The reception area of an office is the first thing people see when they enter – from clients to employees, this is their first impression of your business.

This is why it can really help to have an inviting and visually-appealing reception area which sets the tone of your company as well as your office.

Making your office reception area look good comes down to interior design, from paints to furnishings and more.

These days, however, there’s been more of a focus on bringing the inside in when it comes to interior decor, adding plants to office spaces to provide a fresh and vibrant edge.

In addition, certain plants are well-known for helping improve air quality, as they remove particular toxins from the air.

Finally, plants are fun to look after, if cared for properly, and can give the office a calm and restful atmosphere.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at 9 of the best plants for reception areas, in terms of maintenance and care requirements, air purifying abilities, and aesthetic appeal.

1 – Cacti

Perhaps one of the go-to plants for both the home and the office: the cactus. It’s an iconic house and office plant, and can even flower if cared for properly, adding to its aesthetic appeal.

This plant is well-known for being extremely low-maintenance. In fact, it really doesn’t enjoy being overwatered, making it ideal for a busier office environment where people may forget to water it.

While cacti don’t purify the air by removing toxins, they do release oxygen during the day and absorb carbon dioxide at night, which can help improve the air quality in your office.

2 – Succulents

Another great plant for your reception area is a succulent.

In fact, this is more of a plant group, but overall, succulents are extremely easy to look after, which is why they’re another popular house and office plant, as well as cacti.

Just like cacti, succulents are also very visually appealing, and can blend in with a wide range of decors, depending on your current designs and colour scheme. They can also flower, if maintained well and kept in the right conditions.

Some types of succulents are ideal for cleaning and purifying the air in your office, such as snake plants and Dracaena.

3 – Monstera

If you’re looking to truly bring the outside in with a larger plant, having a monstera in your office area might be the way to go.

These plants are vibrant and have fun and interesting shapes, making them a great eye-catching piece to add to the interior design of your reception area.

In addition, they’re really easy to look after, and are able to thrive as long as they are regularly watered and have access to indirect light.

While they may require more watering and care than cacti and succulents, they can grow to a massive 15 feet indoors, so they’ll give back the effort you put in.

Finally, according to NASA studies, the Monstera is one of the best plants to get when it comes to removing toxins from the air.

4 – Bamboo

Depending on how you’ve designed your reception area, you might be looking for a more dramatic, vibrant plant to add an edge to your decor.

If this is the case, a bamboo plant might be a good choice. It’s bright and bold, ideal for making a statement when clients and employees enter your reception space.

In addition to the aesthetic benefits of bamboo, it’s also great if you’re looking to purify your air. Bamboo can actually help remove toxins like formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene from the air in your office reception area.

Apart from having to prune when the canes get older, bamboo is easy to care for, and doesn’t need constant watering to thrive.

5 – Fern

Many people are used to seeing fern outside, but they’re also a surprisingly good indoor plant, which add a natural feel to any reception area.

In terms of maintenance, fern requires high levels of humidity to thrive indoors, and they can be grown in terrariums if this is something you’re considering. They also need indirect light to be able to thrive.

Whilst the maintenance side of having a fern may be a little more complicated than the other plants on this list, they are good at removing pollutants from the air.

So, if you’re looking for a softer, more natural feel in your reception area, ferns are a great option.

6 – Bonsai Trees

One of the first things people think about when it comes to office and desktop plants is the bonsai tree.

It’s well-known that bonsai trees can be tricky to maintain and look after, but they can help your reception area feel calm and relaxed, adding a touch of nature.

For green-fingered colleagues, a bonsai tree is a great option, because it requires a good amount of pruning and maintenance, but it’s easy to reap the rewards once the work has been put in.

In addition, they’re excellent at removing pollutants like formaldehyde, so as well as looking good, they can help improve the quality of the air in your office, too.

7 – Spider Plants

Most well-known when it comes to purifying the air, spider plants are another great option for your reception area.

According to a NASA study, they’re able to remove up to 95% of toxic substances in the air, making them a great choice if you’re looking for a plant to help purify the air in your office.

The spider plant adds a vibrant touch to any reception area, and can fit in with most decors and colour schemes.

In terms of maintenance, spider plants prefer bright but indirect sunlight, and should be watered around once per week, making them relatively low-maintenance as long as your reception area has some sunlight.

8 – African Violets

If you’re looking to add a pop of colour to your reception area, African violets are a great option.

These plants are able to keep flowering throughout the year if looked after and maintained properly.

Generally, they tend to do well in bright, warm and humid areas, but they don’t have to be constantly watered, making them a medium-maintenance indoor plant.

In terms of air purifying qualities, African violets are known to remove harmful toxins and pollutants from the air, like benzene and formaldehyde.

This makes them the ideal choice if you’re looking for a plant in your reception area that’s vibrant and can help purify your air, as long as it gets the care and environment it needs to thrive.

9 – String of Pearls

Another option if you’re looking to add a dramatic flair to your office reception area is a string of pearls plant.

As well as the aesthetic allure, string of pearls plants is known for being an efficient air purifier, ideal if you’re looking to improve your office’s air quality.

While string of pearls plants require a high level of bright, indirect sunlight and often daily watering depending on the season, they pay back the effort put into them, in dividends.

So, if you’re looking to improve your air quality and add a dramatic plant to your reception area, a string of pearls plant might be the way to go.

The Best Plant for an Office Reception Area

As you’d imagine, the best plant for your office reception area really comes down to what you’re looking for.

While some people may just want a plant that looks good and fits in with the decor and aesthetic their reception area already has, others may be searching for the right plant to help purify the air in their reception area.

Whichever route you’re going down, it’s important to keep in mind how much care, maintenance, sunlight and water the plant will need, among other factors, and how it’ll be able to thrive in your environment, before you decide on the right plant for your space.