Did You Know That Being Around Wood Is Good For Your Health?

Trendy concepts such as the Japanese art of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”, have popularised the idea that being immersed in nature is good for our health. But, did you know that surrounding yourself with natural wood surfaces within the home or workspace can offer many of the same benefits? We don't often think about the materials that surround us. Glance about and ask yourself: are your surroundings populated with plastic, concrete, and metal, or natural materials such as wood? A 2017 study found that Brits spend an average of 92% of their time indoors – and that was before the arrival of pandemic related lock-downs! Fortunately, designers, architects, and consumers are becoming aware of the health, sustainability, and well-being related rewards that wood can offer. Here, we'll delve into the many advantages of introducing elements such as environmentally friendly wood flooring into our home and work environments!

Harnessing The Power Of Biophilia
Harvard naturalist Dr. Edward O. Wilson coined the term Biophilia, which describes our “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes”. Over the course of his research, Wilson highlighted the way in which we, as humans, tend to feel an affinity for, and  respond to, natural things. This makes wood within a home or office setting a biophillic material, meaning that it taps into a deep natural response. The result is a positive physiological, neural, and psychological cascade that leads to a greater sense of relaxation, a positive mood, reduced tension, lower blood pressure, and a boost in focus.

So powerful is the presence of wood that it can slow our heart rate, shrink our stress levels, and even allow us to be creative, and express ourselves more easily! That all makes eco friendly wood floors sound quite appealing, no? Those stress-busting superpowers were demonstrated once again in a study from the University of British Columbia, which tested wood's capacity to help us feel Zen. Researchers revealed that subjects exposed to wood saw a reduction in activity within their sympathetic nervous system – the system within our body responsible for our fight or flight response.

Improving The Quality Of The Air That We Breathe
Recent research hitting the headlines has increasingly highlighted the dangers of air pollution. You might be surprised to learn that wood is a powerful tool for countering this! Of course, we'd all like to imagine that the air we breathe at home and at work is not detrimental to our well-being. Unfortunately, within modern interiors, studies show that the air surrounding us can be as much as two to five times more polluted than the air we might breathe outdoors. This impact can be pinned on synthetic building materials – many of which release VOCs, or volatile organic compounds – and poor ventilation.


Acting as a guardian to the air we inhale, wood is in contrast a beneficial aid to air quality.  Attractive eco friendly wood floors will help to regulate air indoors, by moderating humidity. One of wood's many talents is to absorb and release moisture, keeping the air we breathe pleasantly balanced. As it does so, wood unleashes its natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, enhancing air quality yet further. This makes environmentally friendly wood flooring the perfect choice for avoiding air quality-related illness, and giving our lungs all they need to be healthy and happy.


Relax – It's Good For The Environment Too
A range of studies, from Canada, Austria, and the U.S. all found the same thing – that we all tend to automatically relax when surrounded by natural materials. In addition, choosing sustainably sourced eco friendly wood floors for your home or workspace offers yet another reason to relax, as you can be confident that you are playing your part in supporting the environment. In fact, not only does sustainably sourced wood, such as that used here at Unique Bespoke Wood, offer a great alternative to man-made materials. It also serves as a long-term store of carbon, helping to combat climate change. This is especially so when installing our eco friendly engineered wood flooring, which is built very much to last – so much so that it comes with a 25 year guarantee!


Introduce Beautiful, Wellness Enhancing Wood Into Your Interior
The natural warmth and beauty of wood provides dignity and style within any interior. This conscious impression is complemented by a sub-conscious boost to our well-being, and a parallel boost for the health of us and our planet! Environmentally friendly wood flooring can provide wonderful longevity within the spaces in which we spend the most time. Simultaneously, it can help us slash our stress levels – which, when left unchecked, hold the title of being one of the biggest triggers of health problems in today's world.


Why not claim a little bit of Biophilia for your unique interior, and bring the benefits of outdoors, indoors? The team here at Unique Bespoke Wood are always on hand to guide you through our selection of eco friendly wood floors. Contact us today, and discover the perfect solution for your needs – helping you breathe more easily!