Designing My Own Home Office with Biophilic Design Principles

When I redesigned my home office, I wanted it to be more than just a functional workspace. I wanted it to be a place I actually looked forward to spending time in, somewhere that supported my focus and creativity while also making me feel calm and grounded. Biophilic design principles helped me to achieve exactly that.

As an interior designer and spatial planner, I help clients improve their homes so they can live more comfortably and with less stress. This time, I was the client and the results have made a real difference to how I feel at work every day.

Green as a Foundation

The walls in my office are painted green, which I often recommend to clients as a calming and versatile choice. Green is associated with nature and has been shown to reduce stress levels, which makes it ideal for workspaces. It works beautifully as a neutral too and adds colour without being overpowering.

Natural Materials

I used solid wood for the shelving, bed and the desk top. These were simple choices, but they instantly made the room feel warmer and more grounded. There is something reassuring about the weight and texture of natural materials. They add depth and character that flat, synthetic surfaces often lack. Using wood in the right way helps to create a space that feels more connected to the outdoors, even when you are working inside all day.

Lighting

Natural light plays a huge part in how a space feels, but like many homes in the UK, mine does not always get as much daylight as I would like. To help with that, I moved the desk closer to the window and I chose a light bulb designed to mimic natural light as closely as possible. This helps to keep my energy levels up throughout the day, especially in the darker months.

Adding Texture and Pattern

To soften the space and bring in some gentle movement, I used a textured wallpaper with a subtle, nature-inspired pattern. It adds interest to the walls without being distracting. This is something I often encourage clients to consider. A small amount of pattern or texture can change how a room feels without making it visually busy. By using it just around the bed, it zones the spaces and separates it from the work area. 

Plants

Adding plants to a space adds visual interest and instantly connects a space to nature by bringing the outdoors in. Whenever I walk into a room with plants, I instantly feel happier. Plants have been shown to reduce stress, heart rate and depression and increase productivity and creativity. Often when I mention plants to clients, they instantly look scared and exclaim their inability to keep them alive. It’s all about finding the right plants for you and your space. The benefits massively outweigh any fear you might have of having to maintain them.

Designed Around Daily Life

This room now works hard for me. It has space for focus work, for storing samples and client files, and even for hosting guests when needed. But more importantly, it feels like my space. It is a room I enjoy spending time in, even on the busiest days. That emotional response, the feeling of ease and contentment in a space, is something I try to create for every client I work with.

If you are thinking about redesigning a home office or work-from-home space and you want it to support both your productivity and your wellbeing, I would recommend exploring biophilic design principles. If you are not sure where to start, I offer in-home consultations to help you plan a space that works for you, practically, emotionally, and aesthetically.