Biophilic design is the idea that humans are connected with nature, and that bringing natural elements into design is vitally important. As we are inside the majority of the day, biophilic design can bring some of the benefits of the outdoors and time in nature into our daily life and routines.
While this is true for any space, it’s especially true in the office, where we spend most of our indoor time. And many offices fall short of even the basics of biophilic principles. They have sealed windows, industrial heating and cooling, don’t have great natural light and often favor materials like plastics.
This can mean an office isn’t a nice place to be in –– and that actually matters for a business’s bottom line. If you want to show a commitment to employee wellbeing, improve productivity, reduce sick days and increase engagement with work, biophilic design can help you. Here’s how.
Benefits of Biophilic Office Design
The research backing up biophilia continues to confirm what has already been apparent to many for years: using plants in an office makes workers happier and more productive, and reduces stress and sick days.
Specifically, biophilic office design research has shown that:
- Indoor plants lowered health complaints and increased work satisfaction and perceived office attractiveness in a 2019-2020 study on Dutch office workers.
- Sparse offices, for example where people hot desk, are significantly enriched by plants, in a 2014 study published by the American Psychological Association.
- White-collar workers experience increased wellbeing when exposed to nature at work, especially those who already have a connection with it.
- Employees report feeling creative at a rate 15% higher when biophilic design is used in their offices.
- Cognitive function is higher and stress is lower when biophilic design is brought to indoor environments, as per a 2021 study.
- Employees who had more biophilic features were more efficient, less stressed and slept better, according to a 2025 publication.
Here in Arkansas, we hear from our clients just how impactful bringing biophilic design to the office can be. People are happier to come to work and enjoy being there more. We can see the difference ourselves in how people feel in a space during installation and when we come back for maintenance.
Examples of How to Bring Biophilic Design into Your Workspace
What is the best way to bring biophilic design into your workspace? In truth, working with a conscientious architect and paying attention to every detail from light and space to airflow and material as you build from the ground up will always lead to the best results.
Most companies don’t have that luxury. You may see beautiful “examples” of biophilic design that are out of reach because you may be renting commercial space, on a tight budget, or working with a legacy design from whenever your company last refreshed materials and décor.
We see this all the time, and with over 40 years of experience in interiorscaping, we understand the challenges you may be up against –– and how to get great biophilic design into your space anyway. Here are some ways we love to use smart design to enhance our clients’ spaces.
Using Containers
Containers work very well indoors, especially if you don’t have many architectural features where plants feel “natural”. Whether in an entranceway, hallway, conference room, waiting room, or even kitchen, container plants can bring life and dynamism into your space.
With container options, you can add color and texture to designs. As a longtime interiorscaping business, we have a wide variety of commercial-grade options to bring different colors, materials and shapes into your space through containers.
One strong point for container options is they offer plenty of variety for staging, including dividing a room and offering privacy. Whether that’s to separate desks, define a seating area, or give a little discretion to group meeting rooms with glass walls, containers can enhance how you use your space.
Indoor Trees
Many people think of ‘indoor plants’ and assume they have to be small. But you can have height, gravitas and drama in your office with trees.
Container trees make a big statement and we know from our work that they often bring a wow-factor. They become a focal point of any office and are often quickly embraced by employees.
We love using trees in spaces that are neglected otherwise, like corners that don’t have use, or waiting rooms that feel a bit sparse.
High-Impact Changes in Communal Spaces
To make the most of your investment in biophilic design, we recommend you focus on waiting rooms, receptions, and even hallways or staircases that your team uses frequently.
These can have a big impact not just on employees but on people interviewing, clients, guests and others moving through your office.
If getting plants on every single desk or re-configuring your office space to add larger design elements isn’t feasible for your company right now, focusing on these high-traffic areas will still impact employees’ moods and uplift your space.
Tabletop and Desk Plants
In our work with offices, desk plants are a magnet for happier employees, even if they aren’t self-confessed plant lovers.
Having a desk plant, even on a communal desk, makes employees feel more connected to work and gives even those without an inspiring view or corner-office window something beautiful to look at. With smaller plants, you can choose between greenery and blooms, or a mix of the two.
And don’t forget that plants can also be functional: tabletop pieces can work as dividers for long tables, and offer some privacy and even noise reduction in open-plan offices.
Working with Leafscape Arkansas to Improve your Office’s Interior Design
We are a trusted plant and design provider in Central and Northwest Arkansas and have made many commercial spaces look and feel their best. Our botanists know what plants will work in any space, and our design team knows what will look good. We bring both horticulture and design together for you.
We start every relationship with a free quote and consultation. That ensures that everything we do is personalized to your space, your goals, your needs and your budget.
We offer professional installation and timely service, no matter how large or small a project is. Whether you are getting a few choice tabletop plants or a huge installation, we will give you the same care and attention.
And for keeping your investment in your business and employees in top shape, we offer routine maintenance so plants stay healthy, including a plant replacement guarantee.
If you’re ready to explore how Leafscape Arkansas can bring the best of biophilic design to your office, book your free consultation today.
