Bio-based and regenerative materials in interior design: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

Key findings from this study

• The review identifies that research accelerated markedly after 2017, with predominant focus on interior envelope components such as walls and insulation.
• The authors report that biofabricated materials (mycelium, bacterial cellulose, algae) dominate experimental work while vernacular bio-based materials (bamboo, mud, straw, hemp) remain central to low-impact applications.
• The study found that regenerative interior design is transitioning from simple material substitution toward integrated systems combining biological and digital mediation.

Overview

Interior design materials have emerged as a sustainability concern, yet research on regenerative and bio-based materials within interior design lacks cohesive organization. This systematic literature review examines research patterns, material strategies, and developments across biodesign and regenerative materials in interior design contexts from 2000 to 2025.

Methods and approach

The authors conducted a PRISMA-based systematic literature review of 104 peer-reviewed publications, followed by bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software. This quantitative mapping produced visualizations of publication trends, keyword networks, and global research collaborations, which the researchers synthesized with qualitative thematic analysis.

Results

Research on regenerative interior materials accelerated substantially after 2017, with concentrated attention on interior envelope components including walls and insulation systems. Biofabricated materials—mycelium, bacterial cellulose, and algae—dominate experimental research efforts, whereas vernacular bio-based materials such as bamboo, mud, straw, and hemp remain principal in low-impact interior applications. The field is transitioning from sustainable material substitution toward biologically and digitally mediated material systems that integrate computational tools and performance monitoring. The study identifies distinct roles for two material categories: emerging biofabricated systems developed through experimental protocols and established vernacular materials deployed in practice-oriented applications.

Implications

Distinguishing biofabricated from vernacular regenerative materials clarifies the research landscape and enables more targeted material selection for specific interior design contexts. The integration of Building Information Modeling, digital twins, and quantified performance metrics creates pathways for scaling experimental regenerative materials into applied practice beyond laboratory conditions. This systems-based framework supports practitioners in translating research findings into commercially viable and environmentally performant interior design solutions that bridge material innovation with existing building workflows.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.