Healthy Materials Advisory
Healthier materials, finishes and furniture for interior design projects
Biofilico advises clients and project teams on healthier materials, finishes, furniture and interior specifications.
Our Healthy Materials Advisory service is designed for real estate, hospitality, workplace, education and residential projects where the quality of the indoor environment matters — and where conventional material choices may need to be reviewed through a health and wellbeing lens.
We help developers, owners, architects, interior designers and private clients make more informed decisions about the materials used inside a building.
This includes reviewing proposed specifications, identifying potential health concerns, recommending healthier alternatives and helping the project team create interiors that are lower in unnecessary chemical burden, more comfortable to occupy and better aligned with a credible wellness brief.
materials matter
Why materials matter
Interior materials influence more than the visual character of a space.
They affect indoor air quality, perceived comfort, sensory experience, durability, maintenance, sustainability and the long-term wellbeing of the people using the building.
Paints, adhesives, flooring, wallcoverings, composite timber, upholstery, sealants, foams, finishes and furniture can all contribute to the quality of the indoor environment.
A healthier materials strategy can help reduce exposure to unnecessary volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, flame retardants, PFAS, phthalates and other chemicals of concern where relevant to the project.
This does not mean every project needs rare, expensive or highly specialist materials. In many cases, the value comes from reviewing the specification early, avoiding problematic products, asking better questions of suppliers and choosing healthier alternatives where they are practical, durable and commercially viable.
expert advisors
Who this service is for
Healthy Materials Advisory is suitable for clients who want healthier interiors without necessarily appointing Biofilico as the full interior design team.
We typically work with:
real estate developers
private residential clients
hotel and resort owners
workplace clients and office tenants
universities and education clients
wellness club and spa operators
architects and interior designers
project managers
procurement teams
fit-out contractors and suppliers
The service can be commissioned as a standalone review, or integrated into Biofilico’s wider wellness interior design work.
when to hire us
When to appoint Biofilico
Clients typically appoint us when materials and finishes have already been proposed, but there is concern that the specification may not fully align with the wellness ambition of the project.
This may happen when:
a client wants a healthier home, office, hotel or amenity space
a developer wants to strengthen the credibility of a wellness-led scheme
an interior designer needs specialist input on healthy materials
a project team wants to reduce VOCs or chemical exposure
a private client is concerned about paints, flooring, furniture or joinery
a hotel, spa or wellness club wants finishes that support a calmer and healthier guest experience
a university or workplace wants interiors that better support comfort and wellbeing
a project has a wellness narrative but the specification does not yet support it
The earlier materials are reviewed, the more useful this service becomes. However, we can also provide targeted input during design development, procurement or value engineering.
focus areas
What we review
Our review can cover a wide range of interior materials, finishes and furnishings.
Depending on the project, this may include:
paints and coatings
adhesives and sealants
flooring
wall finishes and wallcoverings
timber and composite wood products
joinery and millwork materials
furniture and upholstery
fabrics and textiles
acoustic materials
insulation and soft finishes where relevant
mattresses, bedding and soft furnishings for hospitality or residential projects
cleaning and maintenance implications
supplier information and product documentation
We focus on the materials most likely to affect indoor environmental quality, user comfort and the credibility of the wellness design strategy.
our process
Materials Review
We review the proposed materials, finishes, furniture or product specifications provided by the client or design team.
This may include finish schedules, moodboards, supplier information, product data sheets, interior design presentations or procurement lists.
At this stage, we identify materials that may require further clarification, additional documentation or possible substitution.
Health & Wellness Assessment
We assess the specification through a practical health and wellbeing lens.
This may include reviewing potential concerns relating to VOCs, formaldehyde, flame retardants, PFAS, phthalates, synthetic treatments, composite materials, adhesives, coatings, ventilation context, durability and maintenance.
The objective is not to create unnecessary complexity. It is to identify the main risk areas and provide clear, proportionate recommendations.
Alternative Recommendations
Where appropriate, we recommend healthier material directions or alternative product types.
This may include lower-emission paints, healthier flooring, natural or bio-based materials, improved upholstery choices, solid timber alternatives, lower-toxicity adhesives, more breathable finishes or suppliers with stronger environmental and health documentation.
We aim to balance health, design quality, availability, durability, maintenance and budget.
Specification Guidance
We provide guidance that the client, architect, interior designer or procurement team can use during design development, tendering or fit-out.
Depending on the scope, this may include a written report, marked-up specification, red / amber / green review, recommended substitutions, supplier questions or design team notes.
our deliverables
Typical deliverables
Depending on the project, Biofilico’s Healthy Materials Advisory deliverables may include:
healthy materials review
finishes and furniture specification review
red / amber / green assessment
materials risk register
recommended healthier alternatives
supplier questions and documentation requests
low-VOC and low-toxicity materials guidance
healthy finishes strategy
procurement notes
design team comments
client-facing recommendations report
design review meeting or workshop
The exact scope is tailored to the project stage, available documentation and level of detail required.
materials by sector
Residential Projects
For private residences, build-to-rent and residential developments, healthy materials can support better indoor air quality, comfort and long-term wellbeing.
This may include paints, flooring, joinery, cabinetry, furniture, mattresses, textiles and soft furnishings.
Hotels & Resorts
For hotels and resorts, healthier materials can support guest wellbeing, sleep quality, sensory comfort and brand credibility, particularly in wellness-led rooms, suites, spas and amenity spaces.
Workplaces
For workplaces, material choices can influence indoor air quality, perceived comfort, acoustics, visual calm and the overall employee experience.
This is especially relevant in enclosed offices, meeting rooms, focus areas and restorative spaces.
Universities & Student Living
For education and student living projects, healthy materials can support more comfortable, durable and lower-toxicity shared environments.
This is relevant for study spaces, lounges, wellbeing rooms, gyms, student housing amenities and high-use interiors.
designing with materials
How this connects to interior design
Healthy Materials Advisory can be commissioned as a standalone review, such as the one we delivered for the Al-Wajba Palace project in Doha, Qatar or integrated into Biofilico’s full wellness interior design service.
When integrated into a design appointment, material health is considered from the beginning of the concept and specification process.
When commissioned as a standalone advisory service, we can support an existing client team by reviewing the proposed specification and providing recommendations before procurement, fit-out or construction.
This gives clients flexibility depending on the project stage and the structure of the design team.
related services
Wellness Strategy for Real Estate
For developers, owners and operators seeking to define the wellness proposition for a real estate asset, hospitality project, residential development or mixed-use destination.
Healthy Building Advisory
For projects requiring practical healthy building input from an interiors, user experience and wellbeing perspective.
Wellness Interior Design
For clients seeking interior design services from concept through schematic, detailed design and technical coordination for wellness-led spaces.
Restorative Spaces & Wellness Amenities
For dedicated spaces such as quiet rooms, recharge rooms, wellbeing lounges, recovery areas and wellness-led amenities.
Make healthier choices before procurement
The best time to improve a material specification is before procurement decisions have been fixed.
We help clients and project teams identify healthier options early enough for those choices to influence the final interior.
This creates spaces that are not only visually resolved, but also more aligned with the wellbeing claims being made by the project.
So, if you are developing, designing or refurbishing an interior space and want to review the health profile of your materials, finishes or furniture, let’s talk.
This page was written by Matt Morley: a tedx speaker, Fitwel Ambassador and IWBI well advisor for Mind + movement Chapters (2026 + 2025 respectively)