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Can Indoor-Outdoor Design Make You Happier?
Introducing natural elements into your home could increase feelings of happiness and wellbeing, a study has shown.
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Not only do natural building materials, such as renewable woods, use much less energy than other construction materials, like concrete, but research also shows that when natural materials are used within our interiors they can have a positive impact on our physiological and psychological wellbeing too.
Many of us know how our busy lifestyles can prevent us spending time outside enjoying the rejuvenating benefits of nature. However, research revealed via Planet Ark’s Make It Wood campaign shows that incorporating natural materials into your interior you can mimic the same effect on your wellbeing as you’d experience if you were out in the open. Read on and discover how you can introduce organic elements into your home and improve your sense of calm.
Many of us know how our busy lifestyles can prevent us spending time outside enjoying the rejuvenating benefits of nature. However, research revealed via Planet Ark’s Make It Wood campaign shows that incorporating natural materials into your interior you can mimic the same effect on your wellbeing as you’d experience if you were out in the open. Read on and discover how you can introduce organic elements into your home and improve your sense of calm.
Use Wood in the Home Office
Whether you work from home full time or you do the odd day in the comfort of your own environment, creating an inspiring space that fuels your creativity and encourages productivity is surely at the top of your wish list for your home office? Well, creating a room scheme that’s laced with beautiful tactile wood could be the solution. According to a recent study, adding plenty of wooden touches in your workspace, such as a desk, an office chair, wooden flooring and natural accessories, will make you feel closer to nature and reduce your blood pressure and stress levels. And when you’re feeling calm, relaxed and focused your productivity levels improve and your interest increases. So, ditch that plastic furniture, and introduce comfortable ergonomic wooden designs for a sense of harmony.
Create a calming sanctuary.
Our eagerness to spend time in nature, also known as biophilia, can be extended into our interiors by creating naturally connected room schemes. By incorporating biophilic design elements, such as natural light, indoor plants and water features, you can bring nature indoors and create a happier and more positive environment.
Whether you work from home full time or you do the odd day in the comfort of your own environment, creating an inspiring space that fuels your creativity and encourages productivity is surely at the top of your wish list for your home office? Well, creating a room scheme that’s laced with beautiful tactile wood could be the solution. According to a recent study, adding plenty of wooden touches in your workspace, such as a desk, an office chair, wooden flooring and natural accessories, will make you feel closer to nature and reduce your blood pressure and stress levels. And when you’re feeling calm, relaxed and focused your productivity levels improve and your interest increases. So, ditch that plastic furniture, and introduce comfortable ergonomic wooden designs for a sense of harmony.
Create a calming sanctuary.
Our eagerness to spend time in nature, also known as biophilia, can be extended into our interiors by creating naturally connected room schemes. By incorporating biophilic design elements, such as natural light, indoor plants and water features, you can bring nature indoors and create a happier and more positive environment.
Introduce Wood Elsewhere in the Home
When we connect with nature we experience feelings of positivity, wellbeing and rejuvenation, and similarly, most of us regard the tactile texture of wood as natural, warm and relaxing. So, it’s no surprise that an interior dotted with stunning, rich woods will have a warm and comforting impact. Using wood in a living space creates an instant welcoming effect that will make guests feel at home, while elements of wood in a kitchen-diner will ensure the room feels relaxed and laid-back.
Opt for a versatile and timeless material. Statistics from a recent Houzz kitchen renovation survey show that while wooden benchtops are no longer at the top of people’s kitchen reno plans, a wooden floor is still the go-to material for kitchen spaces thanks to its functional qualities and ability to tie in with any look or style. Wood can also improve air quality by absorbing moisture and moderating humidity – ideal for steamy kitchen and bathroom spaces.
When we connect with nature we experience feelings of positivity, wellbeing and rejuvenation, and similarly, most of us regard the tactile texture of wood as natural, warm and relaxing. So, it’s no surprise that an interior dotted with stunning, rich woods will have a warm and comforting impact. Using wood in a living space creates an instant welcoming effect that will make guests feel at home, while elements of wood in a kitchen-diner will ensure the room feels relaxed and laid-back.
Opt for a versatile and timeless material. Statistics from a recent Houzz kitchen renovation survey show that while wooden benchtops are no longer at the top of people’s kitchen reno plans, a wooden floor is still the go-to material for kitchen spaces thanks to its functional qualities and ability to tie in with any look or style. Wood can also improve air quality by absorbing moisture and moderating humidity – ideal for steamy kitchen and bathroom spaces.
Combine Other Natural Elements
It’s rather alarming to learn that Australians on average now spend 90 per cent of their time indoors. Therefore, there’s even more reason to incorporate uplifting natural elements into your home wherever possible. If wood is already a major player in your room schemes, why not ramp up the serenity and wellbeing factor by mixing in other natural textures that will bring further restorative connections to the outdoors? Look to tactile hessian rugs or woven rattan furniture and layer up natural textures for a comforting effect.
Include plenty of greenery. Indoor plants not only bring an injection of intense colour and rich texture to your home, they’ll also clean up the air by filtering impurities and add a sense of freshness to a space.
It’s rather alarming to learn that Australians on average now spend 90 per cent of their time indoors. Therefore, there’s even more reason to incorporate uplifting natural elements into your home wherever possible. If wood is already a major player in your room schemes, why not ramp up the serenity and wellbeing factor by mixing in other natural textures that will bring further restorative connections to the outdoors? Look to tactile hessian rugs or woven rattan furniture and layer up natural textures for a comforting effect.
Include plenty of greenery. Indoor plants not only bring an injection of intense colour and rich texture to your home, they’ll also clean up the air by filtering impurities and add a sense of freshness to a space.
Fill your home with light
Flooding a room with natural light can transform it instantly from a dark and drab hole to a bright and inspiring space. If you aren’t blessed with large windows, try encouraging more light by adding large wall mirrors and brightening the walls with a stark white palette. Any natural elements, such as plants and rich woods, will pop against a neutral backdrop and enhance the natural connection.
Give wood a white wash. If you love the idea of wooden floors but you’re keen to create a light space, try painting your wooden floors with a dedicated white floor paint and the effect will be dazzling. Not only will you brighten the room, you’ll still retain a natural connection that you can layer up with further organic textures.
More: To learn more about the positive benefits of building with wood, visit Make It Wood.
Your turn
How have you introduced wood into your home environment?
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Flooding a room with natural light can transform it instantly from a dark and drab hole to a bright and inspiring space. If you aren’t blessed with large windows, try encouraging more light by adding large wall mirrors and brightening the walls with a stark white palette. Any natural elements, such as plants and rich woods, will pop against a neutral backdrop and enhance the natural connection.
Give wood a white wash. If you love the idea of wooden floors but you’re keen to create a light space, try painting your wooden floors with a dedicated white floor paint and the effect will be dazzling. Not only will you brighten the room, you’ll still retain a natural connection that you can layer up with further organic textures.
More: To learn more about the positive benefits of building with wood, visit Make It Wood.
Your turn
How have you introduced wood into your home environment?
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA) is a not-for-profit company that provides national, integrated... Read More
Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA) is a not-for-profit company that provides national, integrated... Read More
Love that this article supports my beliefs and in so doing takes away some hesitancy for my distaste on some modern designs. Apparently those innermost feelings are to be trusted! :)