In 2016, we identified the growing need to reconnect more authentically with nature as a key driver impacting consumer behaviour at an increasingly large scale. Having taken on added relevance after nature helped so many people through periods of isolation, biophilic design is now imperative to both products and spaces, across residential as well as commercial environments.
By WGSN
What is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design is an approach to architecture and interiors that brings elements of the natural world into our daily spaces. It’s a response to our deep biological need to stay connected with nature, and it’s now shaping a major natural interior design trend. Through biophilic furniture and materials, this concept creates environments that feel calming, restorative, and alive.
Why Biophilic Interior Design Matter?
By GRADO
A Human Spaces research report showed that biophilic design can improve productivity by 6% and creativity by up to 15%.
As human beings, we are deeply influenced by our surroundings. Today, we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors. By 2050, 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities. As urbanization accelerates, reconnecting with nature through design becomes increasingly important—not just for comfort, but for our well-being.
Biophilic furniture also supports sustainable living. It emphasizes eco-friendly materials and encourages harmony between architecture and the natural world. For interior designers and architects, this is no longer a luxury — it’s a meaningful solution to human and environmental needs.
Biophilic Interior Design Examples
Residential Environments
Manggis Sofa & Cloud Elegance Trolley
Commercial Environments
With numerous locations across North America, and more coming soon in Europe and Australia, 1 Hotels is a hotel chain with a difference. The hotels intentionally prioritize biophilic design to promote sustainability and create a unique wellness experience for guests.
The Ark
Maggie’s, Yorkshire was built in 2019 and was designed by Heatherwick Studio
6 Key Elements of Biophilic Interior Designs
People are naturally attracted to things that have original, natural characteristics, such as plants, animals, and natural materials. Colors that match natural colors, sunlight, and water often directly create a natural atmosphere.
Biophilic furniture generated by AI
Indoor Plants
Adding greenery is one of the simplest ways to apply biophilic design. Potted plants improve indoor air and introduce organic forms that refresh the space.
Natural Materials: The Building Blocks
Wood, stone, leather and wool are more than decorative — they are essential to creating spaces that feel organic.
Water-based finishes preserve the natural grain of wood, adding visual depth while reducing environmental impact. Full-grain leather reveals the raw beauty of hide, as it ages, rather than wearing out. Wool textiles invite touch, offering a tactile warmth that softens the overall space. These materials don’t just look natural — they engage the senses and foster an emotional connection with the environment.
Earth-Tone Palettes
Shades like beige, grey, and off-white create a peaceful atmosphere. They reflect the quiet beauty of nature and provide a versatile backdrop for both modern and traditional spaces.
Shapes + Forms Of Nature
Biophilic design favors flowing, similar to Grin Sofa
Biophilic design favors flowing, organic shapes over sharp edges. Think arches, domes, oval forms, and curves — all of which mimic natural structures and encourage a sense of comfort.
Natural Light
Human beings and plants share much in common, we need sunlight to thrive and maintain important hormone balances in our brains. Benefiting from both natural and filtered daylight, spaces can create an open environment, connecting the indoors and the outdoors so that the outdoor landscape and interior decoration coexist harmoniously.
grado Take on Biophilic Design Living
Offline Events of Living With Plants in grado Hangzhou & Shanghai Stores
In May, grado hosted an offline event with plant brand BennyPlant in its Hangzhou and Shanghai showrooms. The theme: Living with Plants.
Visitors explored how soft wood grains and gentle furniture shapes could pair with vibrant greenery to create deeply relaxing, naturally inspired rooms. Peeking through the holes of monstera leaves or brushing against silver trailing vines, people experienced how biophilic furniture helps translate emotional comfort into physical space.
Indoor House Plant Arrangement
Play with Height
Use ladders, carts, or shelving to create plant displays at different levels. This adds depth and a natural rhythm to your room.
Go with the Flow
Try triangular or flowing arrangements—place a tall plant in a corner, then balance it with smaller ones on a table nearby.
Choose Airy Forms
Instead of dense clusters, opt for plants with space between the leaves. They make a room feel more breathable and open.
Create a Focal Point
Use one large, sculptural plant as a visual anchor. Keep the surrounding area clean to let it shine.
A biophilic design corner of the grado Hangzhou store
Simply put, biophilic design seeks to bring us closer to nature. In today’s fast-paced urban world, people crave emotional connections with their environments. From concrete high-rises to forest retreats, architecture is evolving—from a functional container to an extension of life itself.
By capturing the movement of leaves, the flow of water, and the warmth of natural light, furniture becomes more than a tool — it becomes a feeling.
In grado, this is exactly what we aim to achieve. Through the tactile quality of full-grain leather, the visual honesty of water-based wood finishes, and our warm, earth-toned palettes, we bring comfort, warmth, and connection into modern interiors.
