How to make your ‘work from home’ space better with plants

During the first lockdown over April 2020, 46.6% of UK workers did some sort of work at home. Now, after a second lockdown, many more people are likely to make ‘working from home’ a permanent or semi-permanent situation.

However, if you don’t live in a space that’s already optimised for home-working (i.e. with a dedicated office room or area), you might find it hard to get used to the idea. Creating a special space will help keep you focused and allow you to create some separation between your work and homelife – which is essential for maintaining a good balance during an already tough time!

One way to do this is with plants. If I’m honest, any plants will help to brighten and bring colour to any space – but there are also plants that do particularly well in office spaces for a number of reasons…

The air cleaner

Did you know that there are harmful pollutants in the air that we breathe? If it weren’t for plants and trees, we would get very sick by breathing in these pollutants. Not only is Pothos virtually indestructible, it also has amazing air cleansing properties. According to the NASA Clean Air Study, it can help to remove pollutants such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene from the air, making it a very healthy addition to your office space!

The peace keeper

The Peace Lily is just a beautiful plant – no matter how you look at it! Its graceful inflorenscences are an angelic white shade with tinges of green, and its silky, lush foliage is unobtrusive. This plant will make your office space pretty without being a distraction – and if there are more than one of you working from home, there won’t be any arguments about plants when it comes to the Peace Lily. It’s a true peace keeper!

The lucky one

Like many succulents, Jade is very easy to care for, only needing watering when it’s very thirsty as its leaves hold a lot of liquid. However, unlike many other succulents, Jade is considered to be lucky! If you believe in luck-bringing objects, it is said that Jade will welcome money into the home. In relation to work, this can’t be a bad thing!

The design diva

For design lovers who like their office space to be at the cutting edge of trendiness, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is the perfect plant. Depending on the size of the plant when it’s purchased, the Fiddle Leaf Fig will eventually grow into a luscious tree that will fill your space with life. Note: this isn’t a plant for very small rooms!

The room brightener

If you prefer more colours and patterns in a plant, then Calathea could be the one for your work-from-home office space. Available in a number of varieties (pictured is a lancifolia), Calathea is foliage-rich while offering unique variegations and those signature red leaf-backs.

Additional Tips To Make Your ‘Work From Home’ Space Better 

Indeed, it’s the time of a plantdemic. Aside from plants, there are other things you need to make your ‘work from home’ better, such as the following: 

• Ergonomic Chair 

How long do you sit to finish a task? Long hours of sitting can cause health problems. So, it’s essential to invest in a good chair like an ergonomic chair. An ergonomic chair is a chair designed to support the body while improving posture, support, comfort, and health. You should use an office chair that’s adjustable, comfortable, and ergonomic to avoid lower back pain and postural issues.  

• Buckwheat Hulls Pillows

Do you often use pillows behind your back when working at home in front of a computer to ease or prevent back pain? If yes, then consider using a buckwheat hulls pillow. This pillow can make sitting more comfortable. 

A good pillow that’s breathable and comfortable to use is a buckwheat hulls pillow. You can refill this pillow with buckwheat hulls (from the seed shells of buckwheat grain) to attain the desired density and shape to support your back. 

• Office Space  

You need an office space at home that’s private and quiet enough to ensure you finish all tasks without disruption and delay. Children, pets, and other family members can be noisy, so you need to set rules to keep them behaved and busy while you’re working, most especially if you have limited space. 

What are other things you need to make your life easier when working at home? What plants have you displayed in your home office? Let me know in the comments below!