Why Biophilic Design Matters and 10 Ways You Can Use It

Hello ,

Biophelia speaks to our innate need to connect with nature. After all, we’ve been in this human existence for hundreds of thousands of years, yet have lived in a built environment for about 20 thousand of those years. Our biology expects us to be in nature. This is where we are happiest and healthiest, our most creative, and our most productive. We can leverage the patterns of biophilic design to align this biological need within the design of our homes and offices. Learn 10 ways you can incorporate elements of biophilic design into your space.

I’m always grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on organizations doing meaningful work in our local community, and The Pony Express is one I’m especially happy to share with you. Founded by Linda Aldrich in 1982, the Pony Express is a community-based equine rescue organization dedicated to mentoring kids and committed to creating life skill and leadership learning opportunities utilizing horses as teachers, healers and agents of change.

On Sunday, November 8, The Pony Express invites you to its ranch in Santa Rosa for its 15th Annual Horse Show and Fundraiser. There will be pony rides, opportunities to meet the horses, and horsemanship demonstrations featuring students from their equine-assisted learning programs. I hope you’ll take a moment to learn more about this wonderful organization, the work they’re doing, and how you can join us in supporting the kids and horses at the heart of it.

I often talk about the importance of considering not only how the materials we bring into our homes look and perform, but also how they affect our health, our environment, and the people who work with them. A recent article examining the alarming rise of silicosis among California stone fabricators brings an important dimension to that conversation. The risks associated with silica dust from cutting and fabricating engineered stone are affecting hundreds of workers and raising serious questions about the materials we specify for our homes

Have you ever walked into a home and immediately felt at ease? Not because it was extravagant, but because something about it simply felt right. And then you return to your own home. It may be perfectly nice, even beautiful in places, but somehow it doesn’t give you that same feeling.

This is something I hear often. People like their home, but they don’t love it. They know something feels not-quite-right; something just feels “off”. Or they simply wish it felt more “pulled together”. Almost always, the next sentence is: “I think I need a designer… but that’s probably out of my budget.” And for a long time, that assumption made sense.

But here’s what many people don’t realize: You don’t need to do everything, to change everything. Sometimes, transforming how your home feels starts with just one room. One space that becomes a foundation. One space that finally feels like you. And that’s where a different approach to design can make all the difference.

I'm honored to be included among the Top 5 Influential Women Defining 2026. I'm deeply grateful for the recognition and to be in the company of these talented women who are making a meaningful impact in their respective fields. The women featured in this list represent a diverse range of expertise and accomplishments.

Click below learn how today’s leading women are not only building successful careers and companies, they are also shaping conversations, inspiring communities, and opening doors for future generations.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to members of the Economic Round Table of San Francisco about Biophilic Design. I would like to say thank you for your kind words and feedback. It truly filled me with so much joy.

"I hadn't heard of Biophilic design and was intrigued by its exquisite sensitivity to nature, both outside our bodies and inside. You described the elements that bring peace and perspective in ones surroundings—things I had really never thought about.

"You showed how deeper feelings of safety and inspiration can be supported by selecting the right location, view, light, furnishings, fabric-the myriad of small decisions that make up an affirming environment. The breadth of your knowledge comes from long study and experience. You have learned to weave these small decisions together consciously into an integrated interior. What a gift to your clients." - Karen Crommie of the Economic Round Table