For the majority of our existence as a species, human beings have existed in-tune with nature. Whether travelling as hunter-gatherers, working the land as farmers, or embracing the nomadic lifestyle of a gap year, our connection to the outdoors has always been integral to our way of life… until recently. Today, people in the UK spend an astonishing 80-90% of their lives indoors, away from nature. 

Few people have immediate access to a garden, let alone a wooded park—our age-old coexistence with nature sadly diminished. Which is why as simple as it seems, furnishing your home with solid oak furniture is not only a smart choice for the sake of aesthetics, but more importantly, for your wellbeing. 

The benefits of solid oak furniture in your bedroom, living room, dining room or student flat are many—from reducing stress and enhancing mood to improving air quality. Don’t believe us? Read on.

The history of oak on the British Isles

Though proximity to natural wood and woodland is universally important for mental health and wellbeing, in the British Isles we have a unique connection to one particular species of tree: the oak. 

As early as the 1^st Century AD, Roman historian Pliny the Elder documented the existence of Druids in the Celtic regions of Britain, stating that the Druids “hold nothing more sacred than mistletoe and a tree on which it is growing, provided it is Valonia oak.” 

In other words, the indigenous peoples of the British Isles, for as long as there has been written history about them, have been intensely drawn to the energy of the oak tree. Even after the Druids faded out of existence, oak remained uniquely popular in Britain, celebrated for its strength and resilience—two factors which continue to make it a top choice of furniture makers.

6 reasons solid oak furniture is good for you and your home

From bedroom furniture like side tables and bed frames, to lounge furniture like coffee tables and chairs, oak reigns supreme. Here’s 6 reasons why solid oak furniture can improve your life and living conditions. And remember, if any of these points sound too good to be true—too new age-y or hippie—just remember how long Britons have sought succour from the oak tree. What else has stayed constant for over 2,000 years?

1) The presence of oak furniture can help to reduce stress and boost your mood

There have been countless studies into the effects of natural wood and woodland on the human condition, and the consensus is this: the more time spent around wood, the more connected we feel to the world around us and, as a result, the less stressed we are. 

It’s simple really, as beings which evolved from woodland animals, we are deeply connected to the feel, smell and sight of wood. Thus, when we decorate our homes with wood furniture, we replicate that same connection in the places we spend the vast majority of our time. 

The same peer-reviewed studies that discovered the stress-alleviating effects of wood on our mental health also found that wood can affect us in the opposite direction too. Far from just reducing stress, proximity to wood can also increase our feelings of wellbeing. The Woodland Trust has proven that physically touching wood induces a feeling of relaxation and positivity.

2) Being around oak furniture can enhance cognitive performance

As if the relaxing and mood-boosting properties of natural materials like oak weren’t enough, contact with wood has also been proven to enhance cognitive performance. For students and work-from-homers, this is big news. 

Simply by replacing your plastic or metal desk for an oak one, you may soon find yourself enjoying improved levels of concentration and critical thinking. 

A study in Japan noticed these effects when it presented retirees in a care home with wooden versus plastic tables in the break room. Those sat at the wooden tables engaged in much heightened conversation and social activity when compared to those at the plastic alternative. 

3) Solid oak has natural air-cleaning properties

One of the central reasons that solid oak furniture may help to improve cognitive function is its natural air-cleaning properties. As an hygroscopic material, oak naturally absorbs and releases moisture, actively regulating the humidity of any room it’s in. 

Rooms with naturally-balanced humidity levels are less prone to mould and damp, and so have superior air quality to overly-humid spaces. 

In short, wood bedroom furniture can help you sleep better whilst wood lounge furniture can help you relax and focus better, both thanks to the oak keeping your air nice and clean.

4) Being around wood may even promote faster healing

It may sound hokey, but there have even been studies which suggest proximity to wood can help quicken the body’s natural healing processes. For example, patients in hospital rooms with a view of woodland have been reported to heal faster from the same treatments and ailments as patients in rooms with a view of, say, other buildings. 

Whilst we don’t recommend relying on your antique oak coffee table to cure your cold, there’s clearly something to be said for surrounding yourself with as much oak furniture as you can—after all, it can’t hurt!

5) Solid oak furniture is durable, attractive, and appreciates in value

Before we close, it’s worth reminding ourselves that the benefits of oak furnishings go beyond the mental and physical, to the aesthetic (and even the financial!). Not only does oak furniture help to reduce stress, improve mood and concentration, stimulation conversation and keep your home’s air clean, it is also just really nice to look at! 

Depended on for millennia for its durable strength, solid oak furniture is designed to last—with pieces often outlasting their makers by several generations. As a result, oak furniture can also appreciate in value, making it a worthwhile monetary investment for the future.

6) Oak furnishings are well matched to any interior, modern or traditional

Lastly, it’s also worth noting that natural wood furniture doesn’t just look good in traditional home settings. It is also equally at home in more minimalist, industrial and modern interiors. Whether you’re shopping for furniture to occupy your student bedsit, your office, your family home or business, solid oak furniture will fit right in.

Conclusion: Solid oak furniture and its timeless benefits to your health and home

British folk have been obsessed with oak for as long as we have written records (and probably much longer). From the Druids of pre-Roman Britain to the furniture makers of today, there are a whole host of very good reasons why oak is the favourite choice, both in nature worship and home design. 

Oak promotes relaxation, boosts mood and productivity, cleans our air and reconnects us—both to the outdoors and to each other, stimulating greater socialising and conversation among those who sit around wooden tables. Solid oak furniture does the same. 

So whether you’re struggling with anxiety and stress, suffer from low moods or damp in your home, don’t get enough of the great outdoors or would simply like some nicer furniture for your house, there’s really only one solution: get yourself some sturdy oak furniture!