Why Natural Materials & Textures Are the Soul of Biophilic Design in 2025
- The Jenny B Project
- Oct 24
- 6 min read
If last year was about bringing more plants indoors, this year it’s about what’s beneath them — the surfaces, textures and materials that reconnect us with nature in a deeper way. We’ve moved past the “green wall” phase and entered an era of sensory sustainability — design that doesn’t just look natural, but feels natural.
The Case for Material & Texture
From hand-finished oak tables to clay-plastered walls and woven grass textiles, choosing natural materials means creating a story — one that synthetic surfaces simply can’t match. Each texture carries a sense of imperfection: the grain of wood, the cool smoothness of stone, the subtle irregularities of linen. These tactile cues matter: research in environmental psychology shows that tactile variety and natural textures reduce stress and improve mood.
In simpler terms: that wood desk you’re at might be doing more for your wellbeing than your morning coffee.
Backed by Research: Health + Wellbeing + Sustainability
Here are some key findings and frameworks to ground this theme:
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) identifies “materials and textures” as part of the core elements of biophilic design — noting that authentic natural materials such as wood and stone help support human wellbeing in built environments.
A 2022 paper — “Biophilic design elements and natural materials in healthcare design” — specifically investigates how materials (not just daylight or vegetation) are an under-studied but important part of biophilic design.
Research on general biophilic design shows strong benefits: exposure to nature or nature-inspired environments correlates with reduced stress, faster recovery in healthcare settings, improved attention and cognitive outcomes.
Practical design culture articles point out that the use of natural materials (wood, stone, bamboo, rattan) is trending because they bring the outdoors in and accompany sustainable narratives.
So, the verdict: investing in materiality and texture is not just aesthetic—it’s meaningful for wellness, performance and sustainability.
What “Natural Materials & Textures” Mean in Practice
Here’s how to interpret the idea of natural materials & textures, and how to start applying it:
Key Materials & Textures
Wood: e.g., oak, ash, walnut; live-edge or reclaimed wood adds character and a sense of history.
Stone / Mineral: marble, limestone, slate, terrazzo with visible aggregates; these offer coolness, solidity and permanence.
Clay, Terracotta & Brick: walls, tiles, surfaces that carry rawness and a hand-crafted feel.
Natural Fabrics & Fibers: linen, cotton, wool, jute, felt — used for upholstery, curtains, rugs. They offer softness, depth and sensory richness.
Sustainable alternatives: bamboo, cork, rattan, woven cane — lighter environmental footprint and strong texture.
Raw Finishes / Textured Surfaces: plaster that shows trowel marks, wood with visible grain, stone with natural cleft — these encourage touch and visual variation.
Why Textures Matter
Textures make surfaces interesting, give depth to a space and engage more than just the eye — they invite touch, variation and imperfection, which can feel more “alive” and less sterile. That matters especially in modern interiors where many surfaces are slick, glossy and flat.
Materiality & Sustainability
Natural materials are trending partly because of their environmental credentials: reclaimed wood uses existing resources, fast-growing bamboo is renewable, and natural fabrics often have lower embodied energy. Using materials intentionally aligns wellbeing with sustainability.
How to Bring This into Your Home or Office
You don’t need to redesign an entire space to embrace this trend. Small strategic ideas can have outsized impact.
Quick-Win Moves
Swap one major piece: For example, a table or shelving unit in reclaimed wood or stone rather than a laminate.
Introduce textured wall finish: Clay, lime-wash or textured plaster adds depth to a feature wall.
Use natural-fiber rugs or linen curtains: Soft tactile layers that contrast with smoother built-in surfaces.
Layer lighting to highlight textures: Spot lighting or indirect lighting can accentuate grain, roughness, shadow and depth.
Mix synthetic with natural: If you can’t do everything, start with the surfaces you touch often (desk, chair arms, floor, textiles).
Consistency in smaller details: Use natural finish door handles, cabinetry in wood veneer, exposed joinery, visible material transitions.
Design Principles to Keep in Mind
Authenticity: Try to source genuine natural materials rather than vinyl or laminate mimics — authenticity adds psychological value.
Tactility: Choose materials you’ll touch or interact with. The sensory element matters.
Context & Scale: The size of the material piece and how it frames your space matters. A large pane of stone vs small tile changes the impact.
Balance: Too much rawness without refinement can feel rugged rather than calming. Balance with clean lines, subtle finishes, and natural light.
Maintenance & Durability: Some natural materials need care (e.g., untreated wood, porous stone). Factor in how the material will age — often this is part of its appeal (patina, wear) but needs to be managed.
Sustainability: Check sourcing, certifications, lifecycle. A reclaimed or responsibly harvested material is more in-unison with biophilic design’s ethos.
Spotlight: Texture + Material = Mood
Here are some illustrative material-combinations and the moods they evoke:
Warm, hand-finished oak + wool rug + linen upholstery → cozy, grounded, human-scaled.
Light stone (limestone or sandstone) + minimal joinery + woven cotton/fiber textiles → calm, minimalist yet tactile.
Cork wall panel + rattan chairs + clay-plastered accent wall → informal, relaxed, natural retreat.
Dark walnut + leather accent + visible joinery detail → refined, rich tactile sophistication.
Why Now? Why This Theme for 2025
Several cultural and industry-factors make this theme especially timely:
As we spend more time indoors (at home, remote-working, in hybrid offices), our built environment matters more for wellbeing. Materials are a key dimension of that.
Post-pandemic interest in wellness, sustainability, and authenticity is shifting design beyond mere “looks” into deeper sensory, emotional and ecological value.
Supply chain and environmental consciousness are nudging designers and consumers toward natural materials. This makes the aesthetic synonymous with responsibility.
The “biophilic” movement has matured: beyond just plants and greenery, it now emphasizes materials, textures, processes, and the experiential dimension of spaces.
Growing research is supporting claims of wellbeing benefits (even though more is needed) and making the case for investment in this area stronger.
Addressing Common Challenges
Of course, there are considerations and obstacles. Being aware and proactively managing them will strengthen your blog’s credentials.
Cost & Availability: Premium natural materials can cost more than mass-manufactured synthetics. The key is prioritizing where you deploy them.
Maintenance & Durability: Some natural materials age in ways that are desirable (patina) but require maintenance (wood refinishing, stone sealing).
Authenticity vs. Imitation: There are many materials marketed as “natural-look” laminates. The psychological effect is reduced unless the material is genuine. Research has shown that even imitation natural features may carry some benefit—but not as much as authentic natural elements.
Overuse/Overwhelm: Too much of a raw natural aesthetic can feel rustic or unfinished rather than refined. Balance is key.
Contextual Fit: The material must fit the space’s use-case, climate, maintenance regime and occupant needs.
Research Gaps: While much supports general biophilic design benefits, specific longitudinal studies on “natural materials only” are still limited. For example, the GWI notes “empirical evidence for other attributes, such as the use of natural materials or processes, is lacking.”
Conclusion & Invitation
As biophilic design matures, it’s increasingly clear that nature isn’t just something we add to a space—it’s something we build with. Choosing natural materials is therefore not just about style; it’s about reconnection. Every time we touch a wooden surface, feel the texture of stone, see the weave of linen, we’re reminded that we are part of a living ecosystem — not separate from it.
Your next step: Pick one surface in your space (home or office) that you interact with daily. Can you upgrade the material or texture to a natural alternative? Document how it makes you feel over the next 30 days. You might be surprised at how subtle material shifts affect mood, focus and comfort.
🪴 References
Global Wellness Institute. (2024). Biophilic design — Wellness evidence database. Global Wellness Institute.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Greening America’s buildings — Indoor air quality and natural materials. U.S. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/indoorairquality
U.S. General Services Administration. (2023). The Wellbuilt for Wellbeing program. Public Buildings Service, GSA. https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/design-and-construction/wellbuilt-for-wellbeing
University of Central Arkansas. (2021, March 30). Ways biophilic design promotes human health and well-being. UCA Department of Art. https://uca.edu/art/2021/03/30/ways-biophilic-design-promotes-human-health-and-well-being/
Vujcic, M., Tomicevic-Durdevic, M., & Milovanovic, M. (2022). Biophilic design elements and natural materials in healthcare design. Journal of Green Building, 19(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3992/jgb.19.3.1
Kellert, S. R., & Calabrese, E. F. (2015). The practice of biophilic design. Yale University Press.
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. (2024). Biophilic design: Integrating nature into modern interiors. RMCAD Blog. https://www.rmcad.edu/blog/biophilic-design-integrating-nature-into-modern-interiors/
The Interior Design Institute. (2024). The rise of biophilic design: Bringing nature indoors. The Interior Design Institute. https://www.theinteriordesigninstitute.com/ca/en/blog-the-rise-of-biophilic-design-bringing-nature-indoors
Lavender & Laurel Home Design Studio. (2024). The best natural materials for a biophilic interior design — 7 ideas. Lavender & Laurel Home. https://www.lavenderandlaurelhome.com/post/the-best-natural-materials-for-a-biophilic-interior-design-7-ideas
Modern Mill. (2025). Top biophilic design trends of 2025. Modern Mill Insights. https://modern-mill.com/insights/top-biophilic-design-trends-of-2025/
EBSCO Research Starters. (2023). Biophilic design. EBSCO Information Services. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biology/biophilic-design
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