The most popular plants for new office designs

With remote work increasing in popularity, offices are fighting a losing battle against the comforts of home. When the alternative boasts perks like wearing sweatpants all day and an incredibly short commute, how does a company expect to get employees to come into an office? This is where office design comes in. Employees want a workspace that makes them feel inspired and empowered to do their best work. They want and need access to sunlight and clean air. If your office isn’t providing that for your employees, you could very well lose them to another company that offers either a better office environment or remote work. According to our research, 90% of employees listed the layout and design features of their office as a major contributing factor to whether or not they are happy at work.

One crucial element in designing an office space that excites and motivates is the inclusion of plants. With all of the benefits they provide, office plants should be a no-brainer. We sat down with our elite designers to find out the most popular plants for new office designs in 2020. Read on to find out what they said.

The plants behind the 2020 office trends

Dynamic Flexibility

In 2020, lines that used to divide the business world are becoming blurred, paving the way for more multidisciplinary ways of working. Consequently, workspaces must follow suit. The Dynamic Flexibility trend is all about adaptability. Ergonomic elements allow one space to meet a multitude of needs. Plants that double as dividers and make efficient use of valuable space are the kinds that work best here.

Weeping Fig

The Weeping Fig aligns perfectly with the Dynamic Flexibility trend. This tree can grow to suit the needs of your space or remain controlled with regular pruning. Its slender, twisted trunks provide a unique look that compliments the elegant foliage. Weeping figs can be used to provide privacy in a multifunctional space. As an added bonus, they require little maintenance and are not incredibly susceptible to disease.

Striking Sustainability

At its core, this trend aims to strengthen the connection between the built environment and nature. Enthusiasm for fusing the natural and built environments translates seamlessly into a popular motif for the year — jungle. The jungle concept celebrates a raw authenticity that invites creativity and explorative thought into the space. Because the idea of a jungle is really all about the plants, there are plenty to choose from for design purposes. Here are some of the most popular.

Kentia Palm

Kentia palms are hardy, with “a track record for surviving low light, dust, central heating, rough handling, drought, and general neglect” (NC State Extension). Sounds perfect for an office environment, right? Not to mention, their large size makes them an ideal focal point for a jungle-inspired interior landscape.

Monstera

Any day can be #MonsteraMonday with the right attitude. The giant, “monstrous” leaves of the Monstera are iconic. Generally pest-free, the surface area of the Monstera leaves provide shade and privacy in an office space. They are a unique ode to a jungle scene, simultaneously providing beauty and air purification.

Hanging Horticulture

In offices, floor space is not always a luxury that exists in abundance. Finding a way to incorporate plants often requires creativity and outside-the-box thinking. Cue the Hanging Horticulture trend. As its title suggests, Hanging Horticulture is all about utilizing the ceiling as an anchor from which to hang plants instead of taking up the valuable real estate that is floor space. One plant, in particular, is suited perfectly for this purpose — the air plant.

Air plants

The aptly-named air plant extracts nutrients from the air, unlike other plants that require soil for this purpose. Without dirt, they are often lighter than other plant varieties and can easily be hung in a suspended display that suits your space. Not only are air plants low-maintenance and aesthetically-pleasing; they also act as a natural air purifier.

Monochromatic Expression

It’s easy to get caught up in color palettes and how they fit together. But with this trend, you can throw that out the window. Monochromatic Expression uses one color, but in a variety of shades and tones to tell a harmonious color story. Whether the featured shade is one that is particularly influential to your brand or just one that sparks creativity in the office, this trend allows the design to make a bold statement while championing consistency. Plants can play into Monochromatic Expression in a couple of different ways. There are certainly plant varieties out there that could align with most color schemes. Conversely, the simplicity of a green plant pairs quite well with a monochromatic design.

Bird of Paradise

As you can see from the image above, this plant has no shortage of color. If orange or blue is your primary color, this eccentric plant might be perfect for your space. These slow-growing plants can grow to a height and width of approximately five feet if allowed room. Dwarf varieties can be used in smaller containers for tabletop displays.

Cast Iron plant

The Cast Iron plant is a great choice for shady areas. It’s very tough (like cast iron), making it fitting for an interior space such as an office. Though the Cast Iron plant doesn’t offer any extraordinarily unique colors, it flawlessly complements Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year — Classic Blue.    

Domesticated Workplaces

As we mentioned earlier, remote work is becoming more highly sought-after as work trends change. What does that mean? People like to be at home. Ergo, in order to keep and attract talent, offices have to be just as appealing to workers. From furnished kitchens to flower pots and throw rugs, the “comforts of home” can easily be infused into an office space. Not only do they make inhabitants feel comfortable, but they may also even strengthen morale by helping to foster a warm environment.

Money Tree

A plant fabled to bring luck and harmony, the money tree is frequently given as a house-warming or host gift. Though often found inside homes, there is no reason why the money tree can’t make its way into the office as well. And because it’s so reminiscent of the home, it aids in creating the desired aura of domesticity.

Creating a workspace that empowers employees can be a difficult task, but Ambius is here to make it easier. If you’re sitting there, imagining your space transformed with the trends of 2020, what are you waiting for? Give us a call at 888-701-5189 to bring it to life.

To learn more about the office design trends of 2020, check out our blog!