Clear the air: the best air-purifying office plants for boosting productivity in work spaces

In addition to psychological benefits, adding some greenery brings the air-purifying properties of plants to the office. 
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Freddie Blackett8 June 2018

Moving from home to office and back again, as apartment-living city-dwellers our access to greenery may be as little as a shortcut through a park on the way to the Tube.

In this busy, urban world the concept of biophilia - the idea that humans need to stay connected to nature in order to maintain our health and well-being - is increasingly relevant.

Spending the bulk of our lives in sterile indoor environments just isn’t going to cut it anymore.

But while many of us have embraced the trend for filling our homes with glorious houseplant jungles, our offices haven't necessarily followed suit. And those of us who work from home may well have neglected the box-room study when it comes to decorating, despite the amount of time we spend there.

Research into workplace wellbeing has demonstrated the significant benefits of bringing some natural elements into your space including reducing stress and illness whilst increasing productivity and positivity.

A study by Dr Craig Knight at Exeter University, who specialises in the psychological impact of workplace design, demonstrated this boost to employee wellbeing.

Staff at three companies were first made to work in bleak, stripped-down offices while performance of various challenging tasks was measured. Half of the test subjects were then moved to a similar setting, with the important addition of some houseplants, after which they reported a 20 per cent increase in productivity.

In addition to psychological benefits, adding some greenery brings the air-purifying properties of plants to the office.

Indoor air is up to ten-times as polluted as outdoor air so, as we sit in our offices breathing recycled, air-conditioned air we are also exposed to many common toxic chemicals. Plants have been shown to be the most viable way of reducing these chemicals in a domestic or office setting.

And everyone from tech giants like Google and Facebook to the one-person freelancers working out of their spare rooms are wising up to the fact.

The Patch website makes it very easy for people without any experience to introduce plants to their offices and keep them alive.

THE FIVE BEST OFFICE PLANTS

  1. Susie (Sansevieria) is a great choice for office spaces as she puts up with low light levels and infrequent watering, all while purifying the air of nasty chemicals often abundant in indoor spaces.
  2. Mix up the heights of your plants to create a real visual statement. Rick (Dracaena fragrans) is a great option for this, as his tall, striking stature makes an impression without requiring a huge amount of attention.
  3. Big Ken (Howea forsteriana) is a firm favourite for his ability to transform a space with his large, arching fronds. He’s often a great choice for offices as he needs only filtered light.
  4. Robin (rubber plant) has beautiful glossy leaves of course, but he offers so much more. Chosen as one of NASA’s top air-purifiers, he’s a star at removing formaldehyde from the air.
  5. Howard (Aspidistra) is also known as the cast-iron plant thanks to his almost indestructible disposition. He can put up with a shady spot, less than frequent watering, and colder temperatures than most plants.

Freddie Blackett is the Founder of Patch.

Whether inside or outside your home or office, Patch help you discover the best plants for you, deliver them to your door and help you look after them. Follow @PatchPlants on Instagram to get inspired by the world’s best indoor and outdoor urban gardens.