When you think of an office space, what do you imagine? Most might envision a dull, white room with a desk, computer, and chair. Did you know that this kind of bland environment is one of the most toxic spaces for humans to work in? As a result, motivation and creativity decreases, and mental health is negatively impacted.
Additionally, humans have a deep need to be connected to nature. This is called biophilia. Being connected to nature has many positive effects. It supports cognitive function, as well as physical and mental health.
With that being said, here are 5 reasons why you should fill your office with plants:
In This Article:
- Green Offices Reduce Stress
- Plants Can Help Increase Productivity
- The Color Green Boosts Creativity
- Plants Allow More Color and Texture in Design Choices
- Plants Reduce Noise Levels
- Which Plants will Thrive in your Office?
1. Green Offices Reduce Stress
One of the ways that biophilia helps workers is by reducing stress. Plants are super supportive of mental health. Per this analysis, being in a space with plants can improve self-esteem and mood, both in the short and long-term.
With humans spending around 90% of their time indoors, spending time in natural environments is increasingly important. Though we may not be able to change that percentage, we can adjust our indoor environments to reflect our natural environments as closely as possible.
2. Plants Can Help Increase Productivity
You should fill your office with plants because it can increase your productivity. According to a study done in the Netherlands and the UK, productivity was increased by 15% after plants were brought into the working environment. Why? One of the authors of the study suggested that the plants made the office space feel more comfortable and happy. It follows, that happy employees are more likely to be productive employees.
3. The Color Green Boosts Creativity
Interestingly, research has shown that even just a brief glimpse of the color green can enhance creative performance. Therefore, this goes beyond simple aesthetics and suggests that more research should be done to understand the full effects of what the color green can do for creativity and innovation.
The author of this study, Dr. Stephanie Lichtenfeld, stated that “green may serve as a cue that evokes the motivation to strive for improvement and task mastery, which in turn may facilitate growth.” Perhaps there is some underlying psychology behind the color green that we are just now starting to understand.
4. Plants Allow More Color and Texture in Design Choices
Another reason why you should fill your office with plants is because plants add color and texture to your work environment. Often, offices are dull and plain. Plants can give your office that boost of vibrancy it so desperately needs.
There are so many different types of plants to choose from. You can mix and match with greenery or flowering plants to create your own unique green office.
5. Plants Reduce Noise Levels
Plants reduce noise by absorbing sound. This is great for busy offices or chaotic homes where noise abounds. Having plants in your office space can help you drown out background noise and allow you to focus better on the work you have in front of you.
Keep in mind that the number of plants you have in your office space along with the size of each plant plays a factor in how much sound is absorbed. Find the best 10 sound absorbing indoor plants here.
Which Plants will Thrive in your Office?
There are a variety of plants that will thrive in an office environment. If you’re looking to find an easy and low maintenance indoor plant, visit our article that lists 5 of the easiest indoor plants for beginners.
Furthermore, if you need information about the different lighting conditions and window directions your office space may have, read our blog post about plant lighting.
