The power of plants to detoxify your home

If you’re always scouting the greenery section at your local home store, we’ve got some great news for you. You’re not only beautifying your house, you’re also improving your health and purifying the air. Nurturing nature in your living space helps to create a soulful home: here’s how.

Clear the air

Modern homes are so well-insulated that they’re great at keeping the warmth in, but it’s nearly impossible to let any fresh air come through. This results in pollutants like pollen, bacteria and even mould to gradually build up. During the winter, leaving windows open is not an option, so using your green thumb is even more important at this time of year.

Just like trees and other vegetation supply the earth with oxygen and absorb pollution, certain houseplants can do the same for your home. Try to have at least one plant per 100 square metres for optimal air quality. NASA has spent a lot of time researching air quality in sealed environments, and the agency recommends the following types of houseplants: Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), golden pothos (Scindapsus aures), English ivy (Hedera helix), chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium), and gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii).

Breathing booster

During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen—quite the health bonus for humans, as we do the opposite. This is something we all learned in biology class, but here is something you probably don’t know: there are certain plants that don’t need sunlight to work their oxygen-producing magic. Put some orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads in your bedroom to stimulate air flow while you sleep.

Natural medicine for the home

According to studies conducted by the Agricultural University of Norway, using house plants in your interior decreases the chance of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs. This is because water evaporates through the leaves and acts a natural humidifier. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences even suggests that the higher absolute humidity caused by houseplants can actually lower the transmission of the flu virus.

Houseplants don’t just make your home more attractive, they’re also a great way to detoxify it. Consider this next time you’re shopping for your interior and don’t forget to go green.