Carole Rollins, Ph.D.

(Click on above title for complete essay)

Imagine a living space harmoniously integrated with nature. There would be earth, water, flowing streams, waterfalls, hills, rocks, plants, natural light, and trees both inside and outside.

My dream is to create indoor spaces that incorporate natural elements in their least altered state—as unprocessed as possible. In my dream, invisible envelopes define living spaces that blend seamlessly with nature. Each dwelling becomes a living, breathing, organic entity, which I call an "Earth Spirit."

To turn this dream into reality, I designed three home interiors that integrate natural elements into interior spaces. This is my first step toward a nature-infused future. My experiences in nature inspired my designs.

My first experience started when my 80-year-old mother, Gladys, left our family home and moved to a suburban apartment. I fondly remember the times James, my husband, and I spent with Mom on her porch, feeding the ducks on the lake in her backyard. James even gave her home a nickname, "Camp Gladys," because it felt like a luxurious vacation every time we visited.

These memories inspired me to create an interior design that captured the essence of "Camp Gladys." Here are a few ways I transformed a living room into a peaceful retreat. Rock walls of delicate ferns and vibrant plants greet you as you enter. A cascading waterfall and a majestic mountain view await you. Picture a child feeding the fish in the pond and relaxing with your family after a long day. Immersed in nature, you feel an emotional bond with it.

Research confirms the strong connection between humans and nature. Studies show that having nature indoors has a positive impact on mental health. For example, a 2025 study indicates that indoor plants and natural elements help create calming spaces that improve well-being.

These studies confirm that connecting with nature has a positive impact, which matches my experiences. Another time, when I was living in a city, I needed an escape from the frenzy and chaos of urban living. I drove to the mountains and found serenity. I lay down on the cool forest floor beside a gently flowing creek. As nature embraced me, I drifted off to sleep. The churning of city life dissolved, and my life-force energy returned as I reconnected with the natural world.

My passion is to bring the life-force energy of natural elements into our daily lives. Imagine waking up in a bedroom filled with small and large tropical plants and trees. Every morning, you hear the soft sound of water tumbling over rocks into a pond. Your day would begin in a serene oasis.

Research supports the idea that water features provide health benefits indoors. The soothing sounds of water in our indoor spaces can help us relax and unwind in a serene environment. A 2025 study also found that having still or flowing water indoors can improve physical health and well-being.

Indoor water features offer health benefits, too. Moving water can improve air quality indoors by increasing the oxygen levels. An Environmental Science and Pollution Research Journal article shows that oxygen has a positive effect on mood and alertness. The air around waterfalls and streams is rich in oxygen. Thus, creating moving water features indoors can contribute to a healthier indoor environment.

I've also had experiences with nature in urban areas. In college, I lived in a unique three-sided barn in a city. I turned the open side of the barn into a vegetable garden. At night, I'd curl up in my sleeping bag on a cot with the soft glow from my propane lantern. I rested in the quiet ambiance close to nature. Each morning, the plants and sun would fill me with their joy and wonder.

This outdoor barn bedroom experience sparked my imagination. I recreated that garden experience by designing an indoor kitchen garden. Imagine the fresh scents of lemon, basil, and mint surrounding you, reminding you of the natural world. You could pick tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and herbs right in your kitchen. Family and friends could enjoy meals of spaghetti, salads, and vegetable dishes. With every bite of food, you'd feel a deeper connection to the natural world.

I watch in amazement and wonder each time I see a seed sprout and emerge from the earth. Witnessing birth and renewal in nature gives me hope for personal and planetary healing.

Plants and water features also offer significant environmental benefits by improving indoor air quality.

Green plants act as air filters, absorbing, filtering, and removing indoor pollutants. This purification process creates a healthy indoor environment. Researchers are using green plants in botanical biofiltration systems for larger-scale applications.

Indoor plants increase relative humidity, regulate temperatures, and absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) through transpiration and photosynthesis. Indoor plants are a sustainable strategy for enhancing indoor air quality and aiding in carbon management.

According to a 2025 water conservation article, water features also provide environmental benefits by cooling the air indoors through evaporation in hot climates and adding moisture in colder regions.

By bringing plants and water features indoors, we care for both our planet and future generations.

Tonight, as the moon and stars hover on the horizon, imagine your future home. Picture plants climbing on invisible trellises, forming living walls that separate rooms. A gentle stream would meander through hallways, with arched bridges and vine-covered trellises. Glass atriums would open to the sky, creating a magical, mystical, nature-filled paradise.

Now close your eyes and feel what it would be like listening to the melodic rhythm of nature's sounds and feeling the warmth of light and wonder.

As we bring nature indoors, we become fused with the "Earth Spirits" that we create—interconnected and intertwined—with nature's life-force energy. We remember why we want to protect our planet and prevent further climate change destruction. This is my dream for our future.

This article was published in the Journal of Biophillic Design, Nov/Dec Issue 2025. Click here for a link to the article.