Abstract
Wood used as a furnishing material is a key element in interior architecture, driven by the growing desire to live in a healthy, environmentally sustainable setting. The selection of finishing and furnishing materials does not merely address aesthetic and performance requirements, but also contributes to the overall (perceived) quality of the space and, potentially, to users’ perceived well-being. This study aims to assess the perception of well-being associated with wooden surfaces relative to alternative materials, to compare visual exposure alone with visuo-tactile interaction, and to estimate the Willingness to Pay (WTP) for specific product certifications. The investigation was structured in two phases: an online questionnaire and a laboratory experiment. Materials were assessed by respondents using the semantic differential technique, and the outcomes were processed through the Perceived Wellness Index (PWI). The results indicate that wood-like materials may meet visual expectations, whereas PVC and marble-effect porcelain stoneware yielded poorer outcomes. The importance attributed to certifications was high; WTP indicates an average additional amount of €5.96 m-2 for local provenance and €6.34 m-2 for a certification focused on “well-being”. The ranking changed in the laboratory experiment: real-wood samples exhibited an advantage, with higher PWI values for oak than for alternative materials. Overall, PWI indicates a greater restorative potential of wood-based materials when the experience includes both vision and touch. These results provide useful information for design choices based on concrete data. The study lays the methodological foundations for the creation of an experimental label with reference to the perceived benefits for the individual and for the valorization of the local forest chain.