While plants might not be the first things that come to mind when you think of ways to improve your office and get the most out of your workday, you might be surprised to hear just how much of an impact they can have.
In fact, they’ve been shown to have such important benefits that many workplaces are now incorporating plants and greenery as part of their design process.
In this article, we’ll explain five big benefits of having plants in your office and give you a few suggestions for which ones to pick.
5 Benefits of Having Plants in Your Office or Workspace
Whether you’ve got a dedicated desk or a fully private office, adding a touch of greenery can do wonders to your workday.
Here are some of the benefits plants offer.
1. Stress Relief
Plants are well-known to provide us with peace of mind. That’s why something as simple as going for a walk in nature can calm your mood and help you regroup.
Studies have even found significant reductions in stress among workers when plants were introduced into their workspace, including:
- 37% decrease in tension and anxiety
- 58% drop in depression or dejection
- 44% decrease in anger and hostility
- 38% reduction in fatigue
Even the mere presence of plants in your workspace can have a transformative effect on your day.
2. Improved Productivity
Here’s a jaw-dropping statistic: research from the University of Exeter found that employee productivity jumped 15% when with the addition of a few basic houseplants. In fact, adding just one plant per square meter was even shown to improve memory retention.
3. Purified Air
The University of Technology in Sydney found that indoor plants can help reduce carbon dioxide levels by about 10% in air-conditioned offices and by about 25% in buildings without air conditioning.
Believe it or not, NASA even conducted a study of plants’ ability to purify the air in the International Space Station and found them to be effective, even in outer space.
4. Reduced Noise Levels
If you work in an open-concept environment, such as a coworking space, plants can help reduce the level of noise in the workspace. That’s because plants are actually able to absorb sound rather than simply deflecting it, in turn allowing them to reduce the distracting effects of background noise and chatter.
5. Bolstered Creativity
According to The 2015 Human Spaces Report, employees whose offices included natural elements scored 15% higher for creativity than those whose offices didn’t. So, the numbers indicate that having plants on your desk or within your workspace can actually help get your creative juices flowing.
6 Great Plants for Your Desk or Office
Now that you understand why it’s worth investing in a plant (or a few!) for your desk, office, or workspace, you’re probably wondering which ones to choose.
Here are a couple of recommendations.
1. Cacti
We have no shortage of cacti in Tucson, but if you’re looking for a plant to liven up your workspace, they’re a great option.
For starters, they thrive in our climate. But beyond that, they’re extremely easy to care for, needing water only once a week in the spring and summer and every three weeks during the fall and winter.
They’re also available in a wide array of sizes, shapes, and appearances.
2. Air Plants
Speaking of low maintenance, air plants literally don’t even need soil to survive, so you can even put them in a glass bowl full of rocks on your desk, if you want to. All you have to do to water them is dunk them in water for two or three hours every 10 days.
3. Snake Plants
With the ability to survive with minimal light and in drought conditions, snake plants are perfect for an office because they don’t take a ton of time or attention away from your work. They also grow vertically so you don’t need a ton of square footage for them.
4. Succulents
Succulents come in so many different shapes, colors, appearances, and sizes. And since they actually store water in their thick leaves, they only need weekly waterings and enjoy sunlight and dry air–both of which are abundant here in Tucson.
5. Aloe
If you spend a lot of time out of the office but enjoy a sunny workspace, the aloe plant may be your best bet. These plants also live in the desert, so they can handle infrequent watering–as long as they have lots of light.
6. Peace Lily
Looking for a plant that will bring some air-purifying properties to your workspace? Peace Lilies are a great bet. These plants don’t demand much care and can live in low light. Just water them weekly, feed them a slow-release fertilizer in the spring, and they’ll help remove benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and more from your air.
This is just a small sample of the dozens of plants that are perfect for any workspace.
But one thing’s for sure: having plants on your dedicated desk or in your private office can be a great way to improve your workdays. And at The Post, we’re all for customizing your space, so feel free to bring in plants to spruce up your space!
Want to learn more about coworking and flexible office space and how it can help supercharge your workday? Get in touch today.