Find out how to enhance the aesthetic, air quality, and overall feeling of your home with different houseplants.
In the US, houseplant sales have increased by a massive 50% over the last few years. That obsession with filling the home with lovely leafy pals is echoed across much of Europe and Australia too, with the pandemic encouraging many of us to bring the outside in.
Are you yet to be convinced to get a houseplant?
If you’re not yet convinced about houseplants, you might be interested to know that they not only boost the aesthetic of the home but can improve air quality too. As if that wasn’t enough, they are also known to be good for your mental health. Let’s take a closer look:
The Houseplant Aesthetic:
“My garden is the most beautiful masterpiece.” - Claude Monet
Most people get into house plants because of how they look, which is completely valid because they’re so very beautiful. They bring a rich and diverse range of textures, colours and shapes to any room.
If you’ve only ever seen wilting spider plants in hotels, or lacklustre succulents on sale at the supermarket, maybe you haven’t been inspired just yet.
What you should know is that there is something for everyone with houseplants, you just haven’t found your planty soulmate yet.
Creamy marbled smooth leaves, velvety maroon leaves, pink variegation, flowering plants, scented plants, huge fenestrated powerhouses and of course tiny cute sharp cacti boys that have a strong look but don’t touch rule.
There are also endless ways to display your plants.
You can have one huge plant, like a monstera deliciosa or a mature tall cactus in a corner as an ornamental feature.
You could have trailing and hanging plants like Pothos, a string of hearts or monstera adansonii dangling from your shelves or hanging pots.
You can place multiple plant stands of different levels together with various leafy calathea explosions to make a gorgeous corner feature or alternative fireplace display.
If you get deeper into the hobby, you might even want to consider using an Ikea glass cabinet or tall shelving units to display your plants with grow lights and other fun gadgets. Tropical Plant Addict and Summer Rayne Oakes are great Youtube channels for learning more about creating a planty aesthetic in your home.
Houseplants & Air Quality:
“Plants are solar-powered air purifiers whose filter never needs replacing.” - Khang Kijarro Nguyen
Let’s quickly address the elephant in the room. There have been plenty of articles released over the last few years disputing the air quality benefits of houseplants. The consensus from these articles is that you need 'a lot 'of houseplants per square metre to get any benefits. Whilst we rather like the idea of that challenge (and are well on the way to reaching that goal) it is important to stay balanced with this particular aspect of planty parenthood.
It’s better to consider air cleaning a potential bonus benefit of your plants, rather than rely on them to make your environment healthier in this way. This TIME magazine article helpfully collates the evidence behind houseplants and air cleaning, pointing to a fascinating NASA study done in the 80’s. It also suggests at least two houseplants per 100 square feet of the home in order to get any air cleaning benefits.
Not all plants are equal when it comes to air purifying so if you are interested in this one benefit of houseplants, you might want to consider investing in any of the following types:
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum)
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata Bostoniensis)
Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens)
Satin Pothos (Epipremnum Pictum Argyraeus)
Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)
Aloe Vera
Snake Plant (Sansevieria Zeylanica)
Inch Plant/ Wandering Dude (Tradescantia Zebrina)
Curly Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Bonnie)
Checkout this Planterina video for more information about the best air-cleaning plants to include in your planty decor.
Houseplants & Mental Health:
“To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” - Mahatma Gandhi
One of the most incredible benefits of owning house plants is how they help with mental health.
On a most basic level, putting your hands in the soil, planting life and nurturing it is a fantastic, mindful activity that gives you a really grounded break from the chaos of the world. Having to care for something can also help you to have a healthy focus and hobby that is free from any judgement or politics. It’s simple, beautiful and very easy to do on a budget too.
When it comes to science, there is some great evidence that houseplants actively boost your mental health. Let’s take a closer look:
One study pointed to the fact that plants in your home or office can help lower stress levels
Research has suggested working with plants can actually be therapeutic for those struggling with bad mental health
One study showed that those with a view of potted plants can feel more job satisfaction and lower work-related stress (great if you work from home!)
It isn’t just your mental health that benefits from house plants either. One study showed they can reduce fatigue and headaches by 20-25 percent. Another study suggested that seeing plants and greenery can also help you recover from illness more quickly.
It’s also worth noting that if these plants get you moving and tending to them, that can also only benefit your physical health.
“Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul.” - Terri Guillemets
Are you a little more interested in getting house planty and starting your own indoor jungle after reading the above? Please do checkout Planterina, Harli G and Becca De La Plante on Youtube for more information and inspiration.
Whether you start with one or go all-in with ten, house plants can transform your space in so many ways. For a chance of visual, physical and emotional benefits, why not plant some good vibes in your home today?
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