Productive, motivating and good for the working atmosphere – what sounds like classic requirements for future employees, describes quite a common design element: houseplants.They have always been around, yet they are currently experiencing a revival. Just look at the “Urban Jungle” trend, transforming living rooms around the world into green oases.
The fact that plants transmit a multitude of positive effects to our interiors has been confirmed by numerous studies. They examine the effects on people and space in general, but also specifically in the context of the workplace. One of the best-known studies was carried out by NASA in 1989, but it’s still relevant today. It proved the purifying effect of houseplants or, to stay in the office jargon, the productivity of our green co-workers: not only do plants produce oxygen, they also absorb pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and ammonia.
Another study was carried out internally by BMW in Munich at the beginning of the 2000s. The car manufacturer took a close look at the health-promoting effects of plants in the office, collecting data on the indoor climate and acoustics. Not only the climate benefits from greening, also the employees stated that they feel more comfortable and motivated in the workplace. These are just two examples from a long list – from whatever perspective you look at it, you’ll always come to the same conclusion: plants are good for us and for our spaces.
For obvious reasons the spider plant is particularly popular in offices: it is easy to care for, tolerates both sunny and shady locations and will survive short periods of time without watering. In addition, the plant improves the indoor climate by reducing the formaldehyde concentration and filtering xylenes as well as toluene from the air. These two aromatic hydrocarbons are used in paints and varnishes and have, among other things, a deleterious effect on the respiratory tract.
Thanks to their striking foliage, they are a popular indoor design element. The big variegated leaves with patches of white are eye-catching indeed. In addition, large or large-leaved houseplants are particularly helpful for the acoustics in a room. Dieffenbachiaplants need a light to semi-shaded location and must be watered regularly; make sure to clean the leaves from time to time. The plant will thank you with removing a good amount of toxins from the air.
Appearances are deceiving here – the pretty flower of this houseplant is strictly speaking not a flower, but a leaf. However, this takes nothing away from its decorative looks. The flamingo flower certainly adds a little color to the office while also having considerable effects on the indoor climate. The plant purifies the air of formaldehyde, xylenes, toluene and even ammonia.
Find more inspiration in Urban Jungle a book by Callwey on living and styling with plants. Further information tips and trends on healthy workplaces can be found here on this site.
