Why does a space filled with plants feel instantly more peaceful? In this episode, Robin Pasley dives into the power of biophilic design—bringing nature indoors to boost well-being, creativity, and focus. From schools and hospitals to offices and homes, learn how greenery and natural elements can transform any space into a calming, uplifting environment backed by science and real-world results.
www.pasleycommercialinteriors.com/commercial-design
Randi Lynn Johnson: 0:14
So, Robin, over the past few episodes we've talked about ergonomic furniture, the psychology of color and lighting, but today I wanted to unpack using plant life in design and the benefits of it.
Robin Pasley: 0:29
Awesome. One of my favorite topics.
Randi Lynn Johnson: 0:31
Biophilia is the actual phrase. Biophilia.
Robin Pasley: 0:35
It's such a fun word, right, it's a fun word.
Randi Lynn Johnson: 0:37
Here's a little just water cooler trivia for you, our listeners. Biophilia is the idea that humans have an innate tendency to connect with nature and other living things. The term comes from the Greek words bio and philia, which literally translates to love of life.
Robin Pasley: 0:56
Oh, I like that. I didn't know that, I know. I mean I probably could have thought about it long enough and put it together, but you know, yeah, never had done that before.
Randi Lynn Johnson: 1:05
I always thought green, but it means love of life, love of life. Harvard naturalist, Dr Edward O Wilson coined the term in his 1984 book Biophilia to describe the rich natural pleasure that comes from being surrounded by living organisms. So you guys can just casually drop that the next time you're in a place that's using biophilia. Well, or you can, like, convince your spouse to let you buy a new plant. Yeah, there you go.
Robin Pasley: 1:31
I guess it probably has to do with why, um, you know, uh, they say that putting a fish tank lowers your blood pressure, you know, and brings calm, because it's a life form that is contained. I think if there were puppies running around in a room I would feel a little less comforted. But you know, when the fish are in there and it makes me feel good because there's- a life form over there doing its thing.
Yeah, so now we know biophilia, yeah, so I've I've often talked to um clients about this, because I I find some pushback sometimes and when I want to use biophilia in a project and I have to say I use it in almost every project simply because it is our human connection with life. You know so, when you think about a movie where they're going to Mars or another planet, TV show whatever, and what are they looking for? They're looking for plant life because it tells us that we can survive there.
Randi Lynn Johnson: 2:34
We'll be okay, right.
Robin Pasley: 2:36
I will be okay, can survive there, we'll be okay. Right, I will be okay. And I think it's the same way when when we see plant life in a space or some other form, life, natural life, form, um, even if it's water or like you know the fish or whatever that it tells us that I'm going to be okay here. So it does actually kind of register in uh biometrics in our body, yeah Something you're sort of unaware that it's happening, but you know when it's missing right, you know when it's missing.
So we could do a whole really amazing design with all these great textures and colors and lighting and things, but not have plant life in it or something that reminds us of nature, and it will feel stale and sterile.
Randi Lynn Johnson: 3:20
Yeah, so there's that innate sense that we have, but there are actually studies that show how biophilia can help with mood and whatnot. Would you just mention some of those things?
Robin Pasley: 3:34
Yes, the psychological effects, oh for sure. So they can have a restorative effect that reduces stress and anxiety. So, um, you know, putting these in school locations and educational spaces, where maybe those stresses or anxieties might be higher, um, is super important, gosh. Think about hospitals and areas like that where stresses run high. Another great thing it helps people recover faster in those environments.
Robin Pasley: 4:06
There's also been a study where they found that the biophilic environments can improve short-term memory by up to 14%. Can you believe that? That's so interesting? So you know, having those in senior living facilities, oh for sure. And memory care, you know that kind of environment. We've done projects that are trauma-informed design and biophilia in those is a must. It's not just an option, it's a must because we need to bring down the anxiety levels in those spaces. They also have proven to increase creativity by impacting the cognitive functions and helping our moods be elevated. So it helps us access that part of our brain that wants to be more creative when our mood is lifted like that. They also have seen that they've decreased symptoms of depression and ADHD. So again for those.
Randi Lynn Johnson: 5:02
All good things, yeah, in schools. I was going to say back in those education environments.
Robin Pasley: 5:07
It's really great, and one of the things I run into is clients that are nervous about putting plant life in a public space or a space where there might be people, that you know a couple of things, kids interacting with the real plants and soil and things like that. There there's always some nervousness around that and then just the maintenance of it. But what here's what's funny is that where there is obviously, um, some good benefits of having real natural plant life I mean just cleaning the air that we are- breathing and all of that, but because it's a psychological thing, it doesn't matter if they're real or not.
Randi Lynn Johnson: 5:48
Okay, that was. I did want to ask you that specifically if it made a difference. I mean cause, yeah, it'll clean the air and what is great, but you can have faux and we've come such a long way oh my gosh yes, artificial flower for sure, yes, I mean there are some really great ones now and I mean they cost more.
Robin Pasley: 6:07
But when you think about you buy it once and, yeah, all you have to do is just dust it, which here's the. You know the 411 on that. It doesn't matter if your plant is real or fake, you're gonna have to dust it anyways yeah, I have these big, beautiful birds of paradise plants here in our studio and they're.
Robin Pasley: 6:23
they have huge leaves and they're just dusty all the time. So that's just a note that you're going to have to dust your plants either way. So if you don't want to have to keep up with them and have a service or someone on your staff that waters these plants it's great to do faux plant life.
Randi Lynn Johnson: 6:40
You mentioned a little bit like how you've used some biophilia in your design.
Robin Pasley: 6:45
Yeah, it doesn't have to be just a plant in a pot. I mean, there's these living wall systems now which, again, they can be real or they can be fake. Faux is a nicer way of saying that. Thank you, French people, but that's another way of bringing that in. Even, just, like I said, the appearance of water.
There's even some patterns and things that remind us of wood textures and water and things like that that can help that psychological piece, um, that we can just bring in, and part of it's just breaking up the static line of what is formed and made. You know, it's not natural, Right, Right. So it's just interrupting that and disrupting those clean and static lines with something that's organic and natural, that says to our brain this is real life and that's what sets us at ease. There's even studies about it reducing anger and fear, which is, I mean, gosh, I mean the world we live in these days. Wouldn't it be nice to have some of that reduced? So the more that we can engage nature in our designs, the better it is for us as human beings.
*Recorded in our studio at 616 N. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80903
