Part of having the Green Office Design is creating the multi-sensory experience of bringing the great outdoors in. There are four factors to consider: sight, smell, touch, and sound. Designers need to consider how natural elements stimulate the senses and thus kindle self-awareness and focus.  This will help with incorporating Green Office ideas into your workspace design.

Sight is the most obvious sense out of the four. With sight, the questions to consider are how you can integrate plant life, natural light, colors of nature, open views of nature, and natural materials to stimulate mindfulness. Designing an open space with plenty of natural light is important because workers can sync up their biological clock to the rise and setting sun to promote healthier work hours.

Smell is another factor that subtly adds to the biophilic experience. The aroma of plant life around workers can inspire feelings of rootedness and well-being.

Touch is all about incorporating features of natural surfaces, like wood texture, and tactile fabrics like wool into the workplace. Humans are inherently drawn to natural materials because they have been proven to bring comfort, warmth, and authenticity to interior spaces.

Sound can come in the form of birds singing or tranquil waters rippling and bubbling. In a study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, it was discovered that the sound of water proved to be a productive source of white noise, functioning as a ‘speech masker’ that covers distracting speech and increases productivity as a result.