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It has been nearly a year since office workers were advised to work remotely until the pandemic concludes. It's important to recognize that the privilege of working from home is not available to everyone: Many essential workers continue to commute and engage with the public daily without the option of staying home.
For those fortunate enough to work from home, maintaining focus can be challenging with the distractions of home life. Additionally, some may now find their work monotonous and uninspiring, particularly when the most enjoyable moments once involved socializing with colleagues. One potential way to make your home office more appealing is by adding some wood accents. Here’s why it might help.
Incorporating Wood into Your Home Office: A Practical Guide
If you weren’t one of the fortunate individuals who managed to leave the city or suburbs and settle into a cozy cabin in the woods during the pandemic, you’ve likely daydreamed about it (and perhaps envied those who could, unless you already live in one). But what if you could bring a touch of the woods...to you. This was the concept behind a 2018 survey from Australia, which examined the impact of wood in office spaces.
While this isn't a scientific study, the survey findings revealed that people reported more enjoyable and fulfilling work experiences when they had access to “natural-looking wooden items” visible from their workstations, such as desks, tables, doors, beams, and paneling.
Work satisfaction and contentment with the physical space significantly increase as the proportion of natural-looking wooden surfaces rises. Those in workplaces with less than 20% wooden surfaces were much less satisfied with both their job and workspace compared to those in environments with a higher percentage of wood.
Moreover, survey respondents working in areas with more exposed wood noted higher personal productivity, better concentration, and an improved mood overall.
So, will incorporating wood elements into your home office enhance your workday? You’ll have to determine that for yourself.
As Lloyd Alter at Treehugger points out about the survey: “The notion that switching your desktop or doorframe to a wood finish could have such a significant impact is quite surprising.”
However, Alter also highlights: “This survey shows that people appreciate wood and believe it enhances their performance, underscoring that the advantages of using wood in construction extend beyond just carbon savings.”
So, if you're torn between office accessories made of real wood (or something designed to resemble wood), these survey results might influence your decision.
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