This year’s must-have colour? Green

We all know by now that the way an office is designed can impact our health. After all, a windowless room in a basement, jammed up next to a bank of rumbling servers, is unlikely to do much in terms of productivity (or a clear mind). Whereas a room with a view – somewhere airy and light-filled – is always going to put you in a good mood and set you up for a day of doing. If you’ve been to Spaces, you’ll know that we’re all about the latter (we’re just doing what the doctor ordered: it’s medically proven). But we’ve taken it to the next level, with a commitment to stock plants in the office too.

Indoor jungle vibes

This being Spaces, we’re not doing things by halves either. So forget about the sad little pot plant that hasn’t seen a watering can in a week. And banish any thoughts of a tragic bunch of fake flowers too. Because we’re talking about an abundance of greenery on a grand scale, with foliage flowing from bookcases, ledges and nooks. That’s right: we’re talking jungle proportions and a vibe that wouldn’t look out of place in a distinctly tropical setting. Plants not only look good but they also lift the spirits, and have been filtering our atmosphere long before the advent of the gurgling air conditioner.

The secret power of plants

This isn’t just about aesthetics either (although who doesn’t like the look of a glossy Ficus benjamina nestling in the corner?). Don’t just take our word for it though, because there’s a ton of evidence from bona fide sources around the world to make the case for going green. In the UK, a study by the University of Exeter found that having plants in the office increased productivity by 15%. And in the US, a Harvard study has shown that being surrounded by greenery boosts cognition by a whopping 26%, and contributes to a 30% drop in sickness-related absences. But let’s not stop there – it keeps on gets better. Plants at work also help at home, since those survey in the Harvard survey reported a 6% rise in the quality of their sleep too. So, all the research suggests that going green-fingered results in increased productivity, better mental health and reduced stress – which has to be a good thing for everyone involved.

‘Buildingomics’

According to the Harvard report’s authors, “Our goal is to improve the health of all people, in all buildings, everywhere, every day. To do this we are merging building science with health science and advocating for what we call ‘buildingomics’ – a new approach that examines the totality of factors in the building-related environment that influence human health, wellbeing, and productivity,” they told Forbes.

The researchers are passionate about moving science out of public health journals and into the hands of decision-makers: “we developed ‘The 9 Foundations of a Healthy Building’, a concise synthesis of 30 years of scientific data on the key elements that make buildings healthy.”

Office design has come a long way. Gone are the cubicles of yesteryear, and in their place – in more progressive companies, anyway – are open environments that promote collaboration and commingling. Architects and designers have moved away from creating spaces for specific people to creating spaces for specific tasks. So instead of a boss surveying the minions from behind the glass walls of her corner office, today you’re more likely to find a quiet area that anyone can use when they need some time to think; a breakout area with refreshment facilities and plenty of soft furnishings for coffee time; and meeting rooms for when projects require a period of sustained teamwork. Some offices even boast an auditorium-style structure for company-wide presentations.

Let’s go green

Whatever your physical work environment looks like right now, a green office space is one of the easiest ways to improve it. There’s no need to employ the likes of an expensive consultancy when you can pop out to the nearest garden centre. It’s worth having a chat with a staff member there about what plants works best for the space you have, so take a picture to show them on your phone before you head over. Given that your plants might not get watered all weekend, go for something that won’t mind this (and give its leaves an extra stroke first thing on Monday morning).

In Belgium and the Netherlands, Spaces has linked up with a company called Sprinklr to provide foliage for all our local sites. A delivery service for plants, they specialise in sourcing large, sustainably grown greenery for homes and offices – and will always tailor the selection to fit the space. We spend a large proportion of our lives at work, so it makes sense to make that environment – wherever it is – a healthy and inspiring one. Bringing the outside in, and reminding ourselves of our connection to nature, is a good way to do that – so think green and go for it.

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