Add a breath of fresh air to your home this year and say hello to your new best friend: an indoor plant. Not only are plants easy to maintain and one of the best ways to remove toxins, but indoor plants that clean the air are also stylish.
If you’re a little apprehensive about bringing a “plant baby” home or you’re not sure where to start, try embracing the lifestyle/interior design trend “friluftsliv.” This Norwegian concept is described as “a way of life that is spent exploring and appreciating nature.” Before heading to your local plant store, take a little bit of time to step outside, go for a walk around your neighborhood or visit your local arboretum to get inspired by the plants and greenery that you encounter. From there, think of the space you’re hoping to create in your home and what you hope your plants will add to it.
Once you’re ready, consider adding one of these humble houseplants to your abode.
English Ivy
Known for absorbing formaldehyde like a pro, as well as reducing airborne mold by 94 percent, English Ivy is even the No. 1 air purifier according to NASA. Goodbye allergies and hello easy breathing. This fast-growing climbing vine is incredibly easy to grow and adaptable to most conditions. If you’re in need of living room wall décor ideas, try English Ivy as a hanging plant.
Boston Fern
A classic among green thumbs, this popular and easy-care fern needs only a weekly mist and indirect light to keep it happy. Boston ferns, like other air scrubbers, break down pollutants — think formaldehyde and xylene — in the root system, like they would with nutrients, and instead turn them into a usable form. Now that’s pretty wicked.
Spider Plant
Say hello to your eight-legged (or more) friend, the Spider Plant. This long, curving plant boasts the growth of miniature “baby” plants that can be repotted and is best situated as a hanging plant, so it’s another great living room décor option. Never fear if you forget to water your Spider Plant; it doesn’t need too much and has been nicknamed the “resilient one.” While it keeps the air clean of pollutants, such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene, perhaps its most beloved characteristic is its reputation as a stress reducer. How’s that for a little zen?
Aloe Vera
Known as “the healer,” this lightly speckled, fleshy plant is filled with a soothing gel most people know about from spending too much time in the sun. Growing as tall as 2 feet, aloe vera is a beloved medicinal succulent that is best kept in a sunny kitchen window. Not only does the gel have healing properties, but it can boost your home’s air quality. If you see brown spots on its leaves, the aloe vera is clearing your home of harmful chemicals like benzene.
Peace Lily
The peace lily is a chic, glossy-leaved floor plant that grows curvy, milk-white blooms that resemble those on a calla lily. While it scrubs your air clean, it doesn’t need much from you in return, only requiring partial sunlight and watering whenever you see the leaves start to droop. This elegant plant is toxic to dogs and cats when ingested, though, so keep that in mind.
Which air-purifying indoor plant are you going to add to your home? While you’re at it, sustainable furniture from CORT Furniture Rental is a great way to infuse the eco-friendly trend through your entire house.
