Curves, Leaves, and Clients Who Say “Make It Soothing”: Biophilic Millwork in 2025

Apex Drafting
Jul 6
2 min read

Updated: Jul 20

In case you haven’t been trapped under a drafting table the past year, everything in commercial interiors is getting softer, rounder, and greener — literally.

Welcome to biophilic millwork — where curves are king, planter boxes aren’t optional, and drafters everywhere are side-eyeing radius tools with equal parts fear and fascination.

Let’s talk about what’s really happening — and how you, dear drafter, can keep up without tearing your hair out or rage-deleting AutoCAD.

What the Heck Is Biophilic Millwork?

Biophilic (bio-FILL-ic) design is the fancy-pants term for “Hey, let’s make this office space feel like a forest but with fewer bugs.” It means:

Plant-friendly millwork (yes, your cabinets may now come with soil)
Flowy, curved cabinetry that looks less like a box and more like a river bend
Natural tones and finishes that whisper “calm” while hiding wiring and HVAC

Curves Are Back, Baby

Gone are the harsh, 90-degree layouts that scream “open office trauma.” In their place:

Curved reception desks that welcome instead of intimidate
Rounded display shelves that somehow make products look smarter
Arched cabinetry that says “We read Architectural Digest” even if we didn’t

Bonus: it’s all very photogenic. Which means if you’re the drafter who can deliver clean curved CAD… you're getting hired again.

Why This Matters to You

You know what’s not fun? Redrawing every shelf when a client says “make it wavy.”
You know what is fun? Using a parametric block to do that in one step.

Biophilic millwork is one of those trends that sounds trendy… until you realize it’s sticking around. Especially in:

Office wellness spaces
Hotels & lounges
Tech and design firm HQs (where plants are part of the dress code)

What You Can Do (Like, This Week)

Brush up on curved drafting techniques
(Psst: dynamic blocks make this way less painful.)
Start drafting a “green” block series
Even a planter shelf or radius-front cabinet earns you trend points.
Watch The Millwork Drafter
We’re quietly working on a block series that hugs corners and makes architects cry tears of joy.