11 Biophilic Bathroom Ideas to Create an Indoor Oasis

Are you running out of places to put your growing houseplant collection? Instead of crowding your bedroom windowsill with more plants, apply the biophilic design trend to your bathroom. 

The biophilic trend incorporates elements that invoke the natural world into your home design. Biophilic bathrooms are the perfect place to start mixing this trend into your home to create a peaceful, nature-inspired oasis. Check out these 11 biophilic bathroom ideas that are sure to make a splash. 

1. Add Touches of Green

Transforming your bathroom into a biophilic paradise won’t necessarily require a remodel. If you’re lucky enough to have a window in your bathroom to let in natural light, you’re already halfway there. 

Houseplants love bathrooms, especially those with nice lighting because the natural humidity from running your shower keeps them healthy. Add shelving next to your vanity to create more space to store products and, of course, small plants. You can also strategically hang a mirror to reflect the natural greenery outside. Even something as simple as painting the mirror or a picture frame in the complementary shade of green can invoke that biophilic peace of mind. 

2. Create an Outdoor Oasis

There’s one surefire way to evoke the feeling of being in nature when you’re in your bathroom: Put your bathroom—or at least your bathtub—outside. If you live in a climate with milder winters and have a secluded spot in your yard, adding an outdoor shower or bathtub can give you a magical escape from the world. This outdoor bath at The Red Door, an Airbnb in Hobart, Tasmania has enough shelter to block the rain and, although the property is in the heart of the city, appears like a natural oasis. 

3. Eau de Toilette

Biophilic bathrooms often focus on adding plants and greenery around the shower or bath area, but you can take it to the next level by utilizing the space around your toilet. Line your above-the-toilet shelves with natural materials and plant-inspired decor, such as wicker baskets and ceramic cactus, to add to the feeling of being surrounded by plants. There’s enough function in this style, too, for storing practical necessities.

4. Bathe in the Natural Light

One of the emerging trends in biophilic bathroom design is placing a tub directly in front of a large or floor-to-ceiling window to seemingly bring the outdoors inside. While traditional bathrooms limited the number of windows or used opaque window treatments for privacy reasons, the techniques of two-way glass and strategic window placement have made it possible to incorporate large windows. This home is in a busy part of Miami, Florida, but step inside that soaker tub, and you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a tropical forest. 

5. Go Plantless

Adding plants isn't the only way to create a biophilic bathroom in your home. All you need is a room with an unobstructed view so you can take in nature’s beauty from the bathroom. If the lines of the design in your bathroom are simple, a large picture window overlooking the garden appears more like a work of art than a way to let the light in. 

This bathroom by Mariah Shaw Design kept lines clean using a lucite stool and a glass shower surround. The space has a neutral color palette that complements the outdoor scenery while staying unique to the homeowner. 

6. Create a Golden Glow

Not every bathroom has expansive windows and deep tubs. However, even the smallest powder rooms can embrace biophilic design elements. By being mindful of the lighting and choosing materials seen in nature, a plain space can become a natural haven. 

Replicating imagery found in nature is also a signature characteristic of biophilic design. Stacey Lapuk of Stacey Lapuk Interiors custom-designed this vanity and had it cast by a local ironworker. The lighting mimics the organic branching shapes below the sink, and the sink is made of a translucent honey onyx. Lapuk strategically placed a light at the base so that when lit, the entire sink glows. Her choice of warm, organic colors shows that biophilic design can reach beyond houseplant placement. 

7. Go to the Dark Side

Due to the association with natural airflow and materials, many biophilic bathroom designs feature lighter color palettes and large windows. But in nature, there are also caverns and dark spaces, and most biophilic designers try to incorporate at least one moody corner or room where homeowners can retreat from the world's constant light pollution. In this bathroom, the dark wall and tub accents contrast well with the patterned tile and pops of greenery. 

8. Swap the Space

If an outdoor bathtub isn’t in the cards, you can use biophilic design elements to create a space that appears to be entirely outdoors even when enclosed. Consider using non-traditional materials for your walls, such as exterior rock and slate flooring. By contrast, you can also think about an exterior area of your home to enclose or partially enclose, like a paver patio, to create an indoor-outdoor oasis. Adding an atypical roof also allows plenty of light to flood the space while still protecting it from the outdoor elements. 

9. Fake It Until You Make It

You don’t have to have a green thumb to take advantage of the biophilic bathroom design trend. Even artificial plants can aid you in making a visual connection to nature, especially when paired with other natural materials. Consider using bamboo or wood on the walls or adding wicker baskets and wooden planters to achieve a similar atmosphere without managing a watering schedule.  

10. Replicate Natural Designs

Don’t get stuck on the idea that everything needs to be green or white to be biophilic. Biophilic design also includes aquatic animals, plants, and water features. Marry your personal tastes with elements of biophilic design to design a bathroom you won’t want to leave. 

By using a tile pattern that replicates a design in nature, there’s near-instant tranquility and connection to nature. Adding plants and soft lighting can further the magical effect. A local professional tile installer can help you replicate this concept in your own home.

11. Bathe in Moonlight

If there’s one thing to splurge on during your bathroom redesign, it’s a beautiful bathtub. You can think outside of the traditional bathtub shapes and look for one that could occur in nature. This crescent moon-shaped tub is not only unexpected; it brings to mind the night sky. Complemented by natural wood floors that run seamlessly into the deck, the outside feels like  part of the room. If you’re inspired to redesign your bathroom, consult a local bathroom remodeling company.