Increasing the amount of wood in your life is proving to be very popular, not just for aesthetics but for health benefits too. Ever since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, man has been stripping away green space for the ever-expanding network of transport, factories and housing. Now many people are returning to the ideas of natural living, sustainability and attempts to reduce our carbon footprints. For this reason, wooden buildings and furniture are growing in popularity. Wood, it seems, it somewhat of a saviour.

As a material, it is timeless and has been aiding both man and the natural world since time began. Rigorous research from around the world has found that surrounding yourself with wood is beneficial to your mental and physical health and well-being. The findings indicate that wood has special atmospheric properties that cannot be found in products made from synthetic material.

Timber has, as a result, become popular in interior design trends and also in the acquisition of timber-built outhouses and cabins. These have a huge variety of uses, look stunning and are better for the environment as well. For a range of bespoke Log Cabins for sale in Northern Ireland, visit http://logcabinsnorthernireland.com/

A study in Austria found that two groups of children, one group in a normal classroom and one in a classroom with wooden desks and panelling achieved quite different results at the end of one year. The students surrounded by wood did better in test results and were healthier. They had better heart rates and lower signs of stress-related issues. It is thought that the beneficial effects come from wood’s ability to absorb and release moisture.

On a hot, dry day, wood will release moisture into the atmosphere. If it’s a damp, cold day, wood will absorb moisture out of the atmosphere. All this leads to improved air quality for those who have wood around them.

We could even use wood to help in the fight against climate change. Timber is the only important building material that contains carbon. When a tree grows, it removes carbon from the atmosphere and converts it into wood. In a nutshell, when wood is used to create something, as much as half of its weight is actually stored carbon, meaning carbon that’s not in the atmosphere for the duration of that item’s lifespan. Having a timber building is your way of keeping carbon locked away in something useful instead. Only if the wood is sustainably sourced however!