You’ll never run out of ways to use a well-made wood bench. These adaptable pieces of furniture can be placed at the entryway, along a wide hallway, at the foot of the bed, alongside a dining table, or even used as a coffee table right in the living room. When it’s time to rearrange your furniture, that versatile wood bench will always find a new purpose somewhere else in the home. For this compilation, we’ve collected our favorites from around the web – from designer wooden benches to practical budget-friendly selections, there’s something here for every budget and every style.
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Make a striking addition to the living room, home office, bedroom, or hallway with one of these rustic wooden wall art plaques.
Add a touch of texture and rustic flair to any area with a DIY wood wreath.
This one is a unique take on a traditional wreath using wood cross sections from a small tree (or wood rounds).
Wood rounds are sold at most craft stores, but you can also cut your own if you’ve just trimmed some large tree branches or chopped down a small tree.
This versatile wood wreath can be changed throughout the seasons. Add some holly and red and green ribbon for Christmas. Wrap a pastel-colored ribbon and faux Easter eggs when spring rolls around.
The possibilities for customization are as endless as your imagination!
This wreath isn’t just a door decoration. It’s an eye-catching piece for above a fireplace as well. You can even create multiples for a DIY wedding or baby shower decor.
Assembly takes just a few minutes, and it’s a great way to accent a rustic or farmhouse style. Plus, you can show off your crafty skills to the neighbors too.
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Feel free to get creative and glue another row of rounds to make the wreath thicker. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
1. Glue Wood Rounds to Floral Wreath
Begin by gluing the wood rounds edge-to-edge around the perimeter of a pre-made wood floral wreath frame using Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue. Feel free to get creative and glue another row of rounds to make the wreath thicker.
The Lobby of 1 Hotel Toronto provides inspiration for using biophilic design materials in our homes.
There are 14 Principles of Biophilic Design that we can use to create a home that brings nature into the built environment and benefits our mental and physical health and wellbeing. One of those principles is creating a material connection with nature. We can do this by using minimally processed natural materials and elements from nature that reflect the local ecology or geology to create a distinct sense of place.
By establishing a material connection with nature, we can create a home that feels richer, warmer and more authentic. We can also create a more sensory experience that draws not only on the visual connection to nature but one that is stimulating to our sense of touch.
In this post, I want to take a look at a selection of biophilic design materials that we can incorporate into our homes in order to harness the benefits that biophilic design has to offer.
Wood
The most obvious place to start is with wood. We all know that spending time outdoors in nature makes us feel better and creates positive physiological responses in the human body. We feel calmer, less stressed, less anxious, our pulse rate lowers and we generally feel better.
We can mimic this biophilic response to spending time in nature by bringing those materials, such as wood, into our homes. Studies have shown that an interior space with a wood ratio of 45% on the walls will boost our perception of comfort and lower our blood pressure.
It is best to try to use wood in its natural state for maximum benefit. We are drawn to the natural texture of wood and this is what we find to be one of its most attractive characteristics.
Visually we are also more attracted to wood in its natural state. We like to see the grain pattern, surface colour and features such as knots. The positive reaction we have to wood decreases when we these natural features are less perceptible.
Cork
Cork is one of my absolute favourite materials. I had the pleasure of learning all about it first-hand by visiting a cork oak forest in Portugal back in 2019. Cork is an absolutely remarkable material because it is so versatile. In recent years we have seen cork being used to create all sorts of home products from flooring and wallcoverings to furniture, storage, lighting, building facades, and even insulation.
What makes cork so special is how renewable it is. Cork can be harvested from a cork oak tree once it reaches 25 years of age with a trunk circumference of 70cm when measured 1.3m from the ground. After that, the harvest can be repeated every nine years as the tree needs this time to replenish its bark.
Cork trees store carbon in their bark and that carbon remains stored for the lifetime of the product that is made. This means that cork production is actually carbon positive as the process captures more carbon than it creates.
Cork production is also a circular process as no waste is created throughout the entire process and cork is completely recyclable.
There are many reasons that explain why cork is the perfect biophilic design material.
It is extremely lightweight (one of the lightest solid substances there is)
It can withstand a lot of pressure and bounces back easily so has great impact resistance
It has a high resistance to penetration by water
It is a great thermal insulator and has the same core temperature as human body temperature making it warm to the touch
It is a good sound insulator and absorbs vibrations
It is stable, tough, durable and hard-wearing.
And when used with minimal processing, resembling its natural state, it of course reminds us of tree bark and is extremely tactile.
Bamboo
Bamboo has grown in popularity recently but it is still a rather underrated biophilic design material. Bamboo is actually a type of fast-growing grass that is native to tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate climates and is most common in Asia and South America.
This means that it can withstand extreme changes in humidity and temperature and is therefore resistant to shrinking and swelling. As a material, it is strong, practical and durable. In fact, studies have shown that it is stronger than steel which makes it ideal for building furniture.
It usually reaches maturity between one and five years and can grow from 20 cm to 1 meter per day depending on the species. Once it reaches maturity it can be harvested and like cork, it doesn’t need to be replanted but regrows once it has been harvested.
Bamboo is an interesting choice of biophilic design material as it releases 35% more oxygen than other types of wood.
It is also very versatile and can be used to create flooring, furniture, lighting, fabric, storage, wall panels, home accessories, and even rugs.
Linen
Linen is a wonderful material that is made from the flax plant that grows especially well in Northern Europe. It has been used for centuries and is the world’s second most productive crop per hectare after hemp.
It outperforms cotton because it makes better use of the land through crop rotation and requires less water to grow. It also can be grown without the need for pesticides.
Linen is also biodegradable so it won’t clog up landfill or pollute the oceans as synthetic fibres do.
It is also a lovely material to have in your home as it is breathable and comfortable and this is why it is often used for bedding.
Rattan
Rattan is another great biophilic design material. Again it is completely natural as it is a climbing palm which develops as a vine in the jungle. It grows up tropical trees in the rainforest and can grow to be between 200 and 500 feet long. It is the quickest developing tropical wood that renews in only 5-7 years.
Once harvested the vines are usually cut into 13 feet lengths and left to dry in the sun. As a material, it is lightweight, durable, resilient and exceptionally sustainable.
Rattan also has air purifying properties as it converts CO2 into clean air.
As biophilic design is all about bringing the outside in, it makes sense that stone features on our list of biophilic design materials.
As a natural material, it is the veining, striping and speckling that we tend to be drawn to along with the earth-toned colour palette.
Stone also offers a variation in temperature compared to more organic materials such as wood and cork. Stone is cold to the touch because it has high thermal conductivity so heat flows from us to the stone quickly making it feel cooler than wood for example which has a lower conductivity.
Stone is a great way to add a biophilic response to the bathroom which is traditionally very white, sterile and lacking in texture.
How to Use Biophilic Design Materials in Your Own Home
When thinking about how to use biophilic design materials in your own home, first take a hard look around at your surrounds outside. What kind of landscape is there? What is the local ecology and geology like? Is your local area surrounded by woodlands and forest? Is it near to sandy beaches or craggy mountains?
Try to bring elements of your local landscape into your home because connecting with local natural materials is a great way establish that material connection with nature and support that sense of place and of belonging.
Try to bring in lots of textures that resemble minimally processed natural materials. Think of how those textures make you feel and choose ones that you can’t resist running your fingers over. But choose a variety of contrasting textures and temperatures.
We want to create an experience that engages all of our senses, not just our vision.
The Added Advantage of Biophilic Design Materials
The added benefit of using biophilic design materials is of course the sustainability factor. All of these natural materials are sustainable, eco-friendly, renewable, recyclable and biodegradable making them much better, not only for people, but also for the planet.
So you can rest assured that while you are doing something to benefit your own health and wellbeing, you are also doing your bit to protect the planet.
Calming white, pale grey, and soothing wood tone decor instils a sense of peace into these two Asian-inspired home designs. Wooden storage furniture is crafted around the perimeter of the interior to include decorative lattice sections, which give a stylistic nod to shoji screens. Rattan accents and wooden furniture pieces span both traditional and modern aesthetics that make a gentle tonal accompaniment for the natural timber elements. Each apartment design creates a spacious and welcoming abode with a minimalist yet warm approach. Lighting is soft and relaxing to ensure that nothing in the home is jarring nor dominant, so that everything flows in a serene balance.
In home design number one, the Asian influence is present from the get-go with a shoji-screen-inspired storage wall that stands as a focal point behind the living room couch.
The living room is a large and spacious design with a warm and welcoming appeal. The built-in wooden storage cabinets that trim the perimeter of the living room spread visual warmth and natural beauty.
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A rustic coffee table brings the warm wood tone accent to the centre of the lounge layout. A clean white tufted sofa wraps around the wooden coffee table in an inviting L-shape that promotes interaction and conversation.
A large area rug holds the lounge furniture layout together on one light and textural island.
Intriguing ornaments, a collection of coffee table books, and a wooden fruit bowl attractively adorn the wooden coffee table with equally earthy tones.
A cushioned lounge chair rounds out the lounge furniture arrangement. Its white upholstery uniformly matches the modular sofa design and tones with the jute rug.
Opposite the tufted sofa, a large wooden media unit is recessed into the wall stucco. In contrast to the rest of the living room, the wall stucco in this area is tinted a soft shade of brown to create a warm focal point. Bookshelves flank each side of the wall-mounted TV to create an attractive border and visual balance.
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The wall of wooden storage that draws around the back of the living room in an L-shape is actually the kitchen. Much of the kitchen is concealed behind flat-fronted wooden panels, leaving just the kitchen sink area open for immediate access.
A line of storage cupboards underlines the TV unit, providing neat hideaways for DVDs, gaming devices, and remote controls.
A tall living room floor lamp stands like an elegant paper lantern over in the corner of the room, where it gently chases away the shadows at dusk.
The rest of the lounge area is illuminated by directional track lights, which cut a thin black line across the ceiling. The edge-to-edge, floor-to-ceiling window is dressed with a translucent covering that allows natural daylight to filter into the living room whilst still providing a sense of privacy.
Recessed perimeter lights emit a pleasant glow around the edges of the living room, which allows the homeowners to create different atmospheric settings within their lighting plan. More books stack between the two lounge chairs in this book lovers’ living room.
An open doorway leads off the living room into the home entryway so that natural light may be shared between the lounge and the hallway. A built-in bench gives the homeowners somewhere to sit whilst putting on shoes.
Wood panelling matches the concealed kitchen to create an even run of wood tone across the living room entry.
A home workspace tucks tidily behind the sofa.
Wood flooring spans the entire open plan living space to maintain cohesivity, whilst the flooring in the hallway switches to a hard-wearing grey surface.
A rustic side table is teamed with decorative bowls and a small floor lamp to fashion an attractive vignette.
A side table fashioned from wooden crates accompanies the desk area, providing a home for more books and an indoor plant.
The desk is accessorised with a traditional table lamp.
Rattan doors conceal a stock of office supplies.
The second of our two featured home designs is an equally inviting residence, wrapped in natural wood tone cabinets.
A stem light draws attention to a plinth by the window.
In the centre of the lounge, a round coffee table sets down a wooden core. A modular gray sofa is arranged in a double-sided formation.
One side of the sofa looks upon an open bookcase and a bank of floating wooden cabinets to create a restful reading nook.
The opposite side of the sofa faces toward a drop-down projector screen.
The screen falls in front of a gallery wall, which gives the space an attractive focal point when the screen is retracted.
A light area rug gives the sofa area a soft anchor.
The living room draws around in an L-shape to adjoin the kitchen diner. A breakfast bar is crafted around a structural support column to create a positive out of a potential negative layout issue. Two wooden bar stools pull up alongside.
Three elegant pendant lights draw along the length of the bar. See more ideas for island lighting.
Behind the support column, the kitchen island is amalgamated with the dining table.
The master bedroom is a minimalist space with a bespoke wooden headboard design.
Slatted detailing gives the headboard a modern twist.
A small bedroom pendant light hangs above a floating bedside unit that appears to extrude from the wooden headboard.
Two facing walls of wardrobes create a dressing area.
A dressing table island makes good use of the wide space.
