UAE
6 Things to Check Before Installing Grow Lights for Office Plants
Indoor plants are becoming an important part of modern office design. From small container plants to large indoor planters and green partitions, plants can make workspaces feel more natural and welcoming.
That is why many architects and interior designers are incorporating plants into office spaces as part of biophilic design.
However, there is one common challenge: light. 💡
In many offices, natural daylight is limited, especially in areas away from windows. When plants do not receive sufficient light, their quality can gradually decline, leading to frequent plant replacement and higher maintenance costs.
This makes selecting the right grow lights for office plants an important part of indoor planting design.
Based on our experience with indoor plant lighting projects, here are six important things to consider before installing plant lights in an office.
1. Beam Angle and Light Distribution
The beam angle determines how the light is distributed across the planting area.
A suitable beam angle helps focus the light on the plants instead of unnecessarily illuminating surrounding areas. This is particularly important in offices, where lighting should support plant growth without disturbing the overall workspace environment.
The right beam angle depends on the height of the fixture, size of the planting area, and plant arrangement.
2. Fixture Colour and Design
Grow lights installed in an office are not just technical equipment—they are also part of the interior design.
The fixture colour, shape, and mounting style should complement the overall aesthetics of the office. A well-integrated indoor plant lighting system can support plant growth while maintaining the visual appeal of the space.
3. Light Colour and CCT
The colour temperature or CCT (Correlated Colour Temperature) of the fixture is another important consideration.
Since office plant lights are often visible to employees and visitors, the light should complement the surrounding architectural lighting and interior design.
The objective is to create a comfortable visual environment while providing suitable light for the plants.
4. CRI Value
For premium office environments, we generally recommend considering a CRI of 90+.
A high CRI helps plants, furniture, and interior finishes appear more natural and visually appealing. This can be particularly important in offices where plant lighting is integrated with architectural and decorative lighting.
5. PPFD: Is the Plant Receiving Enough Light? 🌿
While aesthetics are important, the primary purpose of a grow light is to provide sufficient light for plant growth.
PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) helps measure the amount of photosynthetically active light reaching the plants.
For many low-light indoor office plants, around 15–20 µmol/m²/s PPFD can be a useful starting reference. However, the actual requirement depends on factors such as:
Plant species
Distance between the light and plants
Daily photoperiod
Availability of natural light
Therefore, plant lighting should ideally be designed based on the specific application rather than using a standard fixture for every project.
6. Fixture Length and Plant Coverage
One common mistake in office plant lighting is focusing only on the total wattage of the fixture.
The length, placement, and coverage of the grow light are equally important.
The lighting system should provide reasonably uniform coverage across the complete planting area and avoid excessive bright and dark spots. Proper fixture selection and placement can help maintain more consistent plant growth and appearance.
Choosing the Right Grow Lights for Indoor Office Plants 💡🌱
Installing grow lights for office plants is about finding the right balance between plant requirements, lighting performance, and interior aesthetics.
A good office plant lighting solution should consider:
Plant health + Light intensity + Light distribution + Visual comfort + Interior design
As indoor planting and biophilic office design continue to grow, we believe specialised plant lights for offices will become an increasingly important part of interior and architectural planning.
At Nexsel, we have recently worked on several indoor planting applications and continue to learn how lighting design can help create healthier and more sustainable indoor plant environments.
Are you an architect, interior designer, or plant professional working on an indoor planting project? We would be happy to exchange ideas and learnings. 🌱
