Timber Roof Lanterns: The Trend For Tradition In An Age Of Modernity

The team here at Aliwood, producers of bespoke timber roof lanterns, wanted to look at why some people are steering away from the crutches of excess upon which many of us now rely, and believe that less is more.

The number of advances humanity has made over the past century has been truly astronomical. Progress made in technology, medicine, travel and exploration has been exponential and then some. And yet. In spite of all this, many people yearn for a simpler time. With the world at our fingertips, with every fact under the sun available at the press of a button, we find ourselves rejecting it. It could even be argued that in having everything, we have nothing. That’s why there’s been a trend in recent years towards dialling things back. A focus on the idea that less may be more, after all. Whether this be in terms of the sheer amount of stuff we possess, how constantly switched on we are or the materials we use and the produce we consume, there has been a shift.

Social Media Detoxes

It sometimes feels now as if phones are more appendages of our bodies, rather than simply a communicative tool. Many of us spend as much of our lives staring at our screens and the realities entailed within as opposed to the life right in front of us. Whilst social media platforms are by no means entirely negative, they can easily become addictive, and arguably are driving factors behind many of the mental health disorders being experienced by adolescents and children. That’s why many people have left behind their accounts for good. In doing so, they’ve discovered a diluting of the toxic competitiveness which social media brings with it, increased privacy and security, as well as a reduction in the ever-present human fear of missing out.

Minimalism

Minimalism is more than just a trend for those on their high-horses to wheel out in social situations, it has demonstrable benefits. By decluttering and getting rid of all the stuff you don’t need in your life (which by minimalist principles, will be a lot) you create more freedom within your life. One of the main positives to minimalism is it facilitates a personal realisation that there’s more to life than just stuff. Minimalism also helps your own, personal carbon footprint. Buying fewer items and being more mindful as to where the things you do buy come from all helps to minimise the ways in which you are personally contributing to climate change.

Self-Sufficiency

One of the most popular British TV shows of the 1970s was The Good Life and it seems that the model for self-sufficiency and simplicity peddled by the series is starting to be replicated in rea life across the UK. Smallholdings are increasingly popular, as are allotments, and in urban areas the humble back-garden veg patch is providing a more grounded connection to nature for parents and children alike. Eating something you’ve grown yourself, as opposed to something comprising ingredients flown in from halfway across the world, is an incredibly satisfying feeling. Stitching, crafting and other home hobbies like baking have also seen greater prevalence in recent time. People really do seem to be craving something of a simpler life!

Quality Of Materials

The advances in globalisation and trade, and the diminishing importance of geographic boundaries in the world of business meant that cheap materials and sweat-shop labour were the order of the day for a long time. Arguably, and sadly, they still are. But businesses the world over are looking to incorporate a better quality of materials into their products, looking to better appreciate what it is they’re using, once more. Our timber roof lanterns, for example, are made using pieces of premium-grade Redwood timber as opposed to the cheaper, less sustainable PVC alternatives.

People are pining for simpler times amidst all the chaos that the modern world brings. So, if you’d like to find out more about our timber roof lanterns, then get in touch! Contact Aliwood today on 01245 967 107.