The Unexpected Power of Nature in My Life
Nowadays, nature is present in my home and everyday life in many ways. Behind there is a long story, but also many study results from different countries that all say the same thing – no matter what form nature takes, it affects our well-being positively. Simply, wood is good. And it’s not only wood – the connection of all natural materials to our well-being is good.
My story goes back to 2014 when I was struggling with depression. As a natural way to heal from it, I had started to do forest bathing. One day, I sat down in the forest, took a cone, and rolled it in my hands. I noticed that doing that made me feel less stressed and more relaxed. It also helped me to process my negative emotions and catch the positive, more compassionate ones easier. After that day, while wandering in the forest, I began also every once in a while to touch the trees. And not just quickly touch, but really feel the energy of the wood when touching it. I also began to bring pieces of nature home. I wanted to transfer my forest experience and positive feelings indoors too.
It worked. I realized that I had found the positive power of natural materials. Inspired by that, I wrote the saimaaLife article “More natural elements mean less stress” in 2015. I also started to read studies about the connection of natural materials to our well-being. My eyes opened when I read that the experience was wider than just my personal experience.
“Natural elements in the built environment help people recover from stress and mental fatigue and generally lift their mood.” – Libby Burton, Professor of Sustainable Building Design and Wellbeing, University of Warwick
We spend 88% of our time indoors, so it definitely matters how we decorate our home and in what kind of interiors we spend our time.
The Science Behind the Calming Effect of Wood
My story continued as I started little by little to wear all the more natural things on me. I also began to pay attention to the materials I used. If I could, I chose wood. Besides that, I began to look at my old items at home with different eyes. I remember forever how one day I took my old wooden cooking spatula to my hands again. Unlike before, I didn’t just use it – I really felt the wood in my hands while cooking. After that, it was not just a wooden kitchen utensil, it was a well-being item to me.
Little or big amount of wood is good for us. The Natural Resource Institute Finland, Tampere University’s Biomedical Measurements Devices and Systems unit, and Production Economics unit ran one research project called “Wood for Good (W4G)”, where the wood’s positive impact on people’s well-being was verified. The result was that wooden materials were seen to have a positive impact on human emotions. For example, when test subjects worked in wood rooms, their negative feelings and irritability went down, and their energy levels and their ability to feel refreshed went up.
The research data of an international study showed that natural and smooth wood surfaces were perceived more positively in emotional touch than coated surfaces. Wood materials were described as calming, relaxing, pleasant, and desirable. It was also worthwhile to note that the most positive results were given to the surfaces where the texture was left totally natural. So you can say that life is best enjoyed naturally also here – if it can be done, it is good to preserve the naturalness of the material texture.
Another interesting study was done in Japanese nursing homes. The results of the study were that regular usage of wooden items increased their users’ self-expression and made them more talkative. Regular usage of wooden items increased people’s social interaction and harmonic emotional relationships with each other. If you ask me, that tells a lot about the true and versatile positive power of wood. Wood definitely is good for our well-being.
Bringing More Nature into the Built Environment
Well, we all can’t live in wooden homes or work in wooden offices. However, what we can do is to bring wood and nature in many other ways to our life. Like I – and already many other people – have done. You can start with small everyday items and continue to bigger ones. Nowadays, there is wonderful furniture made out of recycled wood.
I’d only give one piece of advice. Besides increasing the amount of wood and natural materials while using them in your everyday life, learn to really feel the warming and calming energy of them. Nature affects us positively itself, but we can also strengthen the effect when we combine our mind and consciousness to our experience.
Find your nature. That is the biggest way to feel better – naturally.
At Unfinished Furniture, we understand the profound impact that natural materials like wood can have on our well-being. That’s why we are committed to crafting bespoke furniture pieces that not only enhance the aesthetic of your space but also provide a soothing, calming effect through the use of real wood.
From the rich, earthy tones of solid oak to the smooth, natural grains of maple, our furniture designs are thoughtfully created to bring the restorative power of nature into your everyday life. By preserving the inherent beauty and integrity of the wood, we aim to foster a deeper connection between you and your surroundings, promoting a sense of tranquility and well-being that goes beyond mere decoration.
Whether you’re seeking a cozy, rustic dining table or a modern, minimalist media console, our skilled craftsmen meticulously select and shape each piece to showcase the unique characteristics of the wood. By embracing the natural imperfections and variations, we strive to create furnishings that are not just beautiful, but also imbued with the calming essence of the natural world.
So, if you’re ready to elevate your living space and nourish your well-being, explore our collection of bespoke wood furniture and let the soothing power of nature transform your everyday life.
