Indoor Plants

Imagine you are sitting on a picnic blanket in the middle of a grassy park. The sunshine warms your skin as a gentle breeze drifts through the crisp air.  Now, imagine you are plucked from that park and dropped inside a dimly-lit cubicle with no indoor plants. 

Did you feel a shift in your mood from when you envisioned yourself outside versus inside a cubicle? The answer is probably yes. This simple thought exercise effectively demonstrates the value of incorporating more natural elements into corporate offices as a means of improving one’s mood. But don’t take our word for it, there is ample science behind why you should bring the outdoors inside. 

The Science Supporting a More Natural Office Environment

• People spend more time in areas with biophilic designs (designs aimed at promoting connection with nature)
• In one study, people with nature visible from their windows took 19% fewer sick days
• Studies report that adding plants to an office increases productivity by 15%
• The use of natural Light in the office was linked to improved sleep patterns 
• Tests conducted on a London office found that memory performance improved significantly after bringing in one plant per square meter. 
• Research shows that exposure to nature boosts self-esteem and mood
• Having access to outdoor spaces enhances creative thinking 
• Office plants actually increase employee helpfulness and boost sociability
• Humans can become fatigued from exerting direct attention to a specific task for extended periods of time. Attention Restoration Theory analyzes this phenomenon and says that natural environments help the restorative process. 
• Even just seeing the color green for two seconds had measurable effects on creative tasks when compared to seeing white, grey, blue, and red colors for the same duration of time 

These are just some of the many articles that support the notion that having a greener office is better than having a leaner office. As John Muir, a prominent naturalist, once said, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” Thus, try incorporating nature into your office, and the effects may surprise you.

For more tips on how to establish an outdoor area in your office space, see what designer Elaine Medeiros had to say.

Additionally, check out these other ways to make your office more productive and enjoyable.