Over the past three decades, interior landscaping has evolved from a mere aesthetic consideration to an integral component of modern architectural design. Today, we see thriving greenery gracing the interiors of contemporary shopping centres, bustling office complexes, and welcoming public spaces across the UK. But the question remains: what is it about plants that has elevated them to such a crucial building element?
While their undeniable visual appeal – the elegant sway of a palm frond, the captivating allure of an orchid – provides an immediate answer, the true value of plants extends far beyond mere decoration. Compelling research underscores the profound and multifaceted ways in which plants positively impact both the building itself and its occupants, playing a vital role in cultivating a pleasant, tranquil environment conducive to productivity and relaxation. This principle lies at the heart of biophilic design, an approach that recognises the innate human connection to nature and seeks to integrate natural elements into the built environment.
Unlocking the Tangible Benefits of Plants in Your UK Workplace:
Reducing Sickness Absence and Boosting Wellbeing:
The cost of employee absence to UK businesses is substantial. In 2025, Estimates suggest that sickness absence costs the UK economy around £12 billion annually and result in over 200 million lost working days. Factors such as job dissatisfaction and low morale can significantly contribute to short-term absences. Addressing these underlying issues through people management policies and, crucially, the working environment, offers a significant opportunity to enhance staff productivity and overall wellbeing. (HSE, 2025)
Here’s where the often-underestimated power of plants comes into play. A growing body of evidence demonstrates a clear correlation between the presence of plants in buildings and a significant reduction in employee absenteeism. It’s not about transforming the office into a jungle; strategically placed, high-quality plant specimens near workstations and break areas can be remarkably effective. The positive impact is likely a subtle yet potent combination of physiological benefits – improved humidity levels and reduced noise pollution – and psychological advantages. Simply being in proximity to plants appears to alleviate stress and foster a sense of wellbeing in most individuals, an effect amplified by optimal lighting conditions. Furthermore, an employer’s investment in elements that primarily enhance the workplace’s aesthetic can send a powerful message to staff: management cares about their comfort and experience.
Ambius in Action: We’ve helped numerous UK businesses create healthier and more engaging workspaces by strategically integrating plant displays. For example, in a London-based financial services firm, Ambius designed and installed living walls in communal break areas, contributing to a reported decrease in stress levels and anecdotal feedback suggesting a more positive and relaxed atmosphere.
Enhancing Retail Spend and Customer Experience:
The retail sector has long recognised the critical role of the store environment in shaping the customer experience. The seamless transition from exterior landscaping to interior plant displays can create a positive and cohesive shopping journey. Research highlights the significant role of urban forestry and interior plants in fostering a more favourable environment for retail activity (Ref: “Retail and Urban Nature: Creating a Consumer Habitat”, K.L.Wolf, at the People/Plant Symposium, Amsterdam, 2002).
Ambius in Action: Ambius has partnered with various retail spaces across the UK, from high street boutiques to large shopping centres, to create inviting and engaging environments through strategic plant placement. Ambius designed striking plant installations near key product displays, contributing to a more relaxed browsing experience and potentially influencing purchasing decisions.
Creating More Attractive and Welcoming Buildings:
Perhaps the most immediately apparent benefit of interior planting is its ability to enhance a building’s aesthetic appeal. Research unequivocally supports this observation. A 2022 study provided evidence that people react more positively to buildings that incorporate plants compared to those that do not. Employees in different workplace environments consistently described that their workplace as significantly more ornate, interesting, cheerful, welcoming, relaxing, less stressful, more expensive-looking, tidier, and quieter. Importantly, there were a much lower percentage of negative perceptions associated with the presence of plants, and all findings were statistically significant.
Ambius in Action: Ambius has transformed numerous sterile and uninviting spaces into welcoming environments across the UK. In a corporate office building in Birmingham, the installation of a vibrant reception area featuring a variety of lush plants created a more positive first impression for visitors and employees alike.
Making a Strong Design Statement:
Interior landscaping has evolved into a design-conscious industry, with significant emphasis placed not only on plant selection but also on the design of containers, accessories, and the overall aesthetic. Current trends in the UK favour more plant based, jungle-like” arrangements. This is due to biophilia becoming such an important aspect in the the workplace, with health, well-being becoming more of a priority for businesses when it comes to improving the experience for their employees. (See also our article on plants making a design statement.)
Ambius in Action: Ambius stays at the forefront of interior design trends, offering plants that can improve health and boost aesthetics. We recently collaborated with Birmingham Lottery, to install a variety of plants that help to improve the experience of employees and improve workplace design.
Facilitating Wayfinding and Navigation:
In many large buildings, guiding pedestrian traffic towards key areas such as exits, check-in counters, escalators, and main corridors is essential. This is particularly relevant in expansive environments like airports, shopping malls, hospitals, and large open-plan offices. Plants offer an attractive and practical wayfinding solution, acting as living barriers that subtly direct people to their intended destinations. (See also the article on wayfinding and signposting.)
Careful selection of plant species and container types is crucial for this application. Spiky or sharp-leaved plants would be unsuitable in high-traffic areas. Containers need to be robust, occupy minimal floor space, and, in some cases, be linkable to form a continuous, unobtrusive guide.
Ambius in Action: Ambius has implemented wayfinding solutions using plants in various UK locations. In an open-plan office, strategically placed, robust planters with visually distinct foliage helped workers navigate a large office space.
Improving the Indoor Environment Quality:
The scientific consensus is clear: plants significantly improve the indoor environment, serving as valuable tools in combating Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). While a single definitive cause of SBS remains elusive, poor air quality, excessive background noise, and inadequate temperature and light control are considered key contributing factors. Plants, with their extensive surface area and ability to exchange water and gases with their surroundings, possess a unique capacity to address many of these environmental challenges. Specifically, plants can:
- Reduce levels of carbon dioxide.
- Increase relative humidity to the optimal range of 40% to 60% RH.
- Reduce levels of certain harmful pollutant gases, including formaldehyde, benzene, and nitrogen dioxide.
- Decrease airborne dust particles.
- Lower air temperatures.
- Mitigate background noise levels.
In essence, every plant acts as a miniature, natural air-conditioning system.
Ambius in Action: Ambius prioritises plant species known for their air-purifying qualities in our interior landscaping projects. In a newly refurbished office building in Leeds, we incorporated a selection of plants recognised for their ability to filter common indoor pollutants, contributing to a healthier and more comfortable workspace for employees.
Softening and Concealing Less Desirable Features:
Even the most thoughtfully designed buildings often have elements that are best concealed, such as service areas, storage facilities, and harsh structural components. Plants, with their diverse range of sizes, shapes, growth habits, and leaf textures, provide an elegant and functional solution.
Ambius in Action: Ambius has effectively used plant “walls” to screen off unsightly service areas and storage in various UK commercial spaces. In a large retail outlet, a bespoke Ambius plant wall elegantly concealed a loading bay while enhancing the overall aesthetic of the customer-facing area.
Breaking Up Large, Open Spaces:
The vast expanses found in airports, train stations, shopping centres, and open-plan offices can feel impersonal and overwhelming without visual breaks. Plants are a natural and effective solution, providing organic dividers and visual reference points that make these large spaces feel more approachable and inviting.
Ambius in Action: In a sprawling open-plan office, Ambius strategically placed large plant containers to create natural zones and pathways, improving the flow of movement and making the space feel less daunting and more human-scaled.
Providing Educational Opportunities:
Bringing a touch of nature indoors, particularly in urban environments where exposure to plant life may be limited, can be both stimulating and educational. Shopping centres and large office atria often showcase a diverse array of exotic and unusual plant species, offering a unique opportunity to observe nature’s beauty. The increasing trend of incorporating plant labelling with information on species, origins, and history further enhances this educational benefit, encouraging people to engage more with their surroundings.
In Conclusion:
The overwhelming evidence from research clearly indicates the positive impact of plants on people within buildings. Healthy, well-maintained plants in thoughtfully designed displays not only enhance a building’s character and appearance but also significantly improve the psychological and physical wellbeing of its occupants. Ultimately, interior landscaping is a sound investment, demonstrably contributing to reduced sickness absence, improved cognitive function, increased utilisation of communal spaces, and a more positive overall perception of the built environment.
Let Ambius help you harness the power of biophilic design to transform your UK business.
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