Back to work: A fresh start

A University of Southampton study shows that over 19% of people would prefer to continue working from home, while 23% would prefer a mix of home and office working. Ensuring that the workspace is a welcoming space is more important than ever, and the use of indoor planting can be one of the ways this is achieved.
Office planting has many benefits and below we explain how some of these can make the transition back into the office that little bit smoother.

Mental health has become a big consumer and corporate focus over the past years, with the hashtags #wellness and #wellbeing racking up over 60 million uses on Instagram alone. It’s a well-known fact that plants have many physical health benefits, but they also have some well-documented psychological benefits that can greatly improve staff wellness. Research carried out by Professor Margaret Burchett has shown that just one plant in a room can reduce anxiety by 37% and increase feelings of positivity by as much as 65%.

Additionally, colour psychology shows that due to its short wavelength the eyes do not need to adjust to see the colour green, meaning that it is experienced as a relaxing colour. The colour green can put people at ease and is thought to represent tranquillity, something we are all in need of after the past year!

The move away from long commutes and stark office spaces to comfortable living rooms and home offices provided many of us with a much more relaxing work experience. Given that we spend roughly 30% of our lives working, it’s important that there is an element of comfort within our workspaces.
The use of indoor plants in the workplace can help to recreate some of the comfort of home by adding colour, warmth, and natural materials to the space, making the workplace more hospitable for its users.

Being surrounded by people again will likely be nerve wracking for many. A post-lockdown survey by Anxiety UK has shown that over 20% of people feel anxious about returning to the office. Plants are a great way to create some division without completely closing spaces off, and therefore can be a great tool to aid in social distancing.
Ensuring that there are practical but also visually pleasing elements in place to enable distancing will work towards encouraging those who are hesitant to feel safer and more comfortable in the working environment.

All of these benefits work hand in hand with each other to create a more welcoming environment, creating a positive effect not only on those directly using the space, but ultimately on the overall health and output of the business as the world gets back up and running again.

To discuss how we can help bring the benefits of plants to your workspace and your team, please get in touch by emailing enquiries@plantdesigns.co.uk or filling out our contact form.