Not only do they add life and colour to any space, but having indoor plants throughout your home has been proven to have a positive effect on many aspects of your wellbeing.

Indoor plants can lift any space, giving it a fresh, welcoming feel. But the benefits of having plants in your living space go far beyond aesthetic appeal. I know myself that when I walk into a room with greenery it definitely has a calming effect and boosts my mood. Having a sense of nature in your everyday surroundings helps you to feel happier and thrive.

Plants nurture our bodies & our minds

Research[1] has found that patients in hospital who had plants placed in their rooms experienced a significantly higher state of wellbeing than those who had no plants in their rooms. This was exhibited by lower blood pressure, lower experience of pain, and reduced anxiety and fatigue. When asked, the patients reported that the plants brightened up their rooms, reduced their stress levels, and gave a positive impression of the staff caring for them as well. That’s a pretty powerful effect on someone’s overall wellbeing from having a plant in their recovery space! And it suggests how positive these natural beauties can be for boosting our mood, reducing our stress levels and enhancing our sense of wellbeing if brought into our homes.

Plants purify our living spaces

Research has also found that indoor plants naturally remove toxins commonly found in the air from our homes (such as formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and benzene )[2]. These toxins can be found in common household items such as cleaning products, rugs, some furniture made from materials like plywood, nail polish, wrinkle-resistant fabrics, ink, adhesives and glue, and cigarette smoke. Improving the air quality in our physical space can only improve our overall health and wellbeing too.

Our 4 favourite air-purifying plants are;

1. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

This beautiful, lush plant is renowned for being easy to care for, requiring little water or light to stay alive.

2. Succulents

With so many attractive varieties, these cute little plants look spectacular on their own or planted in clusters. They are extremely low maintenance, being able to survive on minimal water. Unlike most plants that retire at night, succulents produce oxygen 24/7. Because of this, it would be extra beneficial to keep them on your bedside table for a better night’s sleep aided by that extra boost of rejuvenated air.

3. Golden Pathos (Epipremnum Aureum)

This is such an on trend, popular plant right now, and it’s easy to see why. Its heart shaped leaves draping over a pot are simply stunning. It is also known for being easy to care for- just ensure it is kept in a well-lit room away from direct sunlight, and that the soil is kept moist.

4. Aloe Vera

This plant is a superhero for wellbeing. Not only has it been found to purify air of toxins, but it’s also a natural soother for skin conditions such as minor cuts, sun burn and dry skin. Simply break off a leaf and apply the Aloe Vera gel directly to your skin.

Please note: unfortunately, the above plants can be mildly toxic to humans and pets if ingested. It may be worth keeping them out of reach for pets and children if this is a concern for you.

Plants nurture our nurturing side

Plants also ignite our sense of purpose and nurturing. Research has found that those who care for plants experience positive psychological effects[3]. These effects extend far beyond simply keeping a plant alive, but commonly mean those people who spend extended periods of time with plants and care for them, tend to have happier and healthier relationships with other people as well. Those who take the time to care for plants also tend to care for other people more as well, which leads to positive relationships and social interactions.

Plants help fuel our success

If you’re looking to improve your concentration, memory retention and motivation, plants have also been proven to help here too. Research has found that performance of workers is better when they have plants visible in their office space, as opposed to those who don’t[4]. If you study or work from home, simply placing a plant or two on your desk can help to boost your concentration and productivity.

Plants (real or faux) make us happy

Irrespective of their proven health benefits, there’s no denying that plants simply look pretty, and by nature humans are visual creatures. Simply seeing naturally beautiful plants indoors connects us with nature and lifts our spirit and happiness levels. Bringing the energy of nature indoors helps us to feel more relaxed and at peace.

If you’re not keen on having live plants (if you just can’t seem to find that elusive green thumb to keep them alive, or you suffer from allergies and your sensitivities would far outweigh the benefits of live plants), mood boosting benefits can still be experienced from having faux versions. Simply having beautiful foliage decorating your living spaces will visually induce feel-good vibes and a sense of calmness and comfort to your space, and that can only be a good thing for your wellbeing- just make sure the faux versions look as life-like as possible. Merely being exposed to greenery has been found to improve mental health in women, measured by lower levels of depression[5].

I’ve found over the years that the following retailers sell faux versions that are remarkably life-like, it’s hard to tell that they aren’t real;

Freedom

Fiddle Leaf Tree 110cm $80

Adairs

Home Republic St Ives Hanging Pot Green Foliage From $34.99

Pillow Talk

MUSE Pothos Plant $39.95

Tip: place faux plants in nice pots or baskets, it makes them look even more life-like.

So, do your wellbeing and your home a favour this weekend, and head down to your local nursery (or homewares store!) and inject a little bit of nature into your home and reap the benefits for your wellbeing!

[1] Park, Seong-Hyun & Mattson, Richard. (2009). Ornamental Indoor Plants in Hospital Rooms Enhanced Health Outcomes of Patients Recovering from Surgery. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.). 15. 975-80. 10.1089/acm.2009.0075. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[2] BC Wolverton; WL Douglas; K Bounds (September 1989). Interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement (Report). NASA. NASA-TM-101766. ntrs.nasa.gov

[3] Brethour 2007 ellisonchair.tamu.edu

[4] Ruth K. Raanaas, Katinka Horgen Evensen, Debra Rich, Gunn Sjostrom, Grete Patil. (2011). Benefits of Indoor Plants on Attention Capacity in an Office Setting, Journal of Environmental Psychology (Norway). 31. 99-105. Sciencedirect.com

[5] “Exposure to Greenness and Mortality in a Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study of Women,” Peter James, Jaime E. Hart, Rachel F. Banay, Francine Laden, Environmental Health Perspectives, online April 14, 2016, doi: 101289/ehp.1510363 hsph.harvard.edu