The top 6 benefits of having plants in your office
The top 6 benefits of having plants in your office
Nature has healing powers.
Going out for a short walk in the park nearby or for a long hike in the mountains, people feel energized, happier and calmer. Fresh air, green trees, plants, and flowers, hold a magic power. This love relationship we have with plants has a name: biophilia, or “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes, and to be drawn toward nature, to feel an affinity for it, a love, a craving.”
The concept of biophilic design is a design philosophy that encourages the incorporation of nature into our living and working spaces. While this idea has been around for centuries, the way we design our cities and offices today is disconnecting us from nature. The absence of natural elements can cause physical and mental stress, which leads to decreased creativity and productivity.
One of the apparent reasons to add plants to your workspace is that they add more life and color to a workplace. However, there is a whole science behind why you should include these amazing stress-relievers in your work environment. With a little bit of initial investment and regular TLC (aka Tender Love & Care), they will give back so much more to you and your team.
Here are six key reasons why you should add more greenery to your workspace:
1. Plants help us be more productive
According to a global study, workspaces that incorporate natural elements have a 15% higher well-being score and a 6% higher productivity than employees whose offices don’t include natural elements. Adding greenery to your workspace helps restore our attention and focus.
Pro tip: Try adding at least one plant every meter and a half to improve your employees’ memory retention and help them perform quicker and better.
2. Plants boost our health
The same study states how providing natural lighting and adding greenery to employees’ workspaces has a big impact in reducing sickness absence rates among an organization’s employee population. In an office of 90 people, workers who had a window with a view of a nature scene recovered from low-level stress at a much quicker rate than those who only had a view of a blank wall.
Pro tip: Introduce big windows throughout the office, if possible. Highlight the feeling of spaciousness and connection with the surroundings.
3. Plants lower stress
Employee happiness is closely linked to stress levels. Every job has its ups and downs, but if it’s too demanding or leaves people overwhelmed, people will burn out and eventually leave. A study by the University of Technology in Sydney revealed that stress was significantly reduced when companies added plants to the workspace.
The results were staggering:
- 37% drop in anxiety and tension
- 58% decrease in depression/dejection
- 44% reduction in anger/hostility
- 38% fall in fatigue.
Pro tip: Create a meditation space where your team can come in and relax. Add plenty of plants, natural light, and soothing music for a full experience.
4. Plants reduce noise
Did you know plants absorb sound? Plants and trees have been used for years as barriers against traffic and other urban noise pollution sources. This natural superpower keeps distracting conversation and noise to a minimum. By placing large, potted plants in the corners and edges of rooms, your team will start to experience a huge difference in noise level.
Pro-tip: Use green walls to separate desks, reduce distracting sounds, and increase focus.
5. Plants help us be more creative
Workspaces with natural elements have their creativity boosted by about 15% more than those without. As nature relaxes people and allows them to concentrate better, it shifts our brains into a different type of processing mode. The attention restoration theory goes much deeper into this, and it’s truly fascinating!
Pro tip: Interestingly, the green color has the same effect. Green color can boost productivity and innovation, while red color decreases it, so dial down on red decorations.
6. Plants help us create an inviting and feel-good workspace
If you think your office needs a little more oomph, invest in green living mood-boosters. Consider different sizes, types, pots, etc. Indoor plants can help you revive your work environment and create that lost connection to nature. Biophilic design and finding ways to integrate organic elements into the work are more than trends. They are a principle that will help us change the way we work and feel at work — for the better.
Pro tip: If you’re not sure how to integrate more natural elements in your workspace, reach out to our team of experts. We’ll help you choose the right plants for your office. And so much more. Our mission is to create beautiful workspaces, encourage creativity, and promote outstanding work from your employees.
-min.webp){kind=spacer}
