Bringing elements of nature indoors doesn’t just look good, it boosts your wellbeing too. Forest & Maker explains…
Have you ever wondered why a sense of calm steals over you when you walk through a forest, or stare into the flames flickering in the hearth?
The answer lies in biophilia, which is our instinctive attraction to nature. It’s this visceral connection that explains why admiring the rolling ocean waves can spark our creativity, or why we feel restored after a gentle stroll in the garden.
‘O Nature! Thou hast fed / My lofty speculations!’
William Wordsworth, The Prelude: Book 2
Wordsworth knew this powerful link only too well – after all, it was the lofty peaks and glassy waters of the Lake District that fuelled his vivid imagination. His poetry celebrates the importance of taking time to appreciate the wonder of the natural world and now, some 150 years later, we’re increasingly incorporating that world into our workspaces, restaurants, hotels and homes, thanks to the biophilic design movement.
Lush living walls, gently bubbling water features, landscape paintings and natural materials are just some examples of biophilic design, which focuses on bringing elements of nature indoors. And it doesn’t just look good – it has been widely credited with enhancing creativity, concentration and cognitive function, as well as reducing workplace stress.
Biophilic elements can enhance creativity, concentration and cognitive function
Of course, as craftsman specialising in solid timber furniture, this is a subject close to our hearts. At our workshops, deep in the Wiltshire countryside, we know better than anyone how good it feels to surround yourself with beautiful furniture, hewn from nature’s bounty.
Whether it’s a vast boardroom table, desk or chair, every piece of furniture we make is hand-crafted from certified, sustainably sourced grown timber. From every knot to every grain, we ensure the timber’s natural characteristics take centre stage, producing stunning, durable furniture that’s good for your soul. And with their unique formations and organic patterns, each finished piece enables you to invite the raw beauty of nature indoors.
But our commitment to wellbeing doesn’t stop here. At Forest & Maker we pride ourselves on traceability and transparency too. Ours is nothing but beautifully designed timber furniture, which connects you to nature and creates better spaces.
If you’re looking for new ways to bring nature into your designs for workplace projects; we’ll be at designjunction from 19-22 Sept in London. Come and have a chat and see our latest solid timber office furniture range – Graft – designed in partnership with award-winning design studio STAC architecture.
