Quick answer: Indoor Advantage™ GOLD certification means a product has been independently evaluated for low chemical emissions that support better indoor air quality. For Stikwood, that matters because our real wood wall planks are installed in the rooms people use every day—homes, offices, hospitality spaces, retail environments, schools, restaurants, and more.
Beautiful walls should not ask you to ignore what they are made from. A feature wall sits close to where people live, work, gather, sleep, shop, eat, and breathe. Indoor air quality is part of our product.
Look for the Indoor Advantage™ GOLD certified seal on our product pages, with certification referenced as SCS-IAQ-05706 across Stikwood product documentation. It is one of the reasons Stikwood belongs inside design-forward homes and performance-minded commercial spaces.
It also connects directly to our Made-In Matters standard: real wood, made in the USA, with healthier materials and documented proof behind the claims.
What is Indoor Advantage™ GOLD certification?
Indoor Advantage™ GOLD is a third-party indoor air quality certification from SCS Global Services. The program evaluates interior products for low VOC emissions and aligns with recognized indoor air quality standards for furniture and building materials, including CA 01350.
In plain English: it is a way to verify that a product designed for indoor use has been tested against strict chemical emission requirements—not just described as “green,” “safe,” or “low odor.”
That distinction matters. Anyone can make a broad wellness claim. Certification gives homeowners, designers, architects, builders, facilities teams, and procurement teams something more useful: a standard they can point to.
Why VOCs matter indoors
VOC stands for volatile organic compound. VOCs are chemicals that can be released into the air from building materials, furnishings, finishes, adhesives, paints, coatings, cleaners, and other products used indoors. Stikwood products with the Indoor Advantage Seal are certified to be low-VOC and healthy for indoor use.
For a wall product, indoor air quality is not abstract. It is practical. The material goes on the wall in a nursery, bedroom, conference room, hotel suite, restaurant, retail display, classroom, office, lobby, or waiting room. It becomes part of our environment and needs to be safe.
Why Stikwood is a smart choice for homes
Homeowners usually start with the look: warmth, texture, character, and the transformation of a room in an afternoon. That is fair. The wall has to be beautiful first.
But the right product should also make the homeowner feel confident after installation day. Stikwood does that by pairing real wood with certified indoor air quality performance.
- Bedrooms and nurseries: Choose materials with a documented indoor air quality standard, not vague “natural” language.
- Living rooms and entryways: Add real wood warmth without turning the project into a heavy construction job.
- Home offices: Build a warmer, more finished background for the room where people spend long workdays.
- Weekend projects: Get the visual payoff of real wood with a simpler, less-mess installation path.
That is the Stikwood advantage: you get the emotional payoff of real wood and the confidence of a product made for indoor spaces.
Why certification matters for businesses and commercial spaces
For commercial projects, material choices matter A wall finish may need to satisfy design intent, budget, lead time, brand experience, maintenance needs, and documentation requirements. Certification helps reduce friction.
Indoor Advantage™ GOLD gives architects, designers, contractors, and facilities teams a clearer reason to specify Stikwood when indoor air quality and material transparency are part of the project brief.
- Offices: Create warmth and acoustic-softening texture while supporting healthier material standards.
- Hospitality: Bring natural character into guest-facing spaces without relying on fake wood prints.
- Retail and restaurants: Use real wood to create a memorable brand environment customers can feel.
- Education and wellness spaces: Choose finishes with clearer indoor air quality documentation.
In commercial design, the right material has to do more than look good in a rendering. It has to be explainable, spec-ready, and defensible. Certification helps make that case.
Real wood without the guesswork
There are plenty of wall products that imitate wood. Printed vinyl, laminate panels, and faux textures can look convincing online, but they do not give a room the same depth, variation, or tactile warmth as the real material.
Stikwood is real wood. That is the first reason it changes a space so quickly. The second reason is trust: many Stikwood products pair that authentic material with documented standards, including Indoor Advantage™ GOLD and FSC® Recycled options.
How this supports Made-In Matters
Our Made-In Matters page is built around one belief: what goes on your walls should be real, responsible, and made with care.
Indoor Advantage™ GOLD is the indoor air quality proof point in that story. It supports the broader Stikwood standard:
- Made in the USA: Closer manufacturing control and craft accountability.
- 100% real wood: Authentic material, not a printed imitation.
- Indoor Advantage™ GOLD: Certified indoor air quality performance for many Stikwood products.
- FSC® Recycled options: Responsible material choices with documented standards.
That is why this certification belongs in the same conversation as American manufacturing and sustainability. It is not just a badge. It is part of the reason Stikwood is the right choice for rooms where people actually live and work.
What to look for when comparing wall materials
If you are comparing wall planks, panels, wallpaper, laminate, vinyl, or other decorative wall finishes, ask better questions than “Does it look like wood?”
- Is it real wood or a printed imitation?
- Where is it made?
- Does it carry indoor air quality certification?
- Are sustainability claims documented?
- Can I order samples before committing?
- Is the installation realistic for my project timeline?
Stikwood is built to answer those questions clearly: real wood, made in the USA, certified indoor air quality options, responsible material standards, samples you can order, and a practical installation path for homes and businesses.
Ready to compare finishes? Shop Stikwood real wood planks | Order samples | Explore trade resources
Frequently asked questions
What does Indoor Advantage™ GOLD mean?
Indoor Advantage™ GOLD is an SCS Global Services certification for low chemical emissions from products used indoors. It helps verify that a product supports better indoor air quality standards.
Is Stikwood Indoor Advantage™ GOLD certified?
Many Stikwood products are Indoor Advantage™ GOLD certified for indoor air quality by SCS Global Services. Stikwood product documentation references certification number SCS-IAQ-05706.
Does Indoor Advantage™ GOLD mean no VOCs?
The certification focuses on low VOC emissions and compliance with indoor air quality requirements. When writing specifications, use the certification language and product documentation for the specific Stikwood product being selected.
Why does indoor air quality certification matter for wall planks?
Wall planks become part of the built environment. Certification helps homeowners and project teams choose materials with clearer low-emission documentation for rooms where people spend time every day.
Is Stikwood a good choice for commercial interiors?
Yes. Stikwood works well for offices, hospitality, retail, restaurants, and other commercial spaces because it combines real wood warmth with practical installation and spec-friendly certification details.
Where should I start?
Start with the Made-In Matters pillar page, then shop real wood finishes or order samples to compare color, texture, and grain in your own space.
