Biophilic Design for Coworking Spaces: Practical Ways to Add Nature
Coworking spaces can feel sterile. Here are practical, low-cost ways to add daylight, plants, natural materials and views, and what to expect from each.
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Biophilic design means bringing nature into the workspace through daylight, plants, natural materials, colour and views. For a coworking space, the best first steps are cheap ones: put desks near windows, add a few hardy plants and soften hard surfaces with wood, cork or fabric. Do not expect plants to clean the air; that is a job for ventilation.
What does biophilic design actually mean?
The idea is that people tend to feel more comfortable in spaces that echo the natural world. In practice that covers five things: light, living plants, natural materials and textures, water or natural sounds, and views of the outdoors. It is a design approach, not a single product, so you can apply as much or as little as your budget allows.
Why should a space operator care?
Members choose a coworking space partly for how it feels. A bright, calm room with some greenery is easier to sell on a tour than a grey room with rows of identical desks. A pleasant space can also help people stay longer and use shared areas, though results depend on your members, so check rather than assume. Our post on how coworking spaces serve other businesses shows another reason a well-designed room can earn its keep.
Where do I start?
Is daylight the first thing to fix?
Yes. Walk the space at different times of day and note which desks get the most light. Move your most-used seating there, keep blinds open when glare is not a problem, and clear furniture that blocks windows. Where daylight is poor, use warm, even lighting so people are not working under harsh overhead panels.
Which plants are worth buying?
Choose hardy plants that survive uneven care: snake plants, ZZ plants and spider plants are common choices. Mix heights, put larger plants in corners or between zones, and assign someone to water them on a schedule. Avoid overwatering, which makes plants die and soil messy. If you have a small room, a wall of shelves with trailing plants uses little floor space.
Be careful about one claim you will often read: that office plants purify the air. Ventilation is what dilutes indoor pollutants, and the US Environmental Protection Agency lists ventilation, source control and air cleaning as the main ways to improve indoor air. Buy plants because they look good, not to treat the air.
What about materials and colour?
Wood desks, cork boards, stone or ceramic accents and woven fabrics add texture that plastic and laminate lack. Greens, soft blues and earthy browns are easy to live with. Cork panels also take the edge off noise, which helps in an open room.
Can water and views help?
A small tabletop fountain adds a gentle sound in a break area, but check that it does not compete with calls. Views matter more: if a window looks onto trees, orient seating towards it. If not, large nature photography or prints are a modest substitute.
What does it cost, and what can go wrong?
- Maintenance: plants need a named person and a schedule.
- Allergies: ask members about sensitivities before adding strong-smelling plants or lots of soil.
- Safety: some plants are toxic if eaten, so check species if children or pets visit.
- Noise and moisture: water features and watering cans near electronics need care.
- Fire and access: keep exits, walkways and extinguishers clear of planters and furniture.
How do I introduce it without a big renovation?
- Ask members what they like and dislike about the room.
- Move seating toward daylight and clear window areas.
- Add plants in shared areas first, then near desks.
- Swap one hard surface for a natural material when something needs replacing.
- Ask again after a month and keep what people use.
If you host events, a greener, brighter room is also nicer for them. See our piece on hosting workshops in a coworking space. Good connectivity matters just as much to members as the decor, so read our guide to reliable Wi-Fi for remote workers too.
For ideas on nature-inspired accessories, you can browse Mavigadget's nature-inspired collection.
Is it worth it?
For most spaces, yes, if you start small. Daylight, a few plants and natural textures cost little, make the room more pleasant, and are easy to reverse. Treat them as comfort and atmosphere, ask your members what works, and scale up from there.
