Written by the Trendy Gardener Design Team — Des Moines, Iowa
Trendy Gardener designs, installs, and maintains living plant environments that transform commercial and residential spaces. From custom living walls and preserved moss installations to full-scale interior plantscaping programs, we connect the built environment with nature — because well-designed spaces grow better from the inside out.
Our positioning: Living Design — from Concept to Care. We handle every phase: site assessment, custom design, professional installation, and ongoing plant maintenance. One partner. Complete accountability.
Biophilic design is the intentional integration of natural elements — living plants, natural light, water, organic materials, and nature-inspired forms — into built environments. The term derives from biologist E.O. Wilson's biophilia hypothesis, which describes the innate human tendency to seek connection with nature and other living systems.
In practice, biophilic design moves beyond placing a potted plant in a corner. It involves strategic placement of living and preserved botanical elements, careful attention to light and scale, and an understanding of how organic forms interact with architectural space. The result is an environment that supports human health, reduces stress, improves focus, and creates a sense of place that feels designed — not accidental.
Trendy Gardener applies biophilic design principles to commercial and residential projects across Des Moines and Central Iowa, from single-room residential consultations to multi-floor corporate plantscaping programs.
The case for bringing nature indoors is well-documented. Below is what the research shows — and what our clients consistently experience.
Exposure to natural elements in the workplace measurably reduces physiological stress. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that workers in plant-enhanced office environments reported significantly lower stress and anxiety compared to those in plant-free spaces. Research from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's COGfx Study links improved indoor environmental quality — including access to natural elements — with cognitive function scores up to 101% higher than conventional office conditions.
Biophilic design supports Terrapin Bright Green's 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design framework, which identifies nature-based interventions proven to support human wellbeing in built environments.
Living plants interact with indoor air through transpiration and phytoremediation. While no single plant replaces mechanical air filtration, strategically placed plant installations contribute to humidity regulation and reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration in enclosed spaces.
Preserved moss installations provide a secondary benefit: acoustic dampening. The dense, porous structure of preserved moss absorbs and diffuses sound, reducing ambient noise levels in open-plan offices, restaurants, and commercial lobbies. This aligns with the WELL Building Standard's acoustic comfort guidelines for healthier work environments.
The Human Spaces global workplace study by Interface found that employees working in environments incorporating natural elements reported 15% higher wellbeing scores and 6% higher productivity ratings than those in environments without biophilic elements. For businesses investing in commercial interiors, the ROI of biophilic design extends beyond aesthetics — it reaches absenteeism rates, talent retention, and client perception of brand quality.