Quick Design Tips with Plants

Studies show that plants in the office can actually increase worker productivity as well as give everyone better air to breathe. Not only that, plants are said to contribute to soothing and relaxing environments. These tips help you create a calming and peaceful atmosphere in your office or workspace.

You've created an office space that screams professionalism, style, and class. Paintings or framed prints, muted paint colors, comfortable furniture, and state-of-the-art technology let the world know that this space means business. If you've forgotten to add plants to the space, you're missing an opportunity to make an impact to design, productivity, even health.

Planters have a big impact on the design (color, shape, height). Think about the planter as an extension of your furnishings. Use complementary colors to tell your design story. Or make a bold statement with contrasting hues. It can be confusing at first, but let your eyes tell you what looks good. Modern pots are available in a myriad of shapes, materials, colors, and sizes. Don't be limited to basic orange clay pots. Investigate how glass square pots look with your furnishings. Or capture the imagination with stainless steel cylindrical pots that balance form and function.

In reality, your landscape is limited only by your imagination. In fact, you don't even have to place plants in pots nowadays. You can even put your favorite plants right on the wall! Leaf texture and shapes impact design. Before you place yet another peace lily in the lobby, think about the impact that leaves can make. Most people don't even think about the shapes and sizes of leaves. This isn't exactly water cooler gossip. But consider this - leaves come in multiple shapes-heart-shaped, spiky, skinny, wide, Some are serrated (like teeth) while others are as smooth as glass.

Textures of plants are just as important in design. Sharp and spiky plants can convey an edgy atmosphere. Cacti and other desert dwellers are perfect for offices in dry, arid climates. But before you plaster the whole building with spikes, consider adding various leaf shapes to your design. Smooth and shiny or soft and fuzzy. Glossy or hazy. These are just some of the design questions you need to consider. Leaf colors contribute to design. When one says leaves, most people probably think of green foliage. It's a great thought but fortunately leaves come in multiple colors. Some are amazingly beautiful, even looking like flowers themselves. Others are variegated with creamy tones of white, silver, red, or orange. Color is where you can really let your creative juices flow. Sure, you can absolutely create a beautiful space with green leaves.

However, for added drama, be sure to select plants that complement your furnishings. These are great examples of beautiful colors: Calathea, African Mask Plant, Purple Passion Plant, Chinese Evergreen, Red Aglaonema, and Croton. Lighting (spotlighting to highlight the plants) is crucial in design. Just as you would highlight artwork, you can use lighting to make a dramatic impact on your plants. Recessed lighting shining down on plants is just as effective as small spotlights situated below plants.