Complex metal oxides such as BaTiO₃ are widely sought materials in the ceramic and electronic industries due to their piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and dielectric properties. The synthesis of BaTiO₃ typically requires harsh reaction conditions such as high temperature and pressure that provide poor control over composition, crystal structure, and nanoscale morphology. In contrast, living organisms are able to maintain impressive regulation over the crystallization of inorganic materials during naturally occurring mineralization processes. Here, we present a few general principles from biomineralizing systems that can be harnessed for synthetic materials as well as successful bio-inspired approaches that have been demonstrated for the fabrication of BaTiO₃ nanostructures.