Are Offices Trading Marble for Moss?

Traditionally, upscale offices have featured marble, glass, metal and other sleek, modern materials that convey an air of professional minimalism. But in recent years, many offices have gotten greener, adding vertical gardens, plant walls, moss features, potted plants and outdoor-inspired workspaces. 

It’s hard to say when offices began transitioning from glass to gardens. Forbes noted this trend in 2019, when it published an article about green offices making workers more productive. In it, an interior plantscaping professional, David Brenner, said that adding plants to professional workspaces “evolved into an ‘entire creative paradigm’ for interior architecture and design,” and that it was a trend only just beginning to take hold in not just offices, but also homes, public spaces and schools. 

Brenner also predicted that more office designers would blur the lines between outside and inside, and he was right. 

Post-pandemic, design trends have especially focused on wellness – from colors of the year that inspire rest and relaxation to sanctuary-inspired luxury rental trends to home trends like reading nooks and spa-like bathrooms. 

It only makes sense that the focus on wellness, nature, and well-being also translates to the office, where many Americans spend 40 or more hours per week, and where many others are returning after pandemic-dictated remote work.  

Can greenery in the office make workers more productive? 

While the trend may not be for every employee, offices have made the shift to plants for various reasons, including: 

• Productivity boost. Research has indicated that workers feel more focused and alert when plants are around, and greenery may help absorb sound, allowing for quieter work overall. 
• Stress reduction. Plants are said to reduce stress and anxiety, and they can create a more comfortable, approachable environment.  
• Health improvement. Lower levels of stress can help reduce blood pressure and improve mental health.  
• Increases environmental appeal. Many find greenery and organic design to be cozier, more approachable and more appealing overall than traditionally sterile, geometric office designs.