A House in the Woods and a Design Philosophy I Didn't Know Existed

The human/nature connection.

When a Home Feels Like It Belongs

My husband and I spent a few days in Stillwater, Minnesota last week. We stayed in a cozy little retreat on a wooded property right near downtown.

The retreat itself was wonderful, but I found myself equally fascinated by the main house.

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It was built sometime in the early ‘90s, from what I understand, and has a very distinct contemporary style. Lots of dark wood, interesting rooflines, enormous windows, and some dark teal trim that I probably would have chosen differently. I couldn’t tell you exactly why I loved the house so much. Something about the place just worked.

The most noticeable thing to me was how the house sat within the landscape. It was surrounded by mature trees and natural-looking gardens, and nothing about it felt forced. As if the house had grown there along with everything else.

When we got home, I started looking into the architectural style and came across a term I hadn’t heard before: biophilic design.

Rabbit hole officially opened.

Biophilic design is the practice of curating spaces that connect us more closely with nature. It’s based on the idea that humans have an inherent connection to the natural world, and that bringing nature into our built environments can impact how we feel.

It can be the way natural light moves through a room, the materials we choose, the views from our windows, or even creating a little corner where we feel comfortable and tucked away.

The more I read about it, the more I realize how much of it aligns with what I’ve always loved about interiors.

I’m drawn to natural materials, earthy colors, interesting textures, and pieces that have a little history to them. I like spaces that feel lived in and collected over time. Not everything needs to match, and not everything needs to be new.

But I’ve also been thinking more about the difference between a room that looks good in a photograph and one that actually feels good to spend time in.

I think sometimes we get so caught up in how our homes look that we forget to consider how we experience them. The little areas we are always drawn to sit in. How the light shifts throughout the day. Whether a room feels comfortable or just looks put together.

I’m absolutely guilty of getting caught up in the visual details. Occupational hazard, I guess.

That house in Stillwater was a reminder that some of the things I appreciate most about a space have almost nothing to do with what is currently trending.

I don’t think every home needs to look like a woodland retreat, and I definitely don’t think we need another decorating trend to follow.

I love the idea of paying more attention to the tie between our homes, nature, and how it all makes us feel.

I plan to explore this concept more, both personally and through Wild Fern Spaces.

Notice the details and let them subtly shape the world you live in.