With the increase in urbanization, we are spending more and more time indoors, mostly at work, 89% of full-time workers average 8.5 hours of work on any given weekday – that’s a lot of time indoors! By turning the office workspace into a Biophilic design you can help improve employee work quality, their well-being, and can enhance the overall aesthetic of an office environment.
What is Biophilia and a Biophilic Design?
Humans have an innate attraction to nature and natural processes like we all have a genetic connection to the natural world, this desire is called ‘Biophilia’ (meaning love of nature).
Biophilic Design is a concept that uses these ideas as principles to create a human centered approach to increase connectivity to the natural environment through the direct or indirect use of nature in a space.
Here are 15 reasons why you need plants in the office
BOOSTS EMPLOYEE WORK QUALITY BY
1. Increasing Productivity
According to a study conducted by Voucher Cloud office employees are truly productive only for about 2 hours and 53 minutes in an 8-hour workday. A truly terrifying statistic for any business owner, but adding indoor plants to the office environment can help increase productivity by up to 15%! Adding just one plant per square meter can improve memory retention and help employees score higher on other basic tests according to researcher Dr. Chris Knight. This can be done by simply adding some Indoor plants or Green walls/Moss walls.
2. Increasing Creativity
A study by German researchers showed that participants were more creative after being exposed to a brief glimpse of the color green. And guess what has a lot of green? Yes….plants! In addition, having live plants in the space makes it feel fresher as compared to a more monotonous space. Simply being surrounded by natural elements can help spark creativity in employees.
3. Reduction in Absenteeism
Incorporating biophilic design creates an environment that is more pleasant and inviting to work in, making employees feel happier and satisfied in the space. This leads to increased employee attendance.
4. Helps Employees Feel More Valued
Research shows that environments with plants affect the perceived value by adding a sense of luxury and prestige. The perceived value instills confidence in the product. Since plants can increase confidence in retail environments it is likely that employees will feel confident in their workplace as well. This contributes to work quality by making employees feel more valued and therefore highly likely to put more effort into their work.
IMPROVES EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING THROUGH
5. Stress Relief
Chronic stress can lead to physical and mental symptoms that contribute to decreased productivity and employee absenteeism. Symptoms of stress are: muscle tension, headaches, low energy, fatigue, lethargy. A 2010 study by the new University of Technology, Sydney, found significant reductions in stress among workers when plants were introduced to their workspace. Results included a 37% fall in reported tension and anxiety; a 58% drop in depression or dejection; a 44% decrease in anger and hostility; and a 38% reduction in fatigue.
6. Reducing Illness
Similarly, leaving chronic stress unaddressed can lead to or increase symptoms of many more serious health conditions like heart disease, asthma, gastrointestinal issues, migraines, depression, and weakened immune system. Therefore, by reducing the overall stress of employees, you also help prevent or reduce symptoms of serious medical issues that lead to more absent employees.
7. Improving the Air Quality
In an experiment conducted by NASA to test the effectiveness of plants removing common indoor toxins and it proved to be effective in decreasing the overall contamination of like Benzene, Formaldehyde, and Trichloroethylene. The removal of Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCS) has been shown to be removed by 70% when plants convert them to carbon dioxide and water.
8. Increase Humidity
Offices with large HVAC systems tend to be dry, cold and uncomfortable, but by adding plants you can help to improve humidity levels. Indoor plants lose 90% of their water through transpiration so you can think of plants as natural humidifiers—this is especially great in the winter months.
9. Create A Sense Of Relaxation
In a survey taken recently 40% of people agree that natural greenery within their indoor environment made them feel calmer and more relaxed. Natural greenery triggers comfort in your brain. Much like going for a walk outside clears your mind, plants in the work area creates a space that is soothing to be in. Plants give us that comfort and fulfill the need to return to nature while we are in our offices.
10. Calms Anxiety
Plants help with loneliness, anxiety and depression. Caring for, or just being in the company of another living thing gives us purpose and it can be very rewarding—especially when you see your plants growing, thriving and blooming.
DESIGN AND AESTHETIC ENRICHMENT
11. Add Visual Depth
Office spaces can often feel cold and overbearing, but indoor plants can offer some pretty cool enhancements to the space like:
– Creating a fancy focal point.
– Creating an interesting and beautiful room divider.
– Adding more interest and color to the environment.
– Creating a sense of ambiance.
These elements allow for the eye to rest from staring at a computer screen and have a pleasing effect for workers.
12. Absorb Sound
Research shows that plants (and moss) can absorb sound, why not use some beautiful greenery and reduce the number of unappealing panels for soundproofing? An excellent way to do this is through living walls and moss walls. You can even insert a freestanding living wall in the form of a room divider.
13. Likability
People are often perceived as more likable and nurturing when walking into an office filled with plants. Plants add color and character and give off good vibes and which only helps when meeting new people, welcoming them into your office or working with a group of people in your space.
14. Happy Workplace
Working in a beautiful space that has been designed with inspiration by nature, known as a Biophilic Design, promotes a happy environment. When people are working in a space that gets them psychologically engaged they are happier, work more productively and you retain employees longer.
15. Plants are Pretty
Plants are just pretty to look at, they are an easy and beautiful way to style your office space. There are so many different types of plants that all have a unique style and come in rich shades of green. Mix and match the types of plants in your office and have fun displaying them in different stylish pots with fun colors and interesting shapes. There’s nothing better than a little visual relief from staring at a computer screen for eight hours.
