Yorkshire folk go back to nature to be happier in their homes

House plants and natural materials in the home are seen as major boosts to health and happiness in Yorkshire, it seems.

According to latest research, home owners in Yorkshire are increasingly turning their backs on so-called disposable lifestyles to embrace the concept of ‘homely wellness’ .

Leading the happiness-delivery charge is the humble house plant, with 39 per cent of homeowners in Yorkshire planning to increase the number of plants and flowers in their homes this year in a bid to improve their connection with nature.

Natural materials in the home - from wooden floors to wooden windows - also deliver a material benefit. A massive 54 per cent of homeowners in Yorkshire who were questioned, said that having natural materials in their homes makes them feel more uplifted than when surrounded by artificial materials.

In response, 29 per cent are planning to introduce more natural materials in the next 12 months, with wood cited by 61 per cent of homeowners as the material they would most like to have more of in their homes.

In addition, 19 per cent are to have more natural fibres through soft furnishings and bed linen, and stone and cotton are on the rise as natural materials that home owners in Yorkshire would also like to increase in their homes – weighing in at 36 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

Timber remains in pole position as window frame favourite compared to PVC and aluminium with 28 per cent citing timber window frames as the nicest to live with, the most attractive (42 per cent) and the most environmentally friendly (48 per cent).

Almost half of those questioned by the Wood Window Alliance claim to be conscious of the negative effects of synthetic materials on their wellbeing, and more than one in four plan to decrease the amount of plastic in their homes.

Oliver Health, an expert in biophilic design, said: “Our homes have become significantly less healthy over the last 20 years due to build-up of chemicals in materials, fixtures and fittings, but also as they have become increasingly sealed-up. The more we can introduce natural materials, the less we are likely to be inviting in toxins. If we use materials like solid wood with natural or water-based finishes, we can do a lot to reduce toxins in the home.”