What are the health benefits of using Wood in Interiors?
Science confirms that seeing natural elements promotes positive feelings, stress-reduction, faster mental recovery, and decline in subjective feelings of pain. According to a study on the health benefits of using wood in interiors by Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology (NTI), the implementation of wood in hospitals made the patients, family, and staff agree that they experienced well-being in relation to the indoor environment.The study found that the presence of wood has positive physiological and psychological benefits that mimic the effect of spending time outside in nature, and can even shorter hospital stay through reduced recovery times. The feelings of natural warmth and comfort that wood elicits in people has the effect of lowering blood pressure and heart rates, reducing stress and anxiety and increasing positive social interactions
The best proof is based upon the biophilic properties of wood. Biophilia is the term coined by the Harvard naturalist Dr. Edward O. Wilson to describe what he saw as humanity’s “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes,” and to be drawn toward nature, to feel an affinity for it, a love, a craving. When people come into contact with nature, their neural, physiological, and psychological responses contribute to lower tension, lower blood pressure, more relaxation, positive moods, and increased focus.Biophilic design incorporates natural elements into the construction of buildings and their interiors. Wood is one of the few natural resources that can accomplish four important goals simultaneously: reduced carbon emissions; enhanced resilience in the life cycle of a building; improved well-being for the occupants; and increased organizational benefits from having safer, happier, and more efficient workers.
