There are many academically approved studies highlighting the positive impact of forests and trees on humans. Recently, there has also been high-quality research on the benefits of using wood as a construction material.
Wood is a restorative material that supports well-being. A Slovakian study found that wooden materials with brownish colours are ideal for relaxation. Another study highlighted that the use of wooden materials positively impacts the human nervous system due to their appealing aesthetics.
Seeing or smelling wood in a building boosts positive feelings and reduces negative perceptions of the environment. And this – a positive feeling about the environment – is not a minor thing, says Riina Muilu-Mäkelä, Research Manager and Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
How can we tell wood has positive effects as a building material?
In a joint study by Tampere University and Luke, the psychological and physiological effects of a wooden room on human well-being were measured using two rooms. Half of the test room’s surfaces were covered with robust pine wood, whereas the control room was decorated with neutral colours and other materials.
The participants engaged in computer-based cognitive tasks to simulate typical work and elevate their stress levels. After completing the tasks, they had a rest period in an armchair in the same room. Restoration, energy levels, mood, anxiety, sustained attention, heart rate variability, and skin conductivity were measured in both rooms.
At the end of the experiment, the anxiety levels were clearly lower in the wooden test room compared to the control room. Overall, participants experienced fewer negative emotions in the wooden room throughout the experiment. Feelings of restoration, energy, and positive affect were higher in the wooden room, especially at the beginning of the experiment.
Moreover, the participants used positive words to describe the wood surfaces in the room, such as warm, beautiful, and natural. All the open comments of the research situation were positive observations on wood. For example, the scent of wood was described as delightful.
A similar study design was carried out in an Italian study, and the results were similar too. Wood was perceived by the participants as more beneficial, familiar, healthier, more appreciated, more perfumed, more pleasant, and more restorative than the other materials. The study also pointed out that wood could increase the psychological well-being of people when used in homes and offices.
