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A clean, clutter-free, and attractive office can positively affect you and your employees. It can help boost morale, encourage collaboration, and increase productivity. While comfortable furniture and chairs, proper lighting, and appealing decorations are obvious ways to create an inviting office environment and employee workstations, indoor plants are also worth your consideration.
Having plants in your workplace can create an aesthetically pleasing environment, making your office more inviting and attractive to employees and visitors. Plus, indoor plants can reduce stress, improve air quality, and provide a pleasant atmosphere. This Balboa Capital blog article discusses four benefits of having plants in the office. Whether you run a small business at a brick-and-mortar location or are an employee who works from home, you will find this information to be helpful and informative if you are looking to spruce up your workspace with some greenery.
1. They can help clean the office air.
Good ventilation should be a top priority at your business. A well-functioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can improve air quality and reduce high humidity indoors, and keep you and your employees comfortable during winter and summer. But did you know that plants can also help improve indoor air quality? According to a study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), certain plants can also remove harmful toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene from the air¹.
2. They help reduce noise levels.
When an office or workspace is nearly empty or sparsely furnished, the sound of people talking, computer keyboards clicking, and tasks being completed is louder or gives a slight echo. That is because there isn’t enough furniture to absorb the sound and prevent it from bouncing from wall to wall or floor to ceiling. So, ensure that your office or workspace has enough furniture and fixtures to minimize noise and echo. And if space permits, consider adding some indoor plants. The leaves, stems, and branches of plants are capable of absorbing and deflecting sound. Plants can be placed on side tables, near windows, and on work desks. If you work from home, larger plants can reduce noise, separate your workspace, and allow you to be more productive.
3. They can increase happiness.
Employees can feel refreshed and happy when they see plants or trees in and around their workspaces. Plus, plants improve the overall aesthetic appeal of your office space. Think of what happens when you go to the park and see beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowers or visit a scenic area in your city or town. The lush greenery and colors of nature make you feel happy and relaxed. You can get the same feeling when seeing attractive plants in your workspace. In short, the vibrant greenery of plants offers a visually stimulating experience for you, your employees, and your visitors.
4. They are easy to maintain.
Many small business owners think plants can distract and take up too much office space. However, the benefits of having plants in the workplace far outweigh any drawbacks. Caring for and maintaining an office plant collection is relatively easy and can be a rewarding experience. However, keeping your indoor plants healthy and thriving requires some effort on your part. First, you must choose the right plants for your space. For example, getting a massive plant for a small desk would not make sense, as its branches and leaves would get in the way. Next, providing your plants with adequate sunlight and water is essential.
Where to buy indoor plants.
You can shop for indoor plants at your local garden nursery. And depending on where you are located, there may be an independently owned plant store to visit. Garden nurseries and plant stores have experts who deal with plants daily, and they can help you choose the best indoor plants based on your needs. They can also tell you which plants might trigger allergies and should therefore be avoided.
Consider a high-light indoor plant if your office or workspace has windows that let in direct or indirect sunlight throughout the day. A low-light indoor plant is a good option if your office or workspace only receives a couple of hours of direct or indirect sunlight each day. There are also medium-light indoor plants to choose from. Ask a plant expert at your local nursery or plant store about the watering requirements for the plants you are interested in. Not all plants need the same amount of water; some may require regular watering, while others only need a quick misting every few days or weeks.
Conclusion.
The right plants can significantly improve the look, feel, and productivity of your office or workspace. And you don’t need to have a green thumb to have healthy, vibrant plants throughout the year. You just need to give your plants the right amount of sunlight and water. Lastly, you will need to prune them when required to remove any dead leaves or damaged stems and encourage robust growth.
Reference:
1. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930073077
Balboa Capital, a Division of Ameris Bank, is not affiliated with nor endorses the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.