hand, nature has had its way with the wood, so those boards are infused with some serious organic character.
Not to mention the history and mystery. Who knows what that timber’s been up to?
I once assisted in designing a living room for a client who was an avid enthusiast of biophilic principles and also deeply enamored with vintage mid-century furniture. The challenge lay in reconciling the clean lines and iconic forms of mid-century design with the softer, more fluid elements of nature. Our solution was to work with natural materials that had aged beautifully—like walnut and teak—and to accentuate the room with vintage planters filled with impressive specimens of trailing ivy and ferns. The plants we worked with ranged from small to large, with the absolutely breath-taking Monstera taking a center stage prominently adjacent to the vintage credenza.
The juxtaposition of the vintage pieces and plants made the room feel like it was evolving—in a very good way—over time.
Biophilic vintage interiors are not just about using plants but creating a connection to nature. Natural light is key. I often use it as my primary luminary, not just because light is essential to life but because vintage objects are served well by the sorts of light conditions one finds in nature—think dappling, or direct light pouring through a window. “A biophilic space encourages the same light-centric moments that occur in a forest or with a stream,” explains Alexis, referencing that natural light tends to reveal/soften details, a quality in a forest that makes it easy for the eyes and brain to distinguish between layers.
A project that took place in an old urban loft was strikingly memorable. The loft was stuffed full of vintage industrial parts—old machinery adapted for new uses, metal beams, and huge wooden crates. It was beautiful, but those hard edges appealingly lacked softness—until we introduced the greenery of vertical gardens along the brick walls. Then, life breathed into the once-stark space. And, though it’s hard to explain, the large totally windowless area suddenly felt warm and inviting, as though some kind of nature we had introduced had made the building itself breathe in harmony with its natural surroundings.
The more I think about it, the more I’m astonished by the transformation wrought by the addition of the vertical gardens, which themselves are stunning.
From that project, I gleaned the importance of light and air to biophilic vintage design. It isn’t enough to just put vintage furniture in a plant-filled room. The natural elements must interact with the vintage pieces in ways that amplify not just their beauty, but also their function. Vintage design is like vintage furniture—it cannot merely sit there in a room and be passed by; it must be alive and part of the conversation. This can happen only if the furniture is functional and the design is lived in. Vintage design, like the furniture, must share space with the natural elements and the contemporary world.
Part 3: Hands-On Suggestions for Crafting Your Own Biophilic Vintage Environment
To channel the spirit of biophilic vintage design into your space is to embrace what is both rewarding and deeply personal. This approach is special not because it adheres to traditional tenets but because it allows for exploration and invites the creation of something that feels truly connected to the individual, to nature, and to one’s own history. Still, several strategies have emerged that I find useful in guiding my projects toward a look that beautifully integrates vintage and biophilic design. Let’s take a look at those strategies.
1. Select Vintage Items That Are Full of Character and Not Just Old Age
Not all vintage items will automatically have the requisite beauty for biophilic design. The goal is to select pieces that tell a story. Whether it’s the weathered texture of a farmhouse dining table, the rich patina of an old metal chest, or the unique craftsmanship of a midcentury chair, these pieces should feel as though they’ve lived a life. And their imperfections should be celebrated—and probably are, since that’s what “vintage” really means, as opposed to the sterile lovely world of “antique.” Look for objects that have an organic feel to them. Even if the item is man-made, it can still have the organic look.
A piece of hand-carved wooden furniture is going to look quite different than a piece of furniture made with a CNC machine. And one looks vintage; the other doesn’t. Textiles made from natural fibers are also going to have a vintage look.
A few years ago, I stumbled upon a lovely antique oak bench at a flea market. Its legs were uneven, and decades of use had resulted in delightful grooves carved into the wood. But instead of attempting to address any of those issues, I embraced the bench’s natural imperfections. I placed it in my sun-flooded hallway, flanked by potted plants and trailing, verdant vines. The bench’s beauty, I think, is in its blend of the old and the new. Once part of a different era and a different space, it’s now living in my hallway, a thriving green space with new pops of life in its seemingly worn edges.
They really are pieces that help bridge the gap between nostalgia and nature.
2. Use Unrefined Materials Found in Nature
To establish a biophilic vintage space, it is necessary to adopt materials that are evocative of both nature and time. Wood, stone, leather, and clay are fantastic choices because they naturally age and mature in a manner reminiscent of a fine wine. When selecting vintage furniture, look for pieces made from these natural materials, as they will harmonize beautifully with the organic components in your space.
Take, for instance, a 1960s leather chair. It is beautiful in its own right, but its allure increases when it is partnered with a wool throw. It is even more inviting in the combination of the textures of leather, a wool throw, and the warm wood of the chair’s arms. Imagine it beside a terracotta pot filled with succulents, the plant’s cool stone companion, the leather’s softness and warmth beside that pot and in the relationship it has with a wood side table. There is no going wrong in this combination; design history—from the 1960s to now—is on their side.
Among my most cherished methods for blending natural materials into my work is the use of stone. For a recent project, I incorporated repurposed stone tiles for a kitchen backsplash in an otherwise modern-vintage home. Each piece was unique. They could have been the stars of any show. Their visible imperfections—little cracks, softened edges, and mineral deposits—were undoubtedly their greatest asset and formed what the maker might call a patina. With a few potted herbs stationed near the kitchen window, the stone’s surface had the kitchen breathing a whole new vintage vibe.
Employ Plants to Elevate, Not Overwhelm, the Space.
Plants are a key component of biophilic vintage design. They can enhance the vintage elements in your space, but only if they are integrated thoughtfully. Light is the first thing to consider when locating plants in your space—especially large-leafed ones that could hide your vintage treasures. If you have a well-lit area, a bold arrangement of a plant like a Monstera might just be the kind of eye-catching element that you want right next to your vintage space and your vintage treasures.
In spaces with less light, or where space is at a premium, you may want to consider small plants or hanging varieties, such as pothos or ferns. These can be draped across shelves, hung in macramé planters, or placed in vintage side tables to create a soft and intimate atmosphere. I find that using vintage glass vases and pots, from the 1950s and 60s, as planters allows me to stay true to the vintage theme while integrating some natural elements. I worked with a client in a tiny apartment where space was at a real premium. Still, the client wanted to embrace biophilic vintage design.
We used vertical space to hang plants in macramé holders and placed small cacti in some vintage tea tins on the open shelving. The result was a whimsical yet cozy environment where plants didn’t just fit in—they were fundamentally part of the narrative.
Highlighting nature and vintage decor in your biophilic and vintage space relies on a crucial element of interior design: lighting. This plays an equally vital role in how both the greenery inherent to your biophilic space and any vintage decor interact with light and shadows. “Natural light is always preferable, but when that’s not possible, consider vintage-inspired light fixtures that cast a warm, inviting glow,” says Emily Harris, an interior design project manager at L.A.-based biophilic design firm Blisshaus (with whom I worked on this project). Vintage pendant lights hung with dimmable bulbs slung over a reclaimed oak dining table just inside my vintage-inspired kitchen doorway.
A hanging plant is wedged between the table and a window, which invites an overabundance of morning and mid-afternoon sunlight to make the space feel like the secret.
5. Don’t Be Scared to Mix Eras One of the lovely things about biophilic vintage design is that it doesn’t demand strict adherence to a single period or style. In fact, infusing a space with pieces from divergent times can provide depth and warmth. An 1870s rattan chair might sit cozily beside a primitive cedar bench from the 1930s, while a mid-century coffee table pairs smartly with a ceramic planter from the 1920s. The key, as in all of vintage design, is to act on the principle of “mix, don’t match.” It helps to think of biophilia as the tie that binds when it comes to different styles and timeframes.
After all, there’s nothing discrepant about a planter spilling across an old farmhouse table, its natural contents bridging the gap between textures, colors, and, yes, eras.
