We have all been spending a lot more time in nature lately due to the current pandemic. Spending time in parks for many has been a highlight of the day, a saving grace to keeping us feeling motivated and uplifted. But, just how important is it to incorporate nature into our everyday lives?

There has been a lot of research that has gone into proving whether nature has a positive effect on our wellbeing and from all angles studied the answer really is yes! One study done by the University of Exeter Medical School showed results of people from all ages and backgrounds spending more than 2 hours within nature at any given time during the day proved to have an improvement in their overall health and wellbeing. Another study done by Robertson Cooper found that employees reported a 15% increase in their wellbeing when exposed to natural elements such as plants, flowers and natural sunlight in their office environment. A study that was titled The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace showed respondents working in places with natural features expressed feeling 6% more productive as well as 15% more creative.

Incorporating the use of plants and natural elements into your space also makes us more consciously aware of our environment as a whole and our ecosystems. A study that was done by Harvard showed that when we work in offices that are green-certified (meaning environmentally friendly) we get a 26% boost in cognition, 30% fewer sickness-related absences and 6% reported a rise in their sleep quality.

Plants being the colour green can also have an impact on our wellbeing; green appears to be a colour we are hardwired to respond to positively, inducing calm, acceptance and promoting relaxation, which improves immunity. It is very clear from all aspects mentioned that having a connection to nature can help reduce stress levels and positively help boost our overall mental and physical health. It is a no brainer that plant life must be incorporated into our indoor space. So, how can we bring some of the outdoors indoors?

There are a variety of indoor plants to choose from that can all have an impact on helping to purify the air, remove toxins and emit more oxygen into our surroundings. Each plant can offer different benefits. This is why it is important to consider which plants are best suited for a particular environment. Here at Remarcable we are big believers in bringing nature into the office environment as it is one of the most important aspects for boosting our wellbeing. Here are 3 of our favourite plants that we use most regularly in our commercial designs and why:

Kentia Palms
This plant is perfect for indoor space as it is best kept in semi-shade environments and is absolutely beautiful to look at. It releases moisture into the air and is said to be rated one of the best plants for removing indoor air toxins.

Fig Tree
They have very large broad leaves which are said to be the best for helping to purify the air, they also help to control the humidity levels within the room. These plants are best kept in sight of natural light as they require sunshine to thrive and only require watering once a week.

Orchids
We love using orchids to add that finer feminine touch to any space and they are also ideal for indoor environments. They thrive in natural light as well as artificial light and require little maintenance. You can also get orchids in an array of different colours so it's perfect for adding that pop of colour to the room.

Just like any living thing it needs to be properly looked after in order to function to its best ability, in relation to plants this means having to remember to water them. Each plant has different requirements and can be a lot for us to remember with our busy schedules. This is where technology has come to the rescue and we can say goodbye to the "Oh, no! I forgot to water the plants." Here a few suggestions to help you remember the maintenance of your plants:

Self-watering pots
These pots and planters use a wicking action to provide water to the plants from a built-in reservoir. This means all you need to do is fill up the water reservoir rather than having to keep track of the moisture level of the soil to each plant's particular needs. Making this handy invention convenient and efficient.

Apps
There are multiple apps available that identify individual plant requirements to then allow you to manage the maintenance of your plants by setting reminders on your phone when you need to water them.

Calendars or To-do lists
However, you manage your day to day tasks whether it be by scheduling them into a diary, an online calendar or using a to-do list software. Add a recurring time and date each week as a reminder to water your plants - just like any other task. If you are looking to incorporate nature elements into your workspace and are struggling to know where to start, we would be delighted to be of assistance and work with you to pick out the best suited indoor plants for your environment.