What Property Managers Want You to Know About Biophilic Design in Shared Spaces

At Leafscape, we have spent years working alongside property managers to shape the shared spaces people experience first — lobbies, reception areas, amenity spaces, and common areas that help define how a building feels. In some cases, those partnerships have lasted more than 20 years.

That history gives us a strong point of view, but it also prompted an important question: what would this conversation sound like if it started with the people managing those spaces every day? As we began planning this blog and social series, we realized it was time to hear that side more directly.

So we went to the source.

What we heard confirmed something we have believed for a long time: in commercial spaces, plants are not just decorative. They support first impressions, tenant experience, and the overall feeling of care within a property. And when paired with the right plant maintenance services, they become part of how a building functions, not just how it looks.

That perspective also builds on another recent conversation we had in our blog, The Biophilic Layer: What Interior Designers Want You to Know About Designing With Plants. In that piece, we explored how interior designers think about plants as part of the broader design process. This time, we wanted to understand what biophilic design looks like from the property manager side — where the focus is not only on how a space looks, but how it performs day after day.

Why Do Shared Spaces Matter So Much?

Shared spaces often shape the strongest impressions in a building.

They are the first places people encounter when they walk in. They are where tenants pause, guests wait, brokers tour, and visitors begin forming an opinion before anyone says a word. In many buildings, these spaces also carry the weight of representing the entire property.

That is why lobbies, entrances, reception areas, and amenity spaces matter so much. They do more than connect people from one place to another. They set the tone.

When we asked property managers where plants make the biggest difference, there was a clear pattern: they pointed to the spaces people experience first and remember most.

As Kaley Tucker of Simmons Tower shared:

“Plants make the biggest difference in our lobbies, around our main entrances, and seating areas. They really bring the ‘outside in’ and elevates the tenant experience. First impressions matter. A lobby or common area that is thoughtfully designed with greenery feels welcoming and modern.”

And Seth McRae, Senior Property Manager at Moses Tucker Partners, added an important reminder about how people often arrive in these environments:

“Visitors and clients often experience some degree of stress when entering unfamiliar properties or businesses. Having a well-designed arrangement of plants at the entrance can help create a welcoming environment, reduce tension, and provide a brief yet positive respite from the reason of their visit.”

That consistency stood out to us. Property managers are not thinking about plants as an extra layer of decoration. They are thinking about the places in a building where atmosphere matters most.

What Makes Biophilic Design Work in Commercial Spaces?

Biophilic design in a commercial setting has to do more than look good.

It has to hold up in real conditions. It has to support the tone of the property. It has to make shared spaces feel warmer, more polished, and more intentional without creating obstacles for the people managing the building.

It has to work visually

Plants in shared spaces work best when they soften architecture, bring life to large or hard-surfaced environments, and help common areas feel more complete. They can introduce movement, texture, and warmth in a way that supports the rest of the space rather than competing with it.

It has to work operationally

This is where the property manager perspective adds something important. In shared environments, greenery cannot just look good in a photo. It has to function well in the real life of the building. It has to make sense with traffic flow, maintenance access, lighting conditions, and the day-to-day use of the property.

This is one reason we always see interior plant service as connected to design. A strong install is only part of the equation. The real success comes when the greenery continues to look healthy, intentional, and easy to manage long after day one.

What are Property Managers Balancing Behind the Scenes?

When people walk into a building and notice beautiful greenery, they usually notice the feeling it creates. What they do not see is everything that has to be considered to make that experience work over time.

Jennifer Lester, Principal & Chief Operating Officer at Moses Tucker Partners, described it this way:

“Plant placement involves coordination with cleaning crews, security routes, and maintenance access. We’re often adjusting pieces, so they look intentional while staying clear of service pathways, door swings, and equipment that needs regular attention.”

Teresa Kreis, Executive Portfolio Manager at Colliers Arkansas, pointed to another behind-the-scenes reality that most visitors would never think about:

“I recently took over a building that has many security cameras. Recently, I had to review the camera angles and make adjustments due to the plants/trees obstructing the view. (this is an easy fix) One additional issue, often the large potted plants are used as trash cans. In common areas, we find trash and other debris inside or on the plant stands.”

That perspective is a good reminder that in shared spaces, greenery does not exist in isolation. It interacts with security, visibility, maintenance routines, and the everyday behavior of the people moving through the building.

That is such an important distinction.

Good botanical design in shared spaces is not just about what looks best in a photo. It is about making sure the greenery works with how the building operates every day. A beautiful planter that blocks access or interferes with circulation is not supporting the space. It is competing with it.

We heard other practical realities too: lighting conditions, pest concerns when plants are not professionally maintained, and the challenge of keeping common areas polished without adding extra work for property teams.

That is where experience matters. A professional commercial plant services partner should understand not only the visual role of plants, but the operational realities around them.

Why Does Maintenance Matter Just as Much as Design?

This is one of the clearest takeaways from working with commercial properties over time: maintenance is part of the design.

A healthy plant contributes to the quality of the environment. A declining plant does the opposite. That is especially true in lobbies, shared corridors, reception spaces, and other visible areas where people form impressions quickly.

Professional care matters because commercial buildings present real challenges:

• inconsistent natural light

• HVAC exposure

• high traffic

• shifting temperatures

• planters in busy, visible areas

• ongoing expectations from tenants, owners, and visitors

That is why we approach these environments with long-term care in mind from the start. Our role is not just to recommend what looks good on installation day. It is to help choose solutions that are realistic for the space and sustainable over time.

This is also why we often encourage property teams to think beyond a one-time install and toward a more complete office plant care service or ongoing maintenance relationship. In shared commercial spaces, consistency is what protects the experience.

To see how that plays out in practice, explore our plant maintenance services.

How Can Plants Strengthen a Property Without a Major Renovation?

One thing property managers understand well is that not every meaningful improvement requires a major capital project.

Sometimes the most effective updates are the ones that make a space feel warmer, more modern, and more inviting without disrupting how the building functions.

Plants are often one of those updates.

They can soften hard finishes, add height and texture, bring color into neutral spaces, and help common areas feel more complete. In some cases, they can even solve a design issue that would otherwise require a more expensive or complicated fix.

As Kaley shared:

“We contacted Robin to see if she might have a solution and she recommended adding wall planters with foliage spilling out. The area was beautifully decorated as-is but felt a little cold until the planters were installed. This addition restored warmth to the space and resolved a design challenge.”

That is a great example of how greenery can function as a true design solution, not just an accessory. It can help a property feel more finished, more welcoming, and more aligned with the experience the building team wants to create.

Teresa shared another kind of win — one that happened while a project was still awaiting owner approval. In this case, Robin submitted a video to help the owners better visualize what greenery could add to the building’s common areas, which helped move the proposal forward. It is a good reminder that sometimes the value of plants is not just in the finished result, but in helping decision-makers clearly see what is possible before the work begins.

What do Property Managers Notice when Plants Are Done Well?

When greenery is thoughtfully designed and properly maintained, property managers notice more than the plants themselves.

They notice:

• better first impressions

• more positive feedback from visitors and tenants

• stronger presentation during tours

• spaces that feel more welcoming and high-quality

• common areas that feel used and intentional rather than cold or overlooked

That kind of impact came through clearly in our conversations.

Jennifer described the effect this way:

“When we added plants to both our elevator lobby and our office lobby, the transformation was immediate. Those areas went from feeling very plain to feeling warmer and more polished, and we heard positive comments almost right away — from tenants, guests, and even brokers coming through for tours.”

That quote is a strong reminder that plants do not just change how a space looks. They change how it is received.

This lines up closely with what we have seen in our work across commercial real estate settings as well. In our blog Green Spaces, Diverse Places: Commercial Real Estate, we talk more about how thoughtful greenery supports the shared environments that shape everyday experiences for tenants, guests, and building teams.

A Simple Checklist for Property Managers Planning Greenery in Shared Spaces

If you are considering updates to a lobby, reception area, amenity space, or other common area, these are good questions to ask early:

1. Which spaces shape the strongest first impressions?

Think about where tenants, guests, brokers, and owners first enter or pause.

2. What is the job of the greenery?

Should it soften the space, add warmth, define an area, support branding, or improve the overall tone?

3. What are the real site conditions?

Look at light levels, airflow, traffic, maintenance access, and visibility.

4. Will the placement work with building operations?

Make sure plants support cleaning, security, service pathways, and everyday movement.

5. Who will own ongoing care?

If the goal is a polished and consistent environment, long-term care should be part of the plan from the beginning.

6. Does the solution fit the experience you want the property to communicate?

The right greenery should feel like an extension of the building, not an afterthought.

The Takeaway

If our interior designers blog showed that plants are a design layer, this one reinforces that they are also an operational layer.

That is what property managers helped clarify so well.

Plants in shared spaces are most successful when they are:

• thoughtfully placed

• realistic for the environment

• professionally maintained

• supportive of the people managing the property

• aligned with the way the space is meant to feel

At Leafscape, we have believed that for a long time. But it was meaningful to hear it directly from the property managers we have worked alongside for years.

Because the best shared spaces do not just look finished.

They feel welcoming, well cared for, and alive.

If you are planning updates to a lobby, common area, or amenity space, learn more about our plant maintenance services or contact our team to start the conversation.