Biophilic Interior Design: How to Bring Nature into Your Gardenless HDB Flat

PUBLISHED January 21st, 2022 05:00 am | UPDATED July 22nd, 2024 05:51 pm

These past two years have left us spending a lot of time cooped up indoors. But whilst hunkered down in our homes, we’ve grown to truly appreciate the outdoors – the colourful flowers, crisp smells of freshly cut grass, and soothing greenery. Itching to bring some of that natural beauty into your sadly gardenless HDB home in Singapore? We’ve put together our most creative tips on biophilic design to bring the outdoors inside – think vertical gardens, natural stone sinks, and more.

Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner

Getting plants is easy – it’s the styling that’s tough. Buying a plant and placing it in the corner of your living room is, well, plain old boring. The secret is to strike a balance between the spartan and cluttered look, by grouping odd numbers of potted plants and varying them in heights for an inviting, aesthetically pleasing look. Think tall and skinny married perfectly with short and stubby, positioned alongside a medium sized plant with a more dramatic foliage. Proportion is key!

For inspiration: Kickstart your leafy life with our guide on where to get plants online in Singapore. But if you haven’t got the green thumb or the time to take care of a party of houseplants, check out HipVan for faux plants. Get a triad going with the realistic looking Potted Faux Bayan Tree (S$169), Potted Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant (S$49.90), and the elegant Faux Green Taro Plant in Brass Planter (S$19.90).

Make Use of Your Living Room Walls

You can’t use ‘having no floor space’ as an excuse anymore – it’s time to work those walls! Make a statement with a fabulous vertical garden that will leave everyone’s jaws on the floor. Forget diffusers and air purifiers and create a zen atmosphere with an attractive kaleidoscope of flora and fauna which will also naturally improve your air quality indoors.

For inspiration: Vertical Green’s HyGro™ Wall are ideal for both indoor & outdoor conditions. This hassle-free and low-maintenance garden system is only 16mm in thickness and  fully equipped with cutting-edge automated irrigation and fertigation systems, so all you have to do is sit and admire!

Spruce Up The Kitchen

Yes, your kitchen has a spice rack, but does it have a herb garden? Taste the freshness of organic herbs all year long by conveniently growing your own produce at home – we’re talking basil, mint, coriander and everything in between. Whether you’re adopting hanging potted plants or going with full-on hydroponics kits, this design technique easily elevates any bland kitchen in no time.

For inspiration: Click and Grow is making growing your own nutritious produce as easy as making a cup of coffee. The self-sustaining Smart Garden 3 (S$189.90) comes fully fitted with biodomes, professional lights and a watering tank for easy home farming. All you have to do is add the plant pods into the system, fill up the water tank, plug the machine in, and watch it work its magic.

Forget Headboards – Wall Murals are The Next Big Thing

Green up your bland bedroom instantly with an eye-catching nature-inspired mural for an accent wall. Whether it’s gigantic green leaves, blooming flowers, or landscapes of forests, pretty sunsets, or mountains, your imagination’s the limit. If patterns aren’t your thing, incorporate splashes of solid green paint or earthy lime-wash on your walls to add character. Be sure to keep the rest of the colours in the room subdued, to avoid having your interiors looking too loud and distracting.

For inspiration: Practically a museum for wallpapers, Honpo is the place to go if you’re looking for loud prints, geometric shapes, and eclectic motifs. For that fierce look we recommend the Tropical Foliage Anthracite by MINDTHEGAP (S$340 per roll). Looking for something more easy on the eye? Try the Palette Palm tree | 88458 by Shinhan (S$158) which charms with relaxing beige and golden hues.

Sink into the Natural Beauty of Stones

Looking to incorporate some rustic flair in your modern apartment? Ditch your ordinary bathroom sink with some inspiration from Balinese outdoor bathrooms – rustic-luxe natural stone sinks. Bask in the soothing elegance of the unique specks, swirls and veining of granite, marble, soapstone, and onyx as you get ready for the day. You can also use pebble and stones throughout your bathroom in the form of wall tiles for an all-around outdoor effect.

For inspiration: Heavy-duty fixtures call for professionals, but here are some quick ideas to get you thinking. A natural stone basin (S$275) screams a combination of contemporary and industrial designs. Meanwhile, this simple Imperial Vessel Natural Stone Basin (S$620.60) is perfect for any home.

Make the Natural Details Matter

Conjure up the outdoors by focusing on furnishings made with natural materials – think jute rugs, wooden tables, rattan chairs, and terracotta vases. For your cushions and rugs, pick out natural fabrics such as wool or botanical prints to complete the rustic look. After all, details matter! For a chic natural centrepiece that you can DIY, try your hand at a terrarium. It’s simple enough to create your tiny whimsical garden, decorate it with pebbles, and fill it with adorable succulents.

For inspiration: Check out the boho-chic furniture at Irregular Lines. You’ll be hard-pressed to not buy up their whole eco-friendly and sustainable furniture collection, but our top picks are the Steiner Round Carpet ($S169), Frankfurt Rattan Chair (S$145), and the Reclaimed Teakwood Side Table ($245).

Top Image: Patrick Perkins on Unsplash