Greenery is becoming an increasingly popular choice for business spaces. Many companies are now providing outdoor spaces with trees, green grass, and shrubs where employees can recharge amid nature. These landscapes can easily be maintained by an arborist.
Companies are also adding a lot of greenery indoors. Adding greenery to your business space has a host of benefits, and here are seven reasons why you should consider adding plants to your office and its surroundings:
1. Plants help purify the air.
Studies have shown that indoor plants can improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. They also help remove harmful toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the atmosphere. These toxins are commonly found in office furniture, carpets, and cleaning products. Indoor plants have also been shown to reduce sick days by reducing the number of airborne bacteria in the office. This is especially important in offices, where people often spend long hours breathing in polluted air.
2. Plants promote good health.
Plants not only improve air quality, but also promote good health. A review of more than 100 studies showed that higher exposure to greenery lowers the risk of developing high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes. In women, it lowers the risk of preterm birth. For your business, this means less absenteeism due to illness.
3. Plants help reduce noise levels.
Noisy offices can be distracting and stressful. Adding plants to an office can help reduce noise levels, making it a more pleasant and productive place to work.
One reason for this is that plants absorb sound waves, reducing the overall noise level in the office. Additionally, plants can provide a visual barrier between noise sources and workers, further reducing distraction and stress.
4. Plants help increase creativity and productivity.
The Columbus Dispatch cites research showing that having plants in the office helps increase employees’ engagement, creativity, motivation, speed, and productivity. A study by Cardiff University found that workers in a green office had 15% higher productivity than those in a conventional office. In addition, workers reported being able to concentrate more, increasing their satisfaction with the workplace.
5. Plants reduce stress levels.
A dull office can be brightened up with some vibrant plants. Not only do they make the space more visually appealing, but they can also improve your mood, reducing stress and anxiety.
A study by the University of Washington found that people who worked in an office with plants had lower stress levels than those who did not. Plants seem to have a calming effect, which can lead to reduced stress levels and improved productivity.
Studies have also shown that being around plants can lower blood pressure and heart rate, as well as reduce stress hormones like cortisol. This is especially beneficial in high-stress environments like offices, where people often spend long hours under pressure.
6. Plants are a natural way to decorate a space.
One of the primary benefits of adding plants to an office is that they can improve the aesthetics of the space. Plants add life to an otherwise bland environment. They can add a touch of nature to even in the most sterile office spaces, creating a more relaxing atmosphere. Whether you are looking for an earthy or a colorful look, there are plants that can help you achieve it in a perfect way.
Most indoor plants are low-maintenance and easy to care for. They only need watering once or twice a week and minimal sunlight. This makes them ideal for busy offices with limited time and resources.
7. Plants are affordable and eco-friendly.
Compared to other forms of office decoration, plants are relatively inexpensive and eco-friendly. They don’t require any electricity or other resources, making them a more sustainable option for businesses.
Additionally, indoor plants can help you save money on heating and cooling costs in a few ways. First, they can act as a natural insulator, trapping heat in the winter and cooler air in the summer. This can lead to lower energy costs as your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. Second, plants release moisture into the air, helping reduce the level of dryness and static electricity in the air. You will not need to use a humidifier.
In some cases, businesses rent plants for the office. They do not have to worry about maintaining the plants because the supplier switches them out for adequate sunning every day.
A Green Environment
In conclusion, adding greenery is an inexpensive way to make your office space more aesthetically pleasing and create a healthier environment indoors and outdoors. With so many benefits, it’s no wonder that more and more businesses are incorporating greenery into their interior design and surroundings.