Artificial vs. Living Plants: Which is Best for Your Office?

Indoor plants are a standard feature of most offices, bringing colour and interest, and softening the hard lines of office furniture and equipment. They can also help to lift the mood, boosting the morale and productivity of employees. There’s a huge range of plants available in all shapes and sizes, and in both living and artificial form.

You might be finding it hard to decide whether to go for real or artificial plants for your office space. Both versions of office greenery have their advantages and disadvantages, so here’s a quick summary to help you decide between fake foliage or the real deal.

The benefits of artificial plants

Low maintenance and versatile

Artificial plants are super-low maintenance, which is the key advantage for most decision-makers. They simply need a wipe down every now and then to keep them dust-free and that’s job done: no watering, pruning or pesky pests to deal with. You can also put them anywhere you want without having to worry about light, humidity or temperature levels.

Durable and cost effective

Good quality artificial plants should last for many years provided they are taken reasonable care of, and will never wilt, go brown or shed their leaves. This means that your office decor will always look perfect no matter who walks through your door… handy if you have high profile clients to impress.

High-end artificial plants can be costly (you don’t want cheap ones that look obviously fake; this would seriously lower the tone), but over the long term they can be more cost effective because you don’t have to worry about repotting, compost, fertiliser, plant food, pest control, and all the other maintenance costs of living plants.

Disadvantages of artificial plants

While modern artificial plants can look very convincing, they can lack the natural variation that real plants have and is all part of their charm. They will not respond to the seasons as real plants will, whether through flowering, changing leaf colour, or spring growth spurts. 

They cannot provide the health benefits of real plants as they do not purify the air, and staff may not find them as relaxing and pleasant to be around as real plants. They are mostly made from non-biodegradable materials and are more carbon-intensive to produce than real plants. 

The benefits of real plants

Real plants have a natural beauty and variety that is impossible to recreate even with sophisticated materials and technology. They can instantly lift the spirits and create a more welcoming environment. Real plants are also natural air purifiers, because they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, creating a healthier environment. 

Some species of plant can even help to manage humidity levels and filter out pollutants in the air.

Disadvantages of real plants

To get the most out of living plants, you need to choose species that are appropriate for your environment and that they have the right amount of light and space to thrive. They also need regular maintenance including watering, pruning and disease control.