Bringing the outdoors in – office space that’s good for our wellbeing

Nature is good for us. Study after study demonstrates the huge impact plants, greenery and natural spaces have on our wellbeing. We only need to look back at the pandemic to see how vital the natural world was in getting many of us through lockdown.

As the conversation around mental health in (and outside of) the workplace continues to grow, here’s how you can bring the outdoors in to give a welcome boost to your team’s wellbeing.

Indoor plants

Plants have myriad benefits from improving office aesthetics to increasing oxygen levels, which helps improve concentration and decrease mental fatigue. According to the Human Spaces report, employees in workplaces that incorporate plants reported a 15% higher wellbeing and 6% higher productivity score than those in offices that don’t.

With so many options to choose from, buying plants for the office can be a minefield. It’s important to consider their individual properties, as well as how much maintenance they require. Peace lilies are not only calming stress-relievers, but they were deemed the best air purifier in NASA’s Clean Air Study, removing every chemical tested in the experiment. Spider plants are also great for removing pollutants and dust from the air – and they’re near impossible to kill, which is handy if you have form! If you’re a total plant novice, cacti and aloe vera are a great place to start as they survive on very little water.

Natural light

Biophilic design, the term for the use of nature in a built environment, isn’t just about plants. It considers all the natural elements. Natural light is essential to our mood – exposure to it balances our hormonal levels of serotonin (a mood stabiliser). It also helps to boost energy levels and reduce drowsiness, eye strain and headaches.

Arbeta was designed by architects PRP to maximise the use of space and light. Originally three office blocks enclosing a large, external courtyard, the existing building was transformed by removing the internal courtyard walls. This created our atrium – a stunning communal space for our tenants to use for collaboration and breakouts. The ETFE roof further enhances natural lighting, flooding the space with light from dawn till dusk.

There are lots of things you can do to maximise natural light in your own office space too. Situate desks next to windows and fill dark corners with storage units. If you’re going to paint the walls, use light colours as they reflect the light more effectively and matt paint as it absorbs most of the glare. A good set of blinds is also important to prevent glare on screens on sunny days.

Fresh air

Temperature is one of the most contested issues in the office, with notorious aircon wars occurring daily across the country. Natural air flow is proven to improve air quality, boost concentration levels and reduce illnesses, such as sick building syndrome. With the added benefit of reducing the risk of COVID infection, knock off the aircon and open the windows to allow a light breeze to circulate. You can also improve air quality by using air purifiers and keeping the office free of clutter, which tends to collect dust.

Colours and materials

It’s not just the direct experience of nature that has a positive impact on the office and the people within it. Your workplace décor can introduce elements of nature without literally bringing the outside in. Natural materials, such as wood, stone and marble, and colours like greens, blues and browns, along with images and artworks of nature can still have a positive effect.

Do you have any biophilic design tips? We’d love to hear them! Tag us @arbetamcr.