Charlie Harris Following Covid-19, people are beginning to return to the office, with more hybrid and on-site office jobs becoming available. In turn, this has led to companies having to once again focus on making the office a good place to be for all employees. We are seeing this happening in several different ways. For example, some companies are bringing the outside in, in the form of plants.
Office Plants: Why to Have Them & Which Ones are Best
Following Covid-19, people are beginning to return to the office, with more hybrid and on-site office jobs becoming available.
In turn, this has led to companies having to once again focus on making the office a good place to be for all employees.
We are seeing this happening in several different ways. For example, some companies are bringing the outside in, in the form of plants.
Research has shown that plants can have several benefits on employees, from boosting mood to improving productivity. In addition, some plants can improve the air quality by removing toxins from the air, as well as increasing humidity levels.
It’s important to note that many different types of indoor plants can thrive in an office, depending on the water and light available. While some indoor plants and flowers are more low-maintenance, like succulents and cacti, others need a bit more care to thrive, depending on their origin and maintenance requirements.
In this article, we’re going to take a deeper look at why plants are good for the office. We’ll also explore the range of office plants you could add to your space, from the impact they can have on employees and the office environment, to the air qualifying purities they can have.
Why Have Plants in the Office?
Studies have found that having plants in your office can have several benefits. These include an overall improvement in employees’ mood, a reduction in stress and anxiety, boosted productivity, and increased energy levels.
Plants can add colour to office rooms, and are therefore great for interior design. Delving deeper, though, they can also create a calming atmosphere and improve mental health.
It’s important to note, however, that different plants and flowers can often have different effects on employees, depending on colours and appearances.
Can Plants Help Improve Air Quality?
As well as improving employees’ mood and energy levels, plants have been proven to improve air quality in an office.
The Approved Code of Practice establishes that in a workplace, the indoor air quality should be as good as, if not better than, the air quality outside.
When it comes to improving the air quality in your office, it’s important to consider indoor pollution and levels of carbon dioxide in the air, and how you can negate this.
Studies have found that adding plants to an indoor space can help with indoor pollution, to a certain extent, depending on the types of plants used.
This is because plants can help remove carbon dioxide from the air, which is a pollutant that can be found in many indoor environments like offices.
Later on in this article, we will be looking into which plants can help clean the air in offices.
Interior Design Benefits
As we’ve mentioned above, plants can add a pop of colour to an office interior.
Sometimes, due to restrictions, you might not be able to decorate or paint your office in the colours you’d like. In these situations, more vibrant plants can help brighten up your office space.
Bright colours in offices can promote higher energy levels and productivity in employees, which is another reason as to why you should have office plants.
What Are Some Good Office Plants?
So, if you’re looking to add a plant - or multiple - into your office space, here are a few ideas:
Spider Plant
Firstly, spider plants make an ideal office plant because they are low-maintenance and they don’t need full sun, meaning they’re ideal for offices with cubicles and similar structures.
Secondly, spider plants can help purify the air in your office. A recent study showed that they are great at removing VOCs and similar pollutants from the air.
Finally, spider plants’ long leaves look excellent on higher shelves, adding a touch of drama and nature to any office.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is often known for its soothing properties, often used as aftercare for sunburns and other injuries.
However, it is also a good option for an office plant. As a succulent, aloe vera plants don’t need as much water and care as other indoor plants, making it ideal for an office.
In addition, aloe vera is well-known for producing oxygen during the night, helping improve the air quality in the room.
Aloe vera is also great from an aesthetic perspective - like other succulents, it’s very pleasing on the eye, and will look great in any office environment.
Snake Plant
The snake plant, also known as Dracaena Trifasciata, is an ideal option for cubicles and offices with similar layouts.
This plant copes well even without much light, and they don’t need constant watering, meaning they’re fairly low-maintenance and can cope with most conditions, unless they are overwatered.
In addition, snake plants are great when it comes to improving the air quality. They are able to absorb toxins in the air, making sure it is clean and safe for employees to breathe.
From an aesthetic perspective, when looked after properly, they’re a beautiful vibrant green colour, adding brightness to any office.
Bamboo Palm
Bamboo palm is one of the most well-known indoor plants when it comes to maintaining good air quality, due to its ability to remove formaldehyde and xylene from the air.
Another aspect which makes bamboo palm an ideal office plant is that it increases humidity. In an office, especially when employees are working on a screen all day, low levels of humidity can lead to eye problems and fatigue.
In these cases, using humidifiers can help keep the humidity levels between the ideal 40% and 70%. In addition, adding a plant like a bamboo palm can also help improve humidity.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant - also known as zamioculcas zamiifolia - is an ideal office plant due to its low-maintenance nature.
This plant doesn’t need a great deal of water or sunlight to grow, meaning that they’re a good option for North-facing office spaces and cubicle layouts.
ZZ plants thrive best in environments with average indoor humidity, which is why they’re ideal for an office, where the humidity levels must be kept between 40% and 70%. While they can cope with drier environments, this is only for a short period of time.
Peace Lily
To add a more aesthetic feel to an office, peace lilies are a great choice. They are low-maintenance and adaptable, making them a good option for workplaces with less direct sunlight.
Also, peace lilies are known for their air purifying abilities. They are able to filter and remove toxins and chemicals from the air.
This makes them ideal for companies looking to improve air quality in their offices, as well as adding a calming, aesthetically-pleasing piece of nature into the space to complement the office decor and help boost the mood and productivity of employees.
Chrysanthemums
Another flower which would be able to thrive in an office environment is chrysanthemums. These beautiful plants tend to prefer slightly cooler areas, but can generally cope in average indoor temperatures.
In addition, chrysanthemums enjoy an average level of humidity - which is ideal for an office, especially as humidity should always be monitored to ensure it doesn’t fall below or rise above the range of 40% to 70%.
Chrysanthemums don’t tend to thrive in direct sunlight. Just like many of the other plants and flowers on this list, this makes them ideal for cubicle offices, or offices where there is less direct sunlight overall.
The Best Office Plants
Overall, to answer the question of “what are the best office plants”, the best office plant for you depends on your requirements, as well as the conditions in your office.
For example, if your office is a busier environment, plants may get watered less often. In this situation, a low-maintenance plant may be more ideal.
In addition, there are some indoor plants which prefer less direct sunlight, which is ideal for North-facing offices, or areas that get less light.