Are you ready for a change in your home? Whether it be in purchasing new furniture, changing up the flooring, or incorporating some new art pieces, choosing pieces that are made from hardwood can not only elevate the space but also be beneficial to your health. Here are six reasons why hardwoods are a wonderful addition to your home:
1. Biophilic design
Investing in both your mental health and physical health can bring about a great positive change into your home. Biophilic design is the incorporation of nature into the spaces you encounter every day. When we choose hardwood floors, furniture, and millwork, we are choosing to surround ourselves with natural products, and become more connected with our natural world, which is proven to improve mental and physical health. Plus, it does not run the risk of introducing toxins into your home which may be present in PVC, vinyl, and plastic products.
Hardwood floors can also improve air quality because hardwoods are a natural resource that does not require harsh chemicals to create. Though the price you pay upfront for hardwood floors can be higher, hardwood floors can increase the value of your home in the long run. The beautiful aesthetics hardwoods bring into one’s home can encourage buyers to get a house that has a beautiful interior that connects them to nature from inside the space.
Biophilic design is a great way to connect with nature inside your own home, especially during the winter months. Incorporating hardwoods is a great way to lessen seasonal depression and bring about a space that is open and connects others with nature.
2. Renewable resource
Resources that are genuinely renewable are becoming harder and harder to come by. While many natural resources are deplenishing, hardwoods in the United States are doing well. For every tree harvested in the U.S., 2.5 trees take its place. Trees are replenished both naturally and by forest management professionals and landowners in order to keep these beautiful pieces of nature from diminishing to a point where they no longer exist.
Have you ever read or seen The Lorax? Living in a world where trees are cut down and not replenished is a scary way to live.
3. Will last for generations
Products made from trees last for ages, from floors in centuries-old cathedrals to simple home decorations passed down as family heirlooms. Hardwood products can be reused even after being in rivers or abandoned buildings. Many craftsmen will treat antique lumber to make it last even longer than it was once expected to last. Repurposed wood is a great way for people to get a beautiful, antique look within their homes as well as a way to lessen the amount of waste created by humans. Repurposing hardwoods is a great way to live a sustainable life, lessening the amount of waste as well as the amount of trees that need to be harvested.
American hardwood floors are the most durable floors available. Hardwood floors have stood the test of time. There are oak floors around the globe that are still in service after centuries of use. Aesthetically and practically, hardwood has been a preferred flooring surface throughout the ages in every corner of the world.
4. Easier to clean and maintain
Hardwood floors are relatively easy to clean and maintain compared to other flooring materials like carpets. Regular sweeping and occasional mopping with a hardwood-specific cleaner can keep them looking beautiful for years.
5. Better air quality
Hardwoods do not accumulate dust and chemicals as other types of flooring do. Carpet, for example, collects many toxins very easily due to its nature. As it is also a natural resource, the amount of chemicals needed to create the flooring is very limited, besides the finish.
Your allergies may also be reduced after switching to hardwood because the floors do not trap pollen or other allergens. Unlike carpet, hardwood flooring is a great way to improve your physical health in your own home, potentially reducing the amount of sickness within your house.
6. Adds value to your home
Hardwoods are a great way to spruce up your home if you plan to sell it someday. Investing in hardwood flooring can increase the overall value of your home. Potential buyers often appreciate the appeal of hardwood floors and may be willing to pay a premium for a home with this feature.
The aesthetics of hardwood floors are a great bonus to having them in one’s home. People have begun to be more drawn to these floors rather than carpets because of the aesthetic qualities as well as the health benefits.
Though there are cheaper alternatives to hardwood furniture and flooring, hardwoods have been used for centuries and still continue to last for centuries after the pieces were created. Overall, hardwoods bring a combination of beauty, durability, and sustainability to your home. While they might have a higher upfront cost than some other flooring materials, their long lifespan and positive impact on your home’s value make them a worthwhile investment.