Green Power: Why Houseplants are Essential for Holistic Design
In recent years, house plants have seen a remarkable rise in popularity, not only as elements of interior design but also as contributors to our overall wellbeing. Whether you're a seasoned plant parent or a novice looking to add a touch of green to your space, understanding the multifaceted benefits of house plants can inspire you to embrace the greenery.
House plants bring a unique, organic charm to any room. Their varied shapes, sizes, and colors can complement any design style, from minimalist to bohemian. Whether it's a towering fiddle-leaf fig making a statement in the living room or a cascade of pothos adding a touch of whimsy to the kitchen, plants can enhance the visual appeal of your home effortlessly.
Space Planning
Plants can transform the feel of a space by adding layers and depth. They can fill empty corners, add height to low-ceilinged rooms, and create focal points. Additionally, they can serve as natural dividers in open-plan living areas, subtly demarcating different zones without the need for bulky furniture.
Unlike permanent fixtures, plants can be moved and rearranged to reflect the changing seasons or your evolving tastes. This flexibility allows you to keep your interior fresh and dynamic, adapting to your mood and the seasons with ease.
Enhanced Well-being
Stress Reduction: Numerous studies have shown that being around plants can reduce stress and anxiety. The presence of greenery has a calming effect, lowering blood pressure and heart rates, and promoting a sense of tranquility. This is particularly beneficial in our fast-paced, digitally-driven world where mental relaxation is often hard to come by.
Enhanced Productivity and Creativity: House plants are not just for homes; they are increasingly popular in office spaces as well. Research indicates that having plants in the workplace can boost productivity and creativity. The presence of nature helps to refresh the mind, improving focus and cognitive function. This makes plants a valuable addition to home offices or study areas.
Improved Humidity and Healing: Plants release moisture into the air through a process called transpiration, which can help maintain indoor humidity levels. This is particularly useful in dry climates or during winter when heating systems can dry out the air. Proper humidity levels are essential for skin health, respiratory function, and overall comfort. Furthermore, the presence of plants has been linked to faster recovery times in patients, making them a thoughtful addition to spaces where healing is a priority.
But not everything you read about the benefits of plants is true...
Plants: Facts vs. Fiction
Plants have many proposed benefits including improved wellbeing, enhanced productivity and creativity as well as stress reduction. But one that I hear often that sadly just isn't true is that indoor plants improve indoor air quality (IAQ) or that they "purify" the air and reduce carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This was something that was heavily touted when I was earning my design degree 15 years ago and while it is such a lovely idea, it has since been proven false. In fact, in order for plants to have a positive effect on IAQ, you would practically need to fill your entire home with them, which is just nutty, even for the most obsessed plant moms.
In an article from February of 2024, The American Lung Association states, "A 2019 meta-analysis review looked at decades-worth of research on this topic and concluded something different. In their study, named 'Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: a review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies,' researchers found that to achieve the same benefits seen in other research studies, you would need 10-1,000 plants per square meter of floor space in your home, office or other indoor environment." (link)
In fact, if you aren't careful, your houseplants can actually lower your IAQ because of mold from overwatering, dust accumulating on leaves that aren't regularly cleaned and allergy irritants like pests (like mealy bugs, aphids, and spider mites) or pollen. The moral of the story is, the benefits of houseplants greatly outweigh their risks but regular maintenance and care is necessary for the optimal health of both you, your plants and your pets and/or family.
"To achieve the same benefit, you would need 10-1,000 plants per sq meter of floor space in your home."
My Top 5 Designer Choices for Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants:
There are SO many plants that I love for interiors but below are my top 5 contenders for beauty and low-maintenance houseplants for the home. In addition to the characteristics and benefits of each, I also provide info on any possible toxicity. In addition to being a designer and plant mom, I am also a mom to a young cat and four little kiddos so I like to know any necessary precautions of the plants I collect and recommend.
Monstera Deliciosa
Care: Monstera Deliciosa plants are not only gorgeous, but also very hardy. They thrive indoors, needing bright to medium indirect sunlight so they can grow even in darker corners. They need watering only every 1-2 weeks so they don’t need any special care to grow happily. Just make sure you have enough room as they can get quite large.
Precautions: Monstera plants are toxic to cats and dogs so be mindful when choosing where to place these plants.
Snake Plant (Mother In Law’s Tongue)
Care: The Snake Plant, also called Mother-In-Law's Tongue, originates from Africa, where it thrives under very dry conditions. These plants are the perfect low-maintenance houseplant because they can survive for long periods without water. Snake Plants aren't particular about their location either making them easy to incorporate into decor.
Precautions: Snake Plants contain saponins, a sort of foamy liquid that can leech from the broken leaves of the plant. It is toxic to cats and dogs if they eat or even lick it. So make sure to take care to keep these plants out of reach from your fur babies.
Red Chinese Evergreen
Care: In addition to providing a lush pop of color to a space, the Chinese Red Evergreen grows well even in low-light. They only need watering about every 10 days. The speckled leaves give a tropical vibe to your space and they grow slowly so they are perfect decorative plants for a console or corner table.
Precautions: The Chinese evergreen plant is also toxic to cats and dogs because it contains a substance that is an irritant to the mouth and can cause nausea. It isn't typically fatal, just causes a temporary discomfort but if your pet likes to munch on leaves, keep this plant out of reach.
Staghorn Fern
Care: Tropical rainforest natives, Staghorn Ferns provide lush, unique foliage that is attractive in any style of interior. They like bright but indirect sun making them perfect indoor plants. They only need watering about every 7-10 days and can grow on a wire trellis, or in wire baskets or pots.
Precautions: Good news! Staghorn ferns are non-toxic to both cats and dogs.
Dieffenbachias (Leopard Lilies)
Care: Native to the rainforests of South America, Dieffenbachias, also known as Leopard Lilies have visually appealing variegated leaves. They like bright, indirect light but can also tolerate lower light conditions. They need watering about once a week and can grow in height quickly in optimal conditions so make sure you have the room for this gorgeous plant babe!
Precautions: Dieffenbachia are toxic to cats and dogs and can cause burning or swelling of the mouth and vomiting. The liquid from a broken stem or leaf can also cause a burning sensation and rash on human skin or eyes so take care in placing and handling these plants.
