As humans, we have a deeply ingrained and inherent love of nature which is imprinted into our DNA. Ask anyone where they go to relax, spend time with loved ones, be creative or just take time out, and nature will normally play its part, be it a stroll through the woods, a picnic or even a bracing coastal walk with the dog.
The good news is, is that work doesn’t have to remove us from the nature we love, we can include it and bring it indoors. One way to achieve this is by adopting a biophilic approach.
So, what is biophilia?
Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment using direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions.
In terms of health and well-being, biophilic design has been found to support cognitive function, physical health, and psychological well-being.
How can we bring nature indoors?
There are many things we can introduce to remind us of nature, but the three main elements are light, colour, and sound. Whether you work from home, from the office, or hot-desking, making small changes to enhance your surroundings can have a positive impact on your well-being.
Colour
Decorating or adding to your home or office environment with colours and materials that remind us of nature is easier than you think. Regardless of whether your space is big or small, a statement wall, space, prints and posters featuring leafy or floral prints, or wallpaper can help mimic nature within your indoor environment.
You can also fill your home or your office space with plants. It doesn’t need to be costly living walls, although these are obviously great, but could simply be a few potted plants. Besides adding much-needed oxygen, many plants are also known to regulate temperatures and remove pollutants from indoor air. In addition to this, caring for and watching plants grow and flourish is also a brilliant way to connect directly with and nurture nature.
Sound
The sound of water and wildlife can soothe and refresh the senses, reduce stress levels, and fill your space with positivity. You don’t need to spend thousands on water features or sound booths, but you can easily add the sounds of flowing water or birdsong to your environment with sound and video clips playing on screens and speakers at various times of the day. This can be in restrooms, waiting areas, canteens or simply on your personal laptop or pc. However, there are some really good tabletop water features that can also make a difference to your workspace energy. For a wealth of soundtracks and videos, why not visit the WWF website at www.wwf.org.uk
Light
Ever notice how everyone’s mood lifts on a sunny day? Exposure to natural light and sunlight has been shown to have positive impacts on mood, productivity, and cognitive function (not to mentioned improved sleep). Finding ways to provide or replicate natural light whilst at work therefore makes perfect sense, but how can we get the most from light?
• Use bright and light areas for collaborative spaces
• Reserve darker, shadier areas for comms or storage rooms
• Paint walls and surfaces with lighter, more reflective colours
• Position workstations near windows:
- Primary daylight is best for main workstations
- Secondary daylight is best for enclosed offices and meeting spaces
• Consider an open-plan layout that allows light to penetrate deeper into the office
• Think about glass partitions, reflective surfaces, skylights and roof windows
• Consider what ceiling and desk lights you use and if they can be changed to LED bulbs, or if you can invest in a personal desk light which can change colour to suit the different times of day, with brighter and whiter for morning and yellow and warming for the end of the day.
