Nature’s Blueprint: How A Forest Inspires Design
I mentioned in my last blog post that I spent some time in the North Carolina mountains this past April. While I was there, I found myself outdoors every single day- after all, how could I resist? It was 70 and sunny, and the landscape was bursting with springtime bloom. I watched leaves and flowers open almost right in front of my eyes. It was magical.
Amidst all that breathtaking beauty, I began reading a book entitled Shinrin-Yoku by Professor Yoshifumi Miyazaki.
Dr. Miyazaki is a leading researcher in the field of nature therapy at institutions like Chiba University and the Japanese Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute. The title Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) translates to “forest bathing.”
The first time I heard the phrase, I laughed at the visual of taking a bath in the forest. But then, I have clients that love their outdoor showers so maybe not that different. But as I read more, I saw quickly that it’s not about taking a bath at all – it’s about immersing ourselves in the natural environment, especially a forest, to reduce stress and support both mental and physical well-being.
Tell me that does not sound like something we all want to do. My immediate reaction? YES PLEASE.
This is a sanctuary practice.
The practice itself is wonderfully simple: it’s about mindfully spending time in nature, unplugged and fully present. Often, this means taking a slow, quiet walk through the woods, using all five senses to absorb the natural world. Listening to birdsong or the rustling of leaves. Touching the bark of a tree. Smelling pine or blooming wildflowers. Watching sunlight flicker through the canopy. Even tasting the freshness of the air with each deep breath.
As many of you know, I often speak about the healing power of nature through ideas like soft fascination, wintering, or sacred geometry. So it felt only natural that, surrounded by towering trees and the hush of the woods, I’d begin exploring even more deeply the ways that nature restores us.
Without even realizing it, I’d already been practicing forest bathing during my mountain retreat. The psychological effects were immediate: a deep calm settled in, stress and anxiety fell away, and a quiet clarity took its place. But I noticed other shifts too, the kind you don’t always expect: my breathing felt easier, I was sleeping more soundly, and I even had more energy.
While shinrin-yoku intuitively makes sense, I have been struck by how much science supports what I was experiencing. A 2021 review of 33 separate studies on the healing properties of nature found that spending time in natural environments significantly enhances immune function by reducing inflammation and increasing activity in the cells that defend the body from illness. Another study suggests that exposure to biodiversity in our natural settings introduces us to beneficial microorganisms that play a key role in regulating the immune system and reducing chronic inflammation.
In other words, nature doesn't just feel good, it’s actually good for us.
So for the rest of my time in North Carolina, I embraced shinrin-yoku with intention. I slowed down. I listened more closely. I let the forest in.
Now that I’m back in Naples, access to lush forests isn’t quite as easy, but I still seek out nature wherever I can. Sometimes it’s a quiet morning walk around the lake in my neighborhood. Other days, it’s a visit to the Botanical Gardens or a kayak through Gordon River Greenway. And still I feel nature’s healing presence in all of these places. The moss hanging in the trees, butterflies floating on the breeze, the sunlight sparkling on open water, they gently pull me back into the spirit of shinrin-yoku.
On an even more intimate scale, I’ve been exploring how to bring elements of that forest tranquility into my home and studio. While no built environment can fully replicate the biological complexity of a centuries-old forest, what if we could capture its essence? What if we filled our spaces with living plants that purify the air, introduced natural textures that invite touch, and used materials and palettes that reflect the quiet beauty of the natural world? Could we design environments that offer the same emotional and physiological benefits as shinrin-yoku?
I believe we can. Through thoughtful, intentional design, we have the power to bring the healing energy of the forest indoors—to create sanctuaries that support our well-being, soothe our nervous systems, and reconnect us to something timeless and true.
So, what do you think- will you try forest bathing sometime soon? Or maybe you’ve already experienced its effects without even realizing it. I’d love to hear- leave a comment and tell me about it!
With love and gratitude,
Lisa