There is a growing trend and uptick in demand in 2024 for nature inspired biophilic wallpaper designs inspired by the outdoor environment.The term biophilic design embodies the concept and the role of biophilic design in the field of interior design is an important one. As the world becomes more dependent upon technology, our homes are a haven for the connection to nature that is so important to our well being.
Connecting with Nature: Why Nature-Inspired Designs Matter
Surrounding ourselves with nature in our homes has a profound impact on our well-being. Nature-inspired designs evoke feelings of calmness and rejuvenation, helping to reduce stress and improve mental clarity. Doing so connects us to the very thing that makes us human.
“Humanity’s historical contact with nature has left an indelible mark, a driving force for us to have an affinity for all things living (plants and animals alike). Our connection to nature is right there in our DNA: that’s the essence of the biophilia hypothesis.”
Eva Selhub and Alan Logan Your Brain on Nature: The Science of Nature’s Influence on Your Health, Happiness, and Vitality 2012, pp.8
Biophilic design and nature inspired elements are hot topics today. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that our connection to nature is more important today than ever as we are more and more immersed in environments that lack green spaces that are easily accessible to all. Incorporating biophilic design elements into our homes provides a much needed infusion of nature that has real health benefits.
…while humans may have evolved in the natural world, the “natural habitat” of contemporary people has largely become the indoor built environment where we now spend 90% of our time. The need for beneficial contact with nature continues to be critical to people’s health and fitness (Heerwagen in Kellert and Finnegan, 2011).
Stephen R. Kellert, Elizabeth F. Calabrese. The Practice of Biophilic Design. https://biophilicdesign.umn.edu/sites/biophilic-net-positive.umn.edu/files/2021-09/2015_Kellert%20_The_Practice_of_Biophilic_Design.pdf
This can be achieved in a variety of ways. Natural wood furniture and flooring, fabrics made from natural fibers, and organic patterns on home goods are all examples of ways in which we can build that connection to our natural surroundings.
Wallpaper, the subject of this post, provides a unique way to add motifs, organic shapes, texture, and color that bring nature into our homes. Read on for the trends in wallpaper designs inspired by the outdoors and the options available to you today.
Trends in Nature-Inspired Wallpaper Designs
Organic patterns that embrace the flow of nature are one of the trending styles in wallpaper today. There is something mesmerizing about the way in which leaves, branches, and florals move and respond to each other that reminds us that everything in nature is connected.
I recall a recent post on Linked In that showed a view from above of trees as they swayed to and fro in a dance of communication.It is a real phenomenon called “crown shyness” whereby the trees of some species avoid touching each other and can be clearly observed, especially in windy conditions. There is a whole scientific explanation for this and you can really go down a rabbit hole researching it but it is a mechanism to prevent tissue damage to the trees.
I am not sure that this is the reason that organic patterns are so pleasing to view but it may be one of many reasons we, as humans, respond to them so viscerally.
Use of earthy tones and natural color palettes to mimic outdoor environments are another way that you can add natural elements to your home. This is also a trend in wallpaper design and interior design as a whole.
Botanical Bliss: Bringing the Garden Indoors
I love gardening but don’t spend as much time in the garden as I would like during busy times. Botanical themed wallpapers that capture lush greenery and floral arrangements can keep that connection alive even when we are not able to get outside and enjoy the growing garden.
We all have different tastes and, as such, different styles speak to us. There is a wide variety of styles in botanical wallpaper today ranging from minimalist to eclectic.
Landscape Sceneries: Evoking Serenity and Wonder
Landscape wallpapers and murals have the power to transport us to distant places, evoking a sense of wonder and awe. They blur the lines between indoors and outdoors, creating a truly immersive experience. This is an exciting area of wall-covering design that offers its own unique way of adding a window to the world outdoors.
I love this website, Papiers De Paris.
They offer themes of seascapes, countryside, undergrowth, lakes, ancient cities, Japanese nature, fauna and flora ,maps, and so much more. The styles range from antique neoclassical to contemporary and everything in between. All of their papers are done in a matte finish giving them a museum quality that is soft and versatile for blending with many design styles. They even have a section under works/news that features projects where you can get a feel for the infinite possibilities of this format.
Rebel Walls is another resource for landscape wallpapers. Looking for a bedroom setting in the middle of the forest?
or a soft oversized floral print? They have something for everyone. They offer a variety of options in traditional and peel and stick selections. Custom wallpapers are available too using your own image. They will walk you through the process start to finish.
These beautiful branches in the Sakura Soft Pink Mural from Graham and Brown are just the thing to wake up to and the placement feels as though you are underneath the canopy of trees.
I also love that Graham and Brown offers paint color recommendations along with their mural and wallpaper collections. This allows easy coordination of one wall murals with a paint color works with one of the tones that is pulled from the mural. Substrate options include matte, fabric, and fiber options which vary with each design choice.
Digital techniques and technology can preserve the integrity of hand painted art as never before. This also applies to art produced digitally. Because of these advances in technology both analogue and digital art landscape wallpapers and murals display amazing depth and perspective thereby enhancing the illusion of realism that can be achieved today.
Textural and Tactile Treatments: Mimicking Natural Materials
Biophilic design employs all of the senses to help us connect with nature and wallpaper with textural and tactile appeal is another way to add some references to wood, stone, marble, and natural fibers.
Graham and Brown also has a lovely collection of tactile and textural murals and wallpaper featuring veteran designers including Barbara Hulanicki who specializes in flocked wallpaper designs with a modern twist.
I have experimented with burlap and linen backgrounds in my own work with satisfying results. Here is one example of my Tuscan Villa Collection pairing an over scaled floral motif and a textural weave with a close up view below of the textural weave.
Biophilic Design that provides texture can be achieved with nature inspired images that mimic stone and marble too.This is a dramatic example of just how powerful these wallpapers can be when they display natural stones.
York Wallcoverings has a nice selection of textured wallpapers designed to create a tactile quality. These include special effects like cork, raised prints, sculptured finishes.
All of these examples show effective ways to add dimension and tactile appeal to your spaces in a very subtle but effective way.
Sustainable Solutions: Eco-Friendly Wallpaper Choices
Sustainability is an important topic in the discussion of biophilic design as it goes hand in hand with the idea that our connection to nature is symbiotic. It must include a discussion of how we protect and co-exist with the environment in a mutually beneficial way.
There is also a rise in eco-conscious consumers and their preference for sustainable decor options as this awareness gains acceptance and understanding.
To satisfy the growing demand for eco-friendly wallpaper there is an ever increasing supply of materials in recycled paper bamboo and non-toxic inks.
Spoonflower is one of the companies I use to print my designs onto wallpaper. The use of non toxic pigments and effective use of waste by products as well as the very nature of the business model of print on demand ensures that waste is kept at a minimum on both sides of the manufacturing process. Read more about their commitment to sustainability.
The material substrate you select can be Eco-friendly as well. We did a major renovation eight years ago when we purchased our current home. All of the walls were stripped down to the drywall with one exception. A recessed bar had a golden tan grasscloth wallpaper. I made a choice to keep it intact and I really still love its natural quality to this day. Natural fibers are timeless.
One of my favorite sites for natural fiber substrates is Wallpaper From the 70’s. This website specializes in well, just as the name implies, wallpapers from the 70’s! (I am sure this is probably when that bar wallpaper I have in my bar was installed). This site offers a nice selection of sustainable, natural options in wallcovering substrates including bamboo, grasscloth, cork, sisal,and more.
Who wouldn’t want a grasscloth wall done up in pink? This is the year of pink too so if there ever was a time- it is now.
Tips for Incorporating Nature-Inspired Wallpaper Designs
Many of the same rules apply for nature inspired wallpaper choices as those for wallpaper in general.
Is Your Biophilic Wallpaper a Leading Lady or Best Supporting Actress?
Think about the role that you want the wallpaper to play in your room. Do you want it to be the focal point? If so you can go bold in color and/or scale.
Is it meant to create a soft and subtle backdrop for other furnishings? If so, think about the colors and styles of the furnishings of the room and look for designs that will compliment them while letting other focal points shine in the spotlight. This will create a cohesive look.
Scales Are Meant To Go Up and Down
Vary your scales in rugs, wallcoverings, and upholstery. It will be more interesting and pleasing to the eye.
Oversized wallpaper scales used to be limited to large grand rooms. No more. Using large motifs in small spaces can be fun, just make sure that it is not so large that the pattern is lost.
Create a Window To The World
If you are doing landscape wallpaper you can use it on just one wall and paint the others. It will keep the focus and draw your eye toward the landscape you have created.
Eclectic by Nature
You can also go eclectic, pairing unlike styles or colors in your wallcoverings, rugs, furniture, and accessories for a bold and brave effect. That can be really fun but try to find some method of aligning styles or colors while juxtaposing other unlike styles and colors as a way of balancing the overall look. In other words, provide some common theme running throughout the design scheme such as color tones or wood tones. Just remember, although it may seem random, there are rules in nature as well! Use the rules provided by nature and you will always be safe.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has provided you with insight about nature-inspired wallpaper choices. More broadly, my hope is that this has been helpful in understanding the role of biophilic design as a part of large interior design plan. The principles of biophilic design for our homes and other spaces are gaining in popularity but also beneficial to our well-being. No where is that demonstrated more noticeable than the trends in wallpapers.
With all of the many options available in the marketplace today there is sure to be a nature-inspired wallpaper perfect for your next project.
Nature provides the best backdrop to our exterior world. Using wallpapers that evoke that same connection in some way can provide the backdrop to your indoor space. It just feels like a natural approach to a more holistic way of living.
For more ways to infuse your home with nature-inspired design products and be notified of special offers, please join our email list below
Also, my own work is focused on biophilic design. If you would like to see more of my products in wallpaper, fabric, and home decor, here is a link to my design collections. They are available for purchase through my preferred print on demand supplier, Spoonflower.