‍What Is Biophilia and Why Bring It Indoors?

“Biophilia” literally means a love of life and nature – the innate human urge to connect with the natural world​.

‍

In the context of workplaces, this concept has given rise to biophilic design, an approach that goes far beyond placing a potted plant in the corner. Biophilic design intentionally weaves natural elements and patterns into our built environments, acknowledging that humans need that connection to thrive. It’s not just about making an office look pretty with greenery; it’s about harnessing nature’s restorative power to support people’s health, well-being, and performance on the job​.

‍

From sunlight and fresh air to organic textures and indoor gardens (like moss walls), biophilic design aims to blur the line between outdoors and indoors – bringing the calming, inspiring effects of nature into the places we work every day.

‍

The Workplace Benefits of Biophilic Design

Office designers are embracing biophilia for one simple reason: it makes a measurable difference. A growing body of research (and plenty of real-world experience) shows that bringing nature into the office is good for employees and employers alike. Here are some of the key benefits businesses are seeing with nature-inspired workplaces:

• Less Stress, More Calm: Harsh, sterile office cubicles can elevate stress, whereas a splash of nature such as moss walls or planters spread around the designed space helps dial it down. Simply working near natural light and greenery has been shown to lower stress hormones and even blood pressure​.

‍

It’s no surprise that many people feel more relaxed and rejuvenated in a space that features a bit of the outdoors – in one survey, 67% of office workers said that bright, sunlit spaces accented with natural colors make them happier at work​.

• Improved Focus and Cognitive Performance: Ever notice how a walk in the park clears your head? Biophilic design brings that clarity indoors. Views of nature and indoor plants can help sharpen concentration, memory, and creativity. In fact, research has found that employees in offices enriched with plants scored higher on memory and attention tests than those in environments without greenery​.

‍

 By reducing mental fatigue and offering gentle visual stimulation, natural elements essentially give our brains a welcome boost during the workday.

• Higher Productivity and Creativity: A workspace that connects people with nature isn’t just nicer to be in – it can directly impact the bottom line. Studies have linked biophilic environments to tangible productivity gains. For example, offices that incorporate abundant natural elements report employees being more innovative and even getting more done in less time​.

‍

Global research has noted up to a 15% increase in creativity in workplaces with strong biophilic features like moss walls, along with fewer errors and higher output compared to conventional designs​.

‍

When people feel better and can focus more easily, their work naturally benefits.

• Healthier, Happier Employees: Biophilic workplaces tend to have fewer sick days and higher rates of employee satisfaction. Access to natural light, plants, and views has been associated with lower absenteeism – nearly 20% fewer sick days in one analysis​ – and a general uptick in morale. Employees simply feel more engaged and cared for in a well-designed space that includes natural touches. Over time, that translates into better retention and a positive workplace culture, because the office environment itself is supporting everyone’s well-being​.

‍

For busy design professionals, the takeaway is clear: integrating nature into office interiors isn’t just a trend, it’s a smart strategy. A biophilic approach can make workplaces more uplifting and energetic, which is exactly what companies need to keep their teams healthy, happy, and performing at their best.

‍

Designing for Neurodiversity: Supporting All Employees

An often overlooked benefit of biophilic design is how it supports neurodivergent individuals – those who have ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, or other forms of neurodiversity. For employees who experience the workplace differently, the gentle sensory environment created by natural elements can be a game-changer. Traditional offices with harsh lighting, constant noise, and busy visual distractions can overwhelm the senses. Biophilic design offers a welcome contrast by introducing calm, centered stimuli. For example, strategically placed plants or moss walls can act as natural sound absorbers, dampening the background noise that might otherwise trigger sensory overload​.

‍

Exposure to natural light and greenery also provides a soothing focal point that can help improve concentration – studies indicate that a workspace enriched with plants and nature cues can enhance attention span and productivity, especially for those with ADHD, by creating a more balanced, less stressful atmosphere​.

‍

Moreover, a touch of nature tends to have an anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effect; simply being around calming greenery such as moss walls, preserved gardens or planters, and organic textures has been shown to lower anxiety and promote a sense of well-being​.

‍

In short, biophilic elements make the office more sensory-friendly. They help turn the workplace into an environment where a diverse range of thinkers can feel comfortable and do their best work, underscoring the role of inclusive design in employee well-being.

‍

Bringing the Outdoors In: A New Design Priority

The reason biophilic design has gained so much traction in commercial interiors is that it addresses a core human need. We spend around 90% of our time indoors, yet our minds and bodies are not built for sealed, monotonous environments. By introducing features like indoor gardens, moss walls, natural materials (wood, stone, water), nature-inspired patterns, and plenty of daylight, designers can recreate some of the variety and vitality of the outdoors.

‍

Employees get to experience small moments of nature – a glimpse of greenery, the texture of a wood finish, a moss wall installation, a flow of fresh air – that can reduce the doldrums of a static office. These touches don’t just look appealing; they feel good on a very fundamental level, easing the stress of the workday. Companies have started to recognize that a biophilic office is a recruiting and retention asset as well.

‍

A global study found that a third of employees consider office design in their decision to join a company​, and modern talent is drawn to workplaces that support their wellness. In practice, even small biophilic updates – like adding a preserved green wall in a lobby or carving out a sunlit quiet nook with plants – can signal that an employer cares about the comfort and health of its people. This movement is reshaping offices from purely functional spaces into more humane environments that spark creativity and sustain energy through the day.

‍

Garden on the Wall^® : Pioneering Preserved Nature Walls -  Moss Walls – Preserved Green Walls

One innovator leading the biophilic design movement in the workplace is Garden on the Wall^®  (GOTW). In 2014, Garden on the Wall® pioneered the concept of preserved garden and moss walls in the U.S. commercial design industry, making it possible to bring the lush look of vertical gardens indoors without the maintenance hassles of live plants. Since then, GOTW has completed over 1,850 installations nationwide, turning office lobbies, conference rooms, and corporate hallways into vibrant nature-inspired showcases​.

‍

Each project of GOTW features real mosses and foliage that have been sustainably preserved at their peak, so they retain their fresh, green appearance for years with zero watering, sunlight, or soil needed​. This innovation transformed green walls and moss walls from a high-maintenance novelty into a practical design element for any space​.

‍

What truly sets Garden on the Wall® apart from all moss wall, preserved garden suppliers is the quality and longevity of its installations. All GOTW gardens are built to last – in fact, every preserved wall they’ve installed since 2014 is still being enjoyed by clients today​.

‍

The typical lifespan of a Garden on the Wall® installation is 10-12 years, and with their unique rejuvenation program, that can be extended to well beyond 20 years. This durability & longevity is unmatched in the moss wall industry and means that designers and building owners can count on these nature walls to look beautiful for the long haul.

‍

The longevity of Garden on the Wall®’s moss wall or preserved garden installation also translates into the lowest total cost of ownership for a biophilic installation: with no costly irrigation systems or plant replacements to worry about, the long-term expenses are minimal to none​, especially with no replacement costs needed in the long term for the other providers might require.

‍

Essentially, GOTW’s preserved gardens offer the best of both worlds – the beauty and wellness benefits of nature, and the ease of a set-it-and-forget-it product, with the highest longevity and lowest cost of ownership over the life cycle of their product.

‍

Aesthetics is another area where Garden on the Wall^® has set the industry standard. Each vertical garden is custom designed as a one-of-a-kind piece of preserved plant art (without the “living” headaches). GOTW’s design team collaborates closely with architects and interior designers to tailor every installation to the client’s space and vision, ensuring the greenery complements the brand and architecture seamlessly​.

‍

The result is an installation that not only improves air quality and acoustics but also makes a striking visual statement – from lush moss mosaics that draw the eye, to calming woodland-inspired panels that invite you to pause and take a breath. These artistic moss walls and preserved gardens illustrate how biophilic features can be both highly functional and stunning in their own right.

‍

Garden on the Wall^®’s impact on the commercial design landscape over the past decade has been profound. By delivering nature to indoor environments in a reliable, sustainable way, GOTW has empowered designers to infuse offices with biophilic elements that would have been difficult to maintain before. With over 1,850 projects completed and counting, the company has proven that preserved nature walls aren’t just a gimmick – they’re a durable design solution that enhances any workplace with warmth, color, and a connection to the outdoors.

‍

In many ways, GOTW’s success has helped biophilic design evolve from a niche concept into a mainstream design priority, raising the bar for what workplace interiors can achieve in terms of well-being, durability, and experiential, multi-sensory tactile beauty.

‍

Bringing Biophilia to Work – The New Normal

Biophilic design is no longer just a “nice-to-have” trend in commercial interiors; it’s becoming a fundamental aspect of good workplace design. As companies strive to create offices that attract talent, boost productivity, and foster wellness, nature-centric design elements are proving their value. People simply feel better at work when they can see a bit of green, catch some natural light, or enjoy the textures of natural materials around them. Forward-thinking interior designers are using these insights to transform offices into healthier, more engaging places – whether it’s through a statement preserved garden or moss wall from Garden on the Wall®, or a collection of leafy plants and sunlit breakout areas.

‍

In the end, the goal is the same: make the workplace a place where people thrive. By tapping into our biophilic instincts, we create work environments that nourish the mind and body, leading to happier employees and better business outcomes. It’s a design win-win that’s here to stay, proving that when you bring a bit of the outdoors in, everyone benefits.

‍

For more information on this subject and other related information, please visit our website:www.gardenonthewall.com

‍