When you look at a home from the outside, it can be considered merely a place of shelter or a piece of architecture. But, it’s when you walk inside or talk to its inhabitants that you truly understand the significance of a home. For many, home is a place where they feel respected, loved, and free. As such, interior design services are often in high demand because people do care a lot about how their home looks and feels. I would like to focus on a specific feature of homes that, without a doubt, should be taken advantage of: house plants. 

Although house plants are fairly common, their numerous health benefits are not stressed nearly enough. In my opinion, when people begin the design process for their homes, including natural air filters should be one of the top priorities. According to a 1989 NASA experiment, there are certain indoor plants that can act as natural air filters by absorbing chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde from the air. They have also found that there is less mold and dust in rooms with plants than those without them. So, these plants are very beneficial to those with allergies that would like some sinus relief. Essentially, they are a very good way to remove numerous volatile chemical compounds in the air. And these compounds come from a wide range of sources, such as paints, furniture and even dry-cleaned clothes. Specifically, the chemical formaldehyde is so common in homes because it is a byproduct of combustion, and released when you burn natural gas, gasoline, or wood. Without a doubt, there are a lot of substances in our homes that can have adverse health effects and should be removed if possible. 

Of course, caring for houseplants can be difficult and time-consuming. But not all houseplants are high maintenance. For example, let’s look at golden pothos. They are a very common houseplant because they are fairly hard to kill and have the most powerful air-purifying properties. So, even if you are lacking a green thumb, that’s okay because pothos require little to no care. Another plant that is fairly easy to care for is the boston fern. According to NASA, boston ferns are ranked highly in terms of their ability to remove plastics, formaldehyde, and cigarette smoke from the air. The fern utilizes the compounds it absorbs by turning them into usable materials. Often called a “closet plant”, the peace lily is yet another plant renowned for its ability to break down compounds such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and benzene. And for those whose homes don’t provide a lot of natural light, the peace lily is a great option because it cannot grow in direct sunlight, preferring indirect light. 

And although the plants I have mentioned thus far only have air-purifying capabilities, there are those that are multifunctional. There are many plants that can be eaten, used as herbs, made into oil, or used for other remedies. A well-known example would be aloe vera. Even though aloe vera is also great for purifying air, it also has tremendous healing properties that can be used for first aid, such as treating sunburns or other minor burns. Aloe vera has also been known to soothe numerous skin conditions such as psoriasis. Another example would be mint. There are varieties of mint, such as spearmint and peppermint, that can be grown in containers and help with digestion, such as preventing bloating and gas. Last but not least, lavender is a very useful, and extremely beautiful, purple plant that can be used to make herbs, oils for aromatherapy, and even boiled to make tea. 

Like I mentioned, house plants are common, but their individual properties are often overlooked. Depending on whether you require more oxygen at night due to sleep apnea or want to soothe your allergies, there are specific houseplants that can provide you with the greatest benefits. So, next time you go shopping or are thinking about designing your home, don’t forget to look up the numerous varieties of houseplants and how they can help you with your specific needs. 

References 

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/10-plants-that-improve-the-air-quality-in-your-home/ 

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-health-benefits-houseplants 

https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/01/health/gallery/healthy-houseplants-purify-indoor-air/index.html