biophilic design room-by-room: the bedroom
in biophilic room-by-room
Being devoted to sleep, the bedroom is a particularly important room in a home. And an intentional design can set the desired calming atmosphere.
So let’s tackle the essentials of a relaxation-centered scheme, seeing how to achieve them through biophilic design.
supporting rest
Sleep time is crucial for human health. From a physical and mental perspective alike, sleep is a deeply healing appointment that regenerates all our systems. To support this daily restoration work, bedrooms call for calming design choices.
Light is possibly the most important element to mention. The circadian rhythm – our internal day-night clock – is regulated by natural light. As the evening comes, an increasingly warm and soft light tells our brain that it’s time to slow down. Similarly, soft and warm light is best suited for bedrooms.
Colour choices also play an important role. Hues that are too vibrant would alert the brain, needlessly disrupting its relaxation state. The same reasoning applies to shapes, patterns and textures; everything should be an invitation to unwind.
an exclusive space
With living spaces becoming smaller and smaller, more functions get to be combined in a single room. But given the importance of relaxation for good sleep, bedrooms should house only soothing activities. Besides sleep, this can include reading, soft physical movement, and little more. At the very least, the actual bed should be kept for sleeping only, as this gives a clear signal to the mind: this is your space to rest.
multi-sensory design
Biophilic design accentuates the value of multi-sensory design solutions for wellbeing. These include movement, variability of indoor conditions, awareness of outside changes, and features that engage the senses beyond sight.
When designing a bedroom, these should all go in the same direction: supporting relaxation. So no strong scents, loud sounds, or anything that would have an alerting effect.
connecting to nature
What is the last thing you see when going to bed? Probably your nightstand. So why not turn it into a soothing biophilic moment?
Natural elements like greenery, pebbles, or shells can all recall a personal experience in nature. A nightstand vignette could then evoke memories of a pleasant and relaxing time in nature, easing the mind into sleep. If this experience took place locally, thinking about it would also strengthen the attachment to the local environment, contributing to that sense of place that makes daily life so much more meaningful.
If the home is our refuge from the outside world, the bedroom is our refuge from daytime altogether. And a biophilic design can make it deeply restorative, honouring the importance of rest.
