Learning About Fungi in Home Design: An Engineer’s Journey into Mushrooms and Materials

I never thought I'd be growing mushrooms in my basement at age seventy-two, but here we are. Started about two years ago when our daughter sent me an article about something called mycelium-based materials – essentially furniture grown from fungus. Being an engineer, I was skeptical. How do you grow a table? Turns out, it's more fascinating than I initially imagined.

My interest began practical enough. After my wife's stroke, we'd been making accessibility modifications throughout the house, and I'd gotten interested in natural materials that might help create a more therapeutic environment. I'd read about biophilic design and how natural elements can improve mood and healing, especially for older adults dealing with health challenges.

The article about <a href="https://biophilicflair.com/regenerative-design-in-construction-practices-that-heal/">mycelium materials</a> caught my attention because it described lightweight, fire-resistant building materials that could be literally grown rather than manufactured. As someone who's spent decades working with conventional materials – steel, concrete, plastics – the idea of biological manufacturing seemed almost too good to be true.

I started researching and discovered that mycelium is basically the root system of mushrooms. Under the right conditions, it can be grown into molds to create objects with specific shapes. Once the mycelium fully colonizes its growing medium and is dried out, it becomes a stable material that's no longer alive but retains its structure.

My first experiment was small – ordered a kit online to grow what they called acoustic panels. The process was more involved than I'd expected. Temperature, humidity, and timing all had to be just right. My first attempt failed completely – contaminated with some kind of green mold that took over the whole growing container.

But I'm stubborn, and after thirty-eight years of home repairs, I'm used to projects not working on the first try. The second attempt produced several small panels with a texture unlike anything I'd worked with before. Soft, almost leather-like, but definitely organic-looking.

I installed them on one wall of my <a href="https://biophilicflair.com/regenerative-design-in-construction-practices-that-heal/">home office</a>, partly as an experiment in sound dampening (the room echoes since we removed the old carpet), partly just to see how they'd hold up over time. The acoustic improvement was noticeable, and honestly, there was something calming about looking at these natural textures while working on the computer.

What really interested me was learning that certain mushrooms can actually improve indoor air quality. I'd always known plants could filter air to some degree, but I hadn't realized fungi could break down toxins in different ways. Some species can digest complex compounds and convert them into harmless substances.

I set up a small experimental growing system in the basement – oyster mushrooms growing on coffee grounds I collected from the church kitchen. The setup wasn't complicated: clear plastic containers with holes for air circulation, kept at consistent temperature and humidity. I rigged up a simple automation system using old thermostat parts and a small humidifier.

My wife was amused by the whole project until she started spending time in the basement while I worked and noticed she felt better down there. Less stuffiness, fewer headaches. Could have been coincidence, but the improvement was consistent enough that we both noticed.

The visual appeal of mushrooms surprised me. I'd never paid much attention to their patterns and shapes, but when you're growing them and watching the daily changes, you start appreciating the natural geometry. The way they form perfect curves and spirals – there's a mathematical precision that appeals to my engineering background.

I built a small growing cabinet with LED lighting so we could watch the mushrooms develop. Almost like having an aquarium, but with fungi. Our grandchildren find it fascinating when they visit. Better than any nature program on television.

The sustainability aspects make sense from both an environmental and economic perspective. These materials grow at room temperature using minimal energy. The growing medium can be agricultural waste – sawdust, coffee grounds, even cardboard. At the end of their useful life, <a href="https://biophilicflair.com/regenerative-design-in-construction-practices-that-heal/">mycelium materials</a> can be composted rather than ending up in landfills.

For someone on a fixed retirement income, the cost savings are meaningful. I've grown enough acoustic panels to treat most of our main living areas for less than what conventional soundproofing would have cost. Takes longer than ordering materials, but time is something I have more of these days.

I've shared what I learned with other folks from church who are dealing with similar aging-in-place challenges. Several have tried growing mushrooms, mostly for eating, but a few have experimented with the materials applications. Our friend Harold made lamp bases using mycelium grown in different shaped containers – came out looking like expensive designer pieces.

The maintenance aspect is less demanding than people assume. Once the material is finished growing and dried, it requires no special care – just like any other building material. For active growing systems, I've worked out simple monitoring routines. Check humidity levels, refresh the growing medium when it's depleted, maintain consistent temperature.

I built a simple alert system using parts from old smoke detectors that signals when conditions drift outside optimal ranges. Nothing fancy, but it means I don't have to constantly check on things manually.

One challenge is convincing people that fungi-based materials are safe and practical. We grew up with the idea that mushrooms are either dangerous or just food, not building materials. But the research shows these materials meet standard safety requirements for fire resistance and structural integrity.

The dried mycelium doesn't continue growing or produce spores that could cause problems. It's essentially a biological foam that happens to have useful properties for construction and design applications.

<img class="size-full" src="https://biophilicflair.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/im1979_Functional_Fungi_in_Biophilic_DesignUsing_mushrooms_an_568d8abb-fe88-4c2c-898a-87bca1b7854f_0.jpg" alt="im1979_Functional_Fungi_in_Biophilic_DesignUsing_mushrooms_an_568d8abb-fe88-4c2c-898a-87bca1b7854f_0" />

I've been experimenting with using <a href="https://biophilicflair.com/regenerative-design-in-construction-practices-that-heal/">mycelium materials</a> for some of the accessibility modifications we've needed to make. Lightweight wall panels that can be easily moved or reconfigured as needs change. Sound-absorbing materials for rooms where my wife uses medical equipment that can be noisy.

The natural patterns and textures seem to have a calming effect that manufactured materials don't provide. Subtle, but noticeable in spaces where someone spends a lot of time recovering or managing chronic pain.

Through online forums for people interested in sustainable building, I've connected with others trying similar applications. Retirees working on aging-in-place modifications, adult children helping elderly parents, younger people planning homes that'll adapt as they get older.

The knowledge sharing has been valuable. Different growing techniques, troubleshooting contamination problems, sources for materials and equipment. It's a small but growing community of people exploring these applications.

I've learned that successful integration depends on starting small and building experience gradually. Don't try to revolutionize your entire house at once. Begin with simple projects – maybe growing some mushrooms for cooking while learning about the process. Then experiment with small decorative objects or functional items like acoustic panels.

The educational aspect has been as rewarding as the practical applications. Learning about fungal biology, understanding how these organisms fit into natural cycles, seeing how they can be partners in creating healthier living environments rather than something to fear or ignore.

<img class="size-full" src="https://biophilicflair.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/im1979_Functional_Fungi_in_Biophilic_DesignUsing_mushrooms_an_568d8abb-fe88-4c2c-898a-87bca1b7854f_1.jpg" alt="im1979_Functional_Fungi_in_Biophilic_DesignUsing_mushrooms_an_568d8abb-fe88-4c2c-898a-87bca1b7854f_1" />

My current project involves <a href="https://biophilicflair.com/regenerative-design-in-construction-practices-that-heal/">growing insulation material</a> for a small addition we're planning – an accessible bathroom that connects directly to our bedroom. Rather than using conventional insulation, I'm experimenting with growing mycelium directly in wall cavities using removable forms.

Early tests suggest the thermal properties are excellent, and if it works, we'll have insulation that improves air quality rather than potentially degrading it over time like some synthetic materials can.

This isn't a replacement for traditional construction methods, but it's an additional tool that offers unique benefits, especially for applications where natural materials and improved indoor environments are priorities.

For older adults dealing with health challenges, anything that can improve indoor air quality and create more calming, natural environments is worth considering. The fact that these materials can be grown at home, customized for specific needs, and composted at the end of their useful life makes them particularly appealing.

If you're curious about trying this yourself, start with a simple mushroom growing kit from a reputable supplier. Watch the process, get comfortable with the basic requirements, and see how you respond to having these living systems in your home. You might find, as I have, that there's something deeply satisfying about growing functional materials rather than just buying manufactured products.

The intersection of biology and building materials represents a significant shift in how we think about creating healthy, sustainable living environments. As someone who's lived through decades of changes in construction materials and methods, I find this biological approach both innovative and somehow familiar – a return to working with natural systems rather than against them.