Stress-Reducing Effects of Wood

In this modern day, people are looking for stress relief after a tiring day of work. A number of offices use wood decorations because some sources say that one of the benefits of wood is to reduce stress. Is it true?

There is a theory called biophilia, which states that humans have a natural love for nature. Therefore, natural items like wood walls and plants are preferred to bricks and concrete. Many studies have shown that natural elements in man made buildings increase cell regeneration.

The restorative property of wood also affects stress. The link between nature and stress is that the exposure of humans to nature can alleviate stress. As wood is a natural material, it can also reduce stress on humans.

The assumption that wood products are good for reducing stress is backed up by multiple studies. A study assesses the stress-reducing effect of wood in office settings. In the study, stress is measured by reading physiological aspects, like blood pressure, skin conductance, and muscle tension.

According to the study, wood does reduce stress in indoor settings, particularly office settings. This result is evidenced by the response of the sympathetic nervous system, which is the lower skin conductance level and lower frequency of non-specific skin conductance response.

This study strengthens the view about biophilic construction. The construction philosophy itself is a departure from 20th century architecture, which aims to separate man to nature. Biophilic architecture aims to once again uniting humanity with the surrounding nature.

Wood is an excellent biophilic material. Not only for decorative purposes, wood also serves a functional purpose as walls, floorings, and furniture. This makes it possible to create a less stressful office environment.

Stress reduction is only one of the benefits of wood, but it is one of the most important ones. Kayu Lapis Indonesia provides the best quality wood, hopefully good for your mental health.

Biophilic design has many positive outcomes. It can reconnect humans and nature through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space & place conditions by providing all kinds of behavioral, mental, and physical benefits. 

Few tips for applying this design are by increasing the openings in the dwelling for natural air circulation, adding green plants in the space, and using more natural elements, such as furniture made from sustainable wood. 

Biophilic design is a concept where green space can improve the quality of life, contributing to human health and physiological and psychological well-being.

The application of biophilic design can be shown through:

– Natural lighting and ventilation.

– The element of water and plants in space.

–  The application of natural elements through natural materials like sustainable wood.

References:

https://open.library.ubc.ca/media/stream/pdf/24/1.0071305/1