Do Natural Materials Benefit Our Health?

Do natural materials benefit our health? Yes. For those of us who spend most of our time indoors, commuting, or in some other man-made environment, it is beneficial to have natural things in our living area. One of the key points of biophilic interior design is that the built environment and the natural environment can be combined to have a positive effect on our health. Hardwood flooring falls under at least 2 environmental features that are attributes of the biophilia matrix as described by Stephen Kellert’s design attribute list. The link is to a PubMed paper about the need for children to experience nature because it is essential to cognitive functioning and wellbeing. Most would agree that the same principle applies to adults too. It is apparent that the rise in popularity of hardwood flooring means that many people are seeking ways to bring natural features into their homes.

“With mounting evidence to support the healing attributes of biophilic environments, we propose a method to identify biophilic content within interior spaces. Such a strategy offers much promise to the advancement of restorative environments.” Beth McGee and Anna Marshall-Baker

How to bring nature into a home

The Anderson Tuftex Palo Duro Mixed Width Hickory Golden Ore Hardwood Collection is a fine example of a product that takes the look of nature to the next level. Palo Duro comes with built-in history––or at least the appearance of it. This scraped hickory collection gives a rustic nod to the variety and texture of a perfectly preserved turn-of-the-century factory floor. Its natural knots, and color variation will keep people guessing on whether your floor is new, or if it was discovered under layers of old carpet. It is sure to spark the imagination. For even more visual interest, try the mixed-width planks that come in 3”, 5” and 7”.