Indoor Plants: Cultivating a Fresher Home Atmosphere

We spend a huge amount of time indoors. Whether it’s at home, in the office, or while running errands in our cars, we’re constantly breathing in the air around us.

While outdoor pollution often receives the spotlight, indoor air can also contain unwanted substances that affect our well-being.

As advocates for holistic well-being, we believe the spaces we live in shape our overall health. Just as a sea swim or a calming yoga session can support our bodies and minds, enhancing our indoor environment can also make a noticeable difference.

You might not think of houseplants as air purifiers, but they can play a supportive role in cultivating a fresher home environment. They often act as a gentle, natural complement alongside other, more direct ways of keeping your indoor air feeling clean and healthy.

Plants as Part of a Holistic Approach to Indoor Freshness

How do plants contribute to your indoor space?

Through their natural processes, plants absorb carbon dioxide and also take in some common indoor compounds through their leaves and roots. 

While these biological functions do occur, their practical contribution to air purification in a typical home setting is generally subtle. However, they can certainly be part of a holistic approach to creating a comfortable indoor environment and supporting a fresher living space.

Five Plants That May Enhance Your Indoor Space

You don’t need rare or difficult plants to get started. Many popular, easy-to-care-for houseplants have some very helpful properties that contribute to a pleasant atmosphere.

Here are five great options:

• Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): These striking plants are a popular choice for adding greenery to your home. Some research has explored their ability to absorb certain indoor compounds, such as benzene and formaldehyde, though in everyday settings, their contribution is just one part of a broader approach to fresher air. Their elegant white flowers are actually modified leaves, and they conveniently indicate when they need watering by drooping.
• Snake Plant (Sansevieria): Also recommended for stress reduction, the snake plant is valued for its resilience and low-maintenance nature. It’s also been noted in studies for its potential to interact with substances like formaldehyde. While their direct effect on air quality in a typical room is subtle, snake plants are appreciated for thriving in a variety of conditions and bringing a touch of nature indoors.
• Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): A reliable choice for beginners, spider plants have shown some ability to interact with compounds such as formaldehyde and xylene in research settings. In the home, they’re best known for their easy propagation and the fresh, natural look they bring to any space.
• Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’): These lush ferns have been noted in studies for their capacity to take up certain airborne substances, like formaldehyde, though their real-world impact is just one factor among many. They also add beneficial humidity to the air and thrive in bathrooms or other humid spaces.
• Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens): Perfect for those with a bit more space, Areca Palms can help maintain a pleasant atmosphere and add some moisture to the room, which is especially helpful in drier environments.

Good Places to Add Atmosphere-Enhancing Plants

Consider the areas where you spend the most time or where pollutants might be present. Strategic placement helps make the most of your plants.

• Living Room: Where furniture and electronics may emit airborne chemicals.
• Bedroom: To support the air you breathe while sleeping.
• Home Office: To create a more pleasant and focused workspace.
• Kitchen: Where cleaning products are often used.
• Bathroom: Ideal for humidity-loving plants like ferns.

Just a few well-placed plants in these areas can contribute to a more comfortable atmosphere.

Common Compounds in Indoor Air

It might sound surprising, but indoor air can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from everyday materials.

These can include formaldehyde from furniture and flooring, benzene from plastics and fibres, xylene from paints and adhesives, and trichloroethylene from varnishes and cleaners.

Over time, exposure to these compounds may affect how we feel. While plants are not a complete solution for indoor air quality issues, they can certainly play a helpful role as part of a broader approach to maintaining a pleasant indoor environment.

How Many Plants Do You Really Need?

This is a question many people ask.

Older studies, often conducted in sealed laboratory environments, suggested that a significant number of plants could make a difference to air quality. However, more recent research highlights that their effect is just one part of the bigger picture in most homes.

Still, every plant contributes something, whether it’s through a fresher feeling in your space or simply making your home feel calmer and more connected to nature.

There’s no need to aim for a specific number. Focus on adding greenery where it fits naturally into your space and lifestyle. Even a few plants can make a difference.

Adding plants to your home is a simple and natural way to enhance your indoor environment. While their influence on indoor air freshness is just one aspect of their charm, they offer many well-being benefits, including helping you feel more relaxed and connected to nature.

Why not bring one or two into your home and see how it feels?