Why You Should Include Live Plants In Your Office Fitout

Including plant life in an office fitout has long been a desired feature of employers the world over. They add an interesting focal point for any workplace, as well as adding a pop of colour if you feel your décor is too bland. But there are some employers that feel artificial plants are a good alternative to live ones, and will consistently use them in their fitouts. There are plenty of reasons why artificial plants should not be your first choice.

The main reasons that artificial plants are bad for use in office fitouts:

• They collect dust and grime at a rate that is worse then almost anything else in your workplace, which takes time (and money in paying a professional) to clean.
• They need regular maintenance (also by a professional) to reshape and stick leaves back on (especially if the plants are placed in busy areas after your office fitout).
• They look artificial, and the ones that do not from a distance will set you back hundreds of dollars.
• They are, these days, commonly sprayed with a fire retardant that is full of harmful chemicals that only add to the ones that are already present in our office fitouts.
• They only have a life span of about 3 to 5 years, after which they will begin to look old and outdated. Throwing them out is bad for the environment, as they do not decompose, and it will cost you money to replace them.

It is for these reasons that live plants are definitely more preferable for inclusion during an office fitout. They will provide your workplace with a range of benefits and savings, including:

• The removal of toxic chemicals that are present in the air during an office fitout (including the removal of carbon dioxide).
• If they are properly cared for (watering and occasional pruning), live plants can live for years and years without needing to be replaced or seen to by a professional.
• They can raise the humidity in offices that are air conditioned, allow your employees to feel refreshed during warm weather without being cold.
• They can help to reduce the stress levels in your employees, which is beneficial if you work in an overly stressful workplace.

When it comes to including plants in your office, it is clear that live ones should be used over artificial ones. As there is such a focus on environmentally sustainable these days, live plants should definitely be the first choice in any office fitout, not just for their aesthetic appeal but for their benefits too.