How To Use Biophilic Design In Your Home To Increase Happiness And Well-Being

May 15, 2014

Biophilic design in the home

Biophilic design is far more than just another passing trend.

Designers and architects increasingly recognise both the importance and benefits of combining nature with design. And biophilia is fast becoming an integral element of interior design, architecture and planning.

As well as improving the look and feel of your home, biophilia can also increase your feelings of happiness and well-being. Research has shown that exposure to nature can lower stress, elevate your mood, make you feel more relaxed and improve cognitive functions.

And the good news is that it is easy to introduce some biophilic design into your home. You don’t need to give it a full makeover or hire a specialist. Just a few changes can make a big difference.

Here’s a short introduction to a few of the guiding principles of biophilic design. Along with some ideas of how to add these nature-based design elements into your home.

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Urban Jungle Bloggers: Green Balcony With Herbs

April 24, 2014

herbs and plants on the balcony

It’s time for another Urban Jungle Bloggers post and I’m very happy to be joining once again. This month’s theme is: ‘Show your green balcony or window sill’.

We have a little balcony with a few different plants and herbs growing in pots on it.

I particularly love growing herbs because as well as making attractive plants, they also have so many other uses. Some can be added to your cooking or chopped raw into salads. While the leaves from others can be infused to make delicious herbal teas. And of course, they have such beautiful aromas.

It’s lovely to sit out on the balcony when the weather is warm. Especially on sultry summer evenings to read or do some writing. Up until this year, though, I never really had a nice place to sit. We just used plastic chairs.

Then one day in late autumn Samuel Ansbacher came home with a surprise – a belated wedding anniversary gift. It was a bench for the balcony!

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Urban Jungle Bloggers: Spring Styling

March 20, 2014

Mediterranean Vignette from Mocha

I am really happy to be joining the Urban Jungle Bloggers this month.

If you haven’t come across it before, Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series initiated by two bloggers: Igor of Happy Interior Blog and Judith of JOELIX.com. Every month a group of bloggers join up and share ideas to create an urban jungle through styling ideas, DIYs, green tips and tricks. And each time there is a different theme. It’s a great way to get inspiration for adding more biophilia into your home.

This month’s topic is green Spring styling. And the challenge was to create a fresh Spring vignette or tabletop styling with green plants.

One of the first things that came to mind was to give it a Mediterranean theme. Because it seems so synonymous with spring. Warm sunny days, simple living, fresh ingredients, natural materials – and of course, herbs and plants.

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What Is Biophilia? And Why You Need Biophilic Design In Your Home

October 23, 2013

What is biophilia and biophilic design - Mocha

Biophilia. It’s a word you’re about to start hearing a lot more of. And it’s going to have an increasing influence on interior design and architecture.

The word ‘biophilia’ literally means a love of life or living things. (It stems from Greek and is the opposite of phobia. Phobia = fear of. Philia = love of.) We have an intuitive and deeply ingrained attraction to nature, and a biological need for contact with the natural world.

If I asked you to imagine a place where you feel calm and relaxed, chances are you would imagine a place in nature. Researchers have found that more than 90% of us imagine a natural setting.

We feel good in nature. But even more than this, our physical and mental well-being depends on continued engagement with the natural environment. It affects our personal well-being, productivity and even relationships with others.

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Why Plants Are More Than Just An Interior Trend

April 25, 2013

Plant wall divider from Mocha UK blog

A few months ago I visited the International Furniture Fair in Cologne. One of the main trends I noticed was how many exhibitors had chosen to include plants as decor accessories in their room sets.

I particularly liked this very creative idea where potted plants have been used to dramatic effect. On a slightly smaller scale, wouldn’t this make such a great idea for a room divider?

For a few years, it seemed that having house plants was regarded as a bit passé. But plants are definitely back – and are set to become a big trend.

Plants make stunning decor accessories that add some living beauty to your interior. And sculptural foliage can be used to create a striking focal point in a room.

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