Incorporating biophilic design into your home is linked to several health benefits like improved mood and reduced stress. This decor trend is all about connecting your living space with nature, bringing the outdoors in.
There are simple interior styling tricks to bring the outdoors in without making any big structural changes or breaking the bank. Ruggable, the American washable rug brand which now has warehouses in Australia and the UK and ships here, has used TikTok data to uncover the most viral ‘indoor-outdoor’ styling hacks with expert tips on incorporating each into your home.
1) Decorate with nature and natural fibres
TikTok’s number one way to bring the outdoors inside is by using natural colours, materials and images, with the hashtag #naturecore alone acquiring 42,000 posts.
Cassandra Leisz, creative director at Ruggable, says: “By incorporating natural materials and nature-inspired hues, the outdoor-indoor transition feels seamless. This brings the inspiring serenity of mother nature into the comforting safety of your home.
“If your home already has exposed natural materials such as wood, stone, and wicker, you want to accentuate these by ensuring they’re not hidden behind bulky furniture or decor. You can add natural elements and motifs such as seashells, mushrooms, florals, or branches depending on what type of natural environment inspires you most.
“Nature has a beautiful and cohesive diversity, so don’t be afraid to play around with different textures, colours, materials and prints.”
2) Fragrance the home with an earthy scent
Using an indoor fragrance and mimicking a natural scent is the second most popular biophilic interior hack on TikTok.
Cassandra adds: “In nature, all of our senses are stimulated so adding an earthy fragrance to your home is an efficient, cost-effective way to bring the outdoors in. As the body’s sense of smell is closely linked to the limbic systems, scent and sound can have a powerful effect on mood and memory recall, reducing anxiety and inducing calmness.
“Try burning essential oils, lighting a scented candle, or adding fresh flora such as eucalyptus leaves to your bathroom which interacts beautifully with the hot steam. Other popular aromatic scents include sandalwood, jasmine and sage while lavender consistently shows calming and mood-improving benefits.”
3) Add a large, living fruit tree inside
Another popular way to bring the outdoors indoors is having a living tree indoors and making it a focal point of the room.
Cassandra adds: “Indoor trees have become increasingly favoured over large plants as they’re easy to care for and help blur the lines between the indoors and the outdoors. For maximum impact, opt for the tallest potted tree that your space will allow. But don’t forget to check the growth trajectory of your pick. Ensure your new favourite tree won’t scrape your ceiling or need to be repotted outdoors too quickly.
“Fruit trees were the most popular on TikTok with many creators adding a potted olive tree in the kitchen to give the space a Mediterranean makeover.”
4) Decorate dark areas with moss or air plants
Adding moss to your interiors was the fourth most endorsed hack on TikTok with moss balls being a popular choice.
Cassandra says: “Adding a moss wall, air plant, or succulent installation to your home will make you feel like you’re living in a forest. Moss, air plants, and succulents are all super low-maintenance plants that thrive in different humidity and light conditions, so check which one’s best for your region.”
5) Cultivate an indoor edible garden
An indoor garden, including edible and non-edible plants, is a fail-proof way to incorporate biophilic design into your home. It was the fifth most popular hack on TikTok, with indoor vegetable and herb gardens being the most popular choice.
Cassandra says: “Don’t be intimidated by creating an indoor garden. It can be as simple as growing your food inside, on a windowsill. If you don’t have a green thumb, TikTok is filled with plenty of great advice for getting started. Herbs like basil, parsley, chives, mint, sage and rosemary are all relatively beginner-friendly and most favourable to indoor conditions.”
6) Create boho interiors for a ‘more is more’ approach
Being outdoors can get messy so it’s not surprising that boho styling was the most popular interior look, beating out tropical interiors for sixth position.
Cassandra says: “Boho style is eclectic with an emphasis on organic elements and wanderlust with a ‘more is more’ approach. Use plants to create an interior jungle, hanging them at varying heights and including different sizes. The key is for your space to look creative, not messy, so ensure you have clear pathways for natural light and exposed raw materials.”
7) Maximise natural light
It’s no secret that we feel better in the sun so maximising the natural light in your home will lighten up the space and lift your mood.
Cassandra adds: “We can’t all live in sun-drenched homes, so maximising the light you have is key, especially if you want your indoor plants to thrive. Remove any items or bulky drapes that block windows and use mirrors to bounce light around.
“If you don’t get adequate light or struggle with the winters, you can opt for warm tone light bulbs, or invest in a light therapy lamp. The shorter days can take a toll on our emotions and mental health. Light therapy lamps can help boost vitamin D, making a particularly positive impact during this dreary season and are commonly used for Seasonal Affect Disorder.”
8) Mirror the outdoors
The eighth most popular way to bring the outdoors indoors is to mirror both landscapes to give the illusion of a larger space.
Cassandra says: “You want to create a subtle transition from the inside out for easy flow living by using consistent flooring. This will open up the space and make it feel more airy, brighter and lighter. Consider bringing items from the outside in and vice versa such as an outdoor rug to break down the visual separation between the two spaces.”
9) Playing real calming or artificial sounds
Adding organic soundscapes to your home through artificial sounds or water features is another great way to incorporate indoor-outdoor living into your home.
Cassandra says: “Just as exposure to sunlight, plants and earthy scents can help boost overall wellbeing, so too can sound. The easiest way to hear nature is to open your windows when the conditions allow.
You could consider investing in an indoor water feature to create a calming background noise of trickling water. Research also suggests that the sound of running water can help you sleep better too. Alternatively, you can also check out the many Spotify playlists designed to mimic the natural sounds and are accessed with the click of a finger.”
10) Use rattan decor indoor and outdoor
Rounding out the list of the most viral TikTok biophilic styling tips and tricks is the use of rattan decor.
Cassandra says: “Rattan decor and wickered textures have exploded in popularity over the past 12 months. Traditionally, the style would most commonly be used for outdoor furniture but we’re seeing it just as much in the interiors now with some beautifully crafted pieces giving you the ultimate outdoorsy feel.
“Rattan specifically refers to an intricate weave of stems of rattan palms, so it is an organic, natural material learning itself perfectly to the trend. From headboards to chairs and tables, there’s plenty of ways to incorporate this design into your home.
