The Wool Journey: How Natural Fibers Shape Interiors and Wellbeing

Wool is not just a beautiful material - it is a functional wonder. It regulates temperature, resists odors, is antibacterial, UV-protective, breathable, and fully biodegradable within a year. For me, wool is not only a design choice but also an ecological statement and a source of deep emotional connection.

In today’s world of home décor and contemporary art, I am grateful to see more and more designers and artists who place as much importance on environmental responsibility as they do on beauty, trend, and market value. I am part of this movement, where sustainable practice is inseparable from creativity. In a previous post I already wrote about the versatility of wool, but here I want to show why it matters not only for our skin and body, but for the atmosphere of our homes and our state of mind.

Psychological and Emotional Effects of Wool

Safety and warmth
Wool is soft, natural, and warm. Its touch resembles the feeling of care - like being wrapped in a blanket. This instinctively lowers anxiety and allows the nervous system to rest.

Connection to nature
Wool is organic and alive. Natural textures are proven to reduce stress, reconnecting us with nature (the biophilia effect), even in urban environments.

Archaic familiarity
For thousands of years, wool has been part of human life. It carries an ancient sense of home and protection that speaks to us on an unconscious level.

Texture as sensory richness
Touch psychology shows that textures directly affect our emotional state. Wool can be smooth, dense, fluffy, or coarse - these tactile variations stimulate the senses, fostering stability and creativity.

Slowing down and presence
Engaging with wool brings us into a slow, mindful state. It offers relief from the digital rush of modern life, grounding us in presence and calm.

Energy and symbolism
Wool is like a protective cocoon, softening and humanizing the space around us. In psychology, this is close to Winnicott’s concept of a “holding environment” - a safe space that allows growth and healing.

I believe it is almost a crime not to use and embrace this magical material, with all the gifts it offers.

Responsible sourcing and slow craft

For me, transparency is essential - not only in my artworks, but in the Danish small farms I source wool from. Slow craft means not only that I give time to my work, but also that the sheep who provide the wool live in peace and happiness. They are shorn twice a year, and the fiber renews itself at nature’s pace. If the wool runs out, we wait - because nature cannot be rushed.

When I work with dyed wool, I only use certified eco-friendly dyes free from heavy metals and toxins (link to certification). In wet felting, I measure water use down to the deciliter to minimize waste. For tufting, I cook my own plant-based adhesive. For cleaning, I use pure olive oil soap. I believe what is good for us must also be good for the Earth.

And finally - when one of my artworks eventually returns to the soil, it composts within a year. It re-enters the natural cycle, giving life to something new. Perhaps to the very flowers later grazed by the same sheep who once gave me their wool. This is the beauty of endless circles - and the spirit I carry into each creation.