Bucking the minimalist trends, a Exeter University study suggests that this minimalist aesthetic is doing us harm, as ‘sometimes less is just less’. It recommends adding indoor plants to improve your health, happiness and productivity in the workplace.
Dr Chris Knight from Exeter University and his fellow psychologists, who have been studying the issue for 10 years, concluded that employees were 15% more productive when “lean” workplaces are filled with just a few houseplants, as employees who actively engage with their surroundings are better workers.
An increased focus on a flexible and adaptable workplaces means many offices have unintentionally embraced the ‘minimalist’ movement. We see this on trend, lean minimalist philosophy being highly influential across a wide range of organisational domains.
When plants were brought into the offices – one plant per square metre – employee performance on memory retention and other basic tests improved substantially.
“What was important was that everybody could see a plant from their desk. If you are working in an environment where there’s something to get you psychologically engaged you are happier and you work better,” Knight said.
A healthy work environment is vital to a person’s well-being and indoor plants contribute to it more than you might think. Their main benefit is air-filtering, so it sounds only reasonable that NASA did a Clean Air Study, that found which plants are effective at removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia from the air – chemicals that have been linked to negative health effects like headaches, dizziness, eye irritation, and others.
The designer in me is a massive fan of clean lines, surfaces and general dislike of clutter, I do love a minimalist aesthetic. Though I’m totally behind designing a plant workalike balance, with so many benefits, adding some green to our work space was a no-brainer. With thanks to Garden Life in St Peters. Read on for some of our finds on how to greenery your life.
indoor plants are the ultimate indoor accessory.
Check out this book from the founders of coveted plant-wares label, Ivy Muse. With design-savvy tips and expert advise, you’ll learn all there is to know about decorating with plants and botanical styling plus the necessities like light requirements and when to water and feed.
don’t we all wish to work next to a green window?
Image via Green Frame
This gorgeous Swedish designed GreenFrame got us all bit excited. It’s is a floor screen for potted plants with integrated lighting by Glimakra of Sweden, designed by Johan Kauppi, to be launched at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2018. GreenFrame allows plants to play a prominent role in interiors – even where daylight may not be enough. A massive wood furniture, ambitiously manufactured with the purpose to contribute to better indoor climate, nicer workplaces and happier plants.
designer greenery delivered
Image via Leaf Supply
No excuses to not get creative and bring some green into your day to day. Here’s a few of our favourite designer plant life online stores.
greenify your Insta feed
A few of our favourite insta feeds – bringing designer greenery to your scroll.